Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-03-17

very Uau bC@uaShV oh0 |
he night.
z she should not have looked
said Mr.. Stanhope, but am
Door child has fretted herself i'll
mans absence. | hate to have
Trouble her, and he should not have
a had been able to. Tell Jane he
gued, to be sure and have everything
Or her that she needs-but Amy shall go,
knows better what she should have
Amy returned to say her young lady had
fallen asleep and that Jane ABSURD her every
thing had been provided that she required
and soon perfect quiet reigned throughout
the magnificent mansion. -
Mr.. S~tanhope's hours were always late, and
the day was considerably advanced ere be
aroused from the most refreshing rest he
had enjoyed since the commencement OF
his illness. His first inquiry was for his
daughter. James had beard nothing fiosl
her, and Mr.. Stanhope, who was always pre-
else about his appearance, vent on Wsth all
the preparations a equity invalid was able to
make, to fit him to receive the usual cheering
visit his beloved child.
Another hour passed, and there was an
increased hustle in the mansion, produced by
the return of its young master. His fathers
room lay in the way TO his wife's, and Her
man entered to say, he was rejoiced to see
him looking better but l must hasten to
Rose, then ] will tell you all about the bust
ness, dear father. | almost expected to meet
her on the lawn he added, as he FASTENED
through the corridor, and rushed into his
wife's apartment to clasp her to his heart.
The appearance Of the room, which Rose
termed her sanctum, in which Herman now
entered, and where she always sat in the
morning, seemed to strike a chill to her hus-
bands heart. Everything looked in order,
nothing disarranged, but the windows were
partly closed, and where he had ever been
greeted with lite and gladness, all now wore
u desolate, almost death-like appearance. On
the table lay scattered articles of the tiny
garments Rose had been manufacturing, her
work box stood open, and a book, which Her
man saw at q glance was one he had been
reading to his wife the evening proceeding
his departure. But all looked ~iifeless. Where
was Rose2 He had expected her to rush to
meet him was she i'll? He passed hastily into
the sleeping apartment, but the same desola-
ton, the same deathly stiffness, pervaded 1t.
Where-where is shei What can be the
matter and impetuously ringing the bel, the
reply OF the servant, who answered the sum-
mons, filled the heart of the husband with
apprehension. The girl had net seen her
young lady since early the preceding eve
ming, when she was sitting on the balcony,
with Jane attending her. Jane had told them
her mistress had a headache, and as she did
not come down to breakfast, no one ventured
to disturb her.
Call Jane said Mr.. Stanhope, in scarcely
articulate accents.
None of us have seen Jane, your honor,
since last night
Good Heavensl' exclaimed Herman, what
can be the meaning of all this !?
Alarm spread throughout the House. Old
James who carried his masters message to
Rose the proceeding evening, stated that Jane
had met him at the door and desired him to
make no noise, as her lady had a violent
headache, and must not be disturbed and, he
added, that Jane looked very pale and bad,
and he asked her if she was sick too, and she
answered that he was an old fool to think
anything was the matter with her because
her lady had a headache. And when Amy
applied for admittance and rendered her ser
vices she was dismissed on the same plea.
All was now CONSERVATION and terror.
Every part of the house and grounds were
sarched, and it was discovered that all Roses
wearing apperel was missing ; Roses case of
splendid jewls could no where be found, her
superb cashmere and garden bonnet were
also gone, but nothing else seemed to have
been touched.
The agony of the husband was beyond all
powers of description, nor was that of the ia
Their little inferior, for Mr.. Stanhope perfect
ly idolized his daughter-in.law.
The most diligent search was made, the
whole neighborhood partaking in the excite
ment, and night and day hundreds were
scouting the country in search of the fair be-
ing who had endeared herself to all who knew
her.
An express was dispatched to Mr.. Melville,
and on the third day Roses almost distract
ed parents arrived to join the sorrowing group.
Mr.. Melville Immediately set out to assist in
the search, while his nearly heart broken
wife endeavored to soothe and comfort the
despairing husband.
She is dead! cried Herman, when Mrs.
Melville would suggest a hope of finding her.
'Nought but death would keep her from me.
Yet where-how has she persisted? My Rose,
my beloved, are you indeed gone from me
foreverr
Meanwhile Mr.. Melville, although nearly
exhausted by grief and fatigue, was indefati
gably pursuing the search for his darlins
child, without any clue to guide him. He rode
through forests, over moor and dale, until tn,
animal which he was mounted could proceed
nofurther, and he was obliged to stop at a small
village inn to procure a fresh horse to prose
cute his search. As he approached the bull
ding, whose flaming sign denoted entertain
ment for man and beast, Mr.. Melville noticed
what seemed to him, a vast conconrse of pee
pie for SO small a place, assembled aroun
the door; and, c~onsigning his horse to tn
lnnuGare of a'clownish fellow who appeared to b
hOstler, be desired to have a fresh one a
as possible and now realizing b
&lstion, he endeavored to pass throug