Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-08-25

less it should be her express desire for
too had proud spirit, and could never
condescend to plead with weman.
All tEsse thoughts passed rapidly through
my mind as neared my fathers cottage;
and reJoiced to think that ia part my
purpose had been accomplished. | was
rich rich even beyond the fastidious re-
QUESTIONS Of Isabel Hayns richer than
her father had ever been and yet my stern
resolve had seen no change.
l met nay father, now silyer-haired with
age. My mother had been lying in her
silent, narrow home for nearly two years.
My sister, nay eaiJ sister, whom fondly
heped to asst, was married, and had gone
to distant place to dwell. The spirit Of
change had breathed upon every daar and
fanailiar ebjscs The houses, the fences
we're moulding away. met the compaa-
ions ofny yoxth, who welcomed nae back
with smiles which seemed the distorted
mockery Of the smiles that lit up their hap
Ply faces in ay boyhood's days. They
were growing ola.
Yet same seemed apparently no elder
thao when Ihad seen them eight years
before.
did net meet Miss Hayne nor did I
even inquire about her. She had proba-
bly, gone sway or, what was quite 81 prob
able, her father might havs become so
wealthy that she no longer moved ia the
village society. Perhaps she waa married,
and was living in some other place. What
was she to nae that should spend thought
in speculation as to the cause of her invis-
ibility? And yet I could not efsee her
image froa nay mind. II over il distant
lands had succeeded in ny efforts to ban
iah her from my memory, could not do SO
new. The association of home and familiar
scenes brought back the recollection of hap
py days, and her name--her form, just as
she appeared to nae then-was indispensa-
bly, necessary to complete the picture which
fancy painted mo.
There was social gathering ct friends s,
: but she waa aot there. Why should | look
SO anxioasly about, hoping and yet fearing
: to encounter her beautiful face? Why
/ Ecould Rot forget her at once, and forever
u ono fnsk q her sane 9 n 81
] vas shs net there 7"
"Shs does not 80 cut now siacs theil
misfortune
"What pity Poor Hayne They say
g that she supports him by teaching."
"Yes; she is engaged in the distric. just
t beyond the village. 1t will bs a severe snd
r hamiliatiag lessen to her she was very
4 proud"
a I must confess [ was interested, and de-
= sired to know more, much more but ask
ed no question I could not forget the past
b Not loag after this [ learned that the
Hayne sstats, which had passed into thu
:, hands ofsome Eastern spsculator, was agaiz
J. for sale. purchased it, having 40 definite
purpose il view, unless it was the thought
d that it would make comfortable residence
d for my father Ia hiz declining years, sinc'
e his own cottage was fast going to decay
- at once set about repairing the.largs man
sion ON the Hayne farn, for that too hss
, felt tho mouldering toush Of tine and 10
that purpose frequently drove out to watcl
: and direct tha operations of the laborers
/, I was eRe day driving lsisurely along
when sspied at some distance before IA
s. an old nam, bsnt with age, and graging hi
tedious way along the road. Presently b
IN sat down by the roadside to rest, an
IN when I came up offered him seat Ia tn
- buggy.
"Never mind" he said, "is is only Ii
Id tie way that I have to so !; just to yond'
,c school-house on the hilltop. I 60 thel
1e sometimes when the days are pleasant lik
- this, to meet my daughter and aceompan
is hor homo from school. She is the teach
ad sr, yoS kuov."
I Idisregsr3cd his refusal Of my offer, ar
sprang oHt Of the carriage, extending hi
my hand to assist him to seat, as thoue
a. I thcugat it matter Of course that /
of would ride.
at "Wsll, we'll; since you wish it, will {
r With yeu. There are not many that =
rp kind to the old man now. l am not wa
mt I was six years ago: l was rich man tn,
,d very rich but speculation did the Mi
,r chief. See yondsr house, just beyond t
school it w.s mi.e. All it was hal
ns DIV home, but it can never be mine again
,ot And thus he babbled on for the inf
nv mites of age, preaaturslJ induced By
-, misfortunes, had rendered him gsrrulo,
~ He was indeed changed for among all
n. had seen siuce my rsturn home, not 0
IT. had grown SO cid as he. lie did not rae
RI nizs me and as drove slowly along, We
in, slowly, for he said many things that VI.
,od interesting to me-I learned more of
iva circumstances, and of the sacrifices, cones
sions, efforts aud flial affection of bis daus
TER Isahel--the name affected me. I y