Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-04-21

1
She could bear it no longer
her heart was Sc full thatitovelfowed and
she confronted him.
Oh Herbert said she, this is so very
cruel in you to keep ne in this horrible
What have done? Am the
cause OF this dark clo,.,i that has overriding
your bro" SO many weeks? Ii | anl, tell
me and let me atone Tor it with my tears.
stand before you, Herbert not as a cul-
prit; for every vow [ made to you, be-
lore the man OF God at the Altar, is nn-
broken IN letter or in spirit. The pledges
OF Love gave you when we wandered to-
gether along t..c meadow brook among
the towers in Tighter, brighter days, yet
fetter my heart with pure and holy bonds.
Oh! Herberf, and she laid ber little hand
upon his shoulder, wrong me not in
thought
The strong man hesitated and was NOV
ed by ber appeal. A struggle was at war
in bis bosom. A struggle between his bet
ter nature and his ruling passion. lie re-
membered, Oh he remembered the mea-
dow brook and the daises that sglnted its
grassy banks, and the happy wanderings
with young Mabel there. tie almost re-
pented OF his harshness, but the evil spirit
IN bis bosom gained the mastery over him,
and lie cast off the little hand that rested
upon his shoulder trastingly; and with
harsh oath, he left poor Mabel, and Mabefs
babe, and Mabels tears! I
A few days passed aud the cloud in poor
Mabeps sky seemed to grow darker and
yet darker. On the earth there was moth
irg to cheer or to bless save the babe and
It's eyes that were so like her own. Over
the babe Mabel wept and prayed, and low
ed One morning after breakfast, Mabel
was in her room alone 1t was balmy
morning in June, and the bird in the cage
sang merry song, and the flowers in the
garden held sweet drops of dew. Mabel
looked out through the window with her
face pressed against the glass and let mem
ory run wild over the pages of the past
Tears came and blinded her eyes when she
remembeIed kind, cid, gray haired faith
er that loved her SO tenderly; but he was
in the grave. His ear was sealed forever
to her sorrows, and his arm could no more
be raised for her protection. Is it wonder
that she wept?
Her heart was heavy, and she left the
; window with sigh and took up the gui-
tar that she had played in happier days
touched its strings and a plaintive tune
= rolled off on the morning air. An old
song came across her nemory-a sorg
+. that her dead father loved to hear, and II
, song that she sang to him the night before
. his head bowed upon his breast and his
! whitened hair fell over his brow, like the
! silks of the corn ripe for the harvest. She
> warbled forththe song she sang few hours
i before the old pilgrim died and went away
. with the angel The rich tones of her
. voice filed the room with melody, and as
4 she sang the bright tear-drops glistened
, on the trembling lash and fell one by one
"a on the quivering strings.
If Herbert entered the room. A strange
# smile was on his face. lie approached
= Mabel in a merry mood and imprinted a
i kiss upon her pure, white brow
Mabel was astounded. She thought hel
own Herbert had relented from his harsh.
10 ness and was beginning to ma ke amends
. for the past She thought it might be :
- self pride that prevented him from confess
ing the wfongs he had done her, and tha
- he had determined to wipe out the reproacl
! of his great error BY kindness in the fu-
- ture. The smile and the kiss of her hus-
n band sent thrill of JOY TO her heart, anc
80 she felt the cheering beams of the lrigh
~ sun Of love warming the cold pathway SD,
- had trod for many weary days
81 am going" said Herbert, to tax
~ ride out in the country, Mabel, won
IL you 90 with me Z"
= She gladly accepted, and going to tn
- nursery to give the nurse directions to at
- tend to every want of her tabe until sh
~ returned, she kissed her treasure aud va
=, soon read to accompany her husband q
H. the little pleasure trip A carriage wa
"A at the door, and the wheels were sonn raj
- Ting ever the pavements bearing the tw
,at away from the city to the green hills an
~ cosy hamlets Of The country.
- The morning WAS beautiful the birc
:" in the wayside hedges sang merry choir
~ to the morning. and the Jreezss were fra
grant with the Incense of blushing flow
ers 1t was morning that would chez
hearts sadder than theirs.
- Herbert was peculiarly social, and Il
80 oe bends that be had severed by his harst
nj ness were being speedily healed So trus
~ the coufdlng woman: love, or even
"a semblance, and kindness weave a net
which she delights to be captive. Mabe
,ad heart was fast throwing off the icy fuuC
e ;er that bad 50 long bound up all its boly il
.ste Se impulses and estrangcd her from the wor
.nd Love was gaining the asceudaucy IN b
.;nG hcalt ana she pictured as she rode b
ter and happier future.