Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-21
Gboite Eituature,
THE OLD MANS DARLING !:
Marrying for Money.

The brilliant gaslights giittcring rest
lessly among the white and gold decora-
tions of the elegant "gentleman's res
taurant," the marble floor echoed to
scores of lounging feet, and the small
clock, surmoUpted by gilded figure Of
Bacchus, pointed to the hour of eleven,
that bleak December night, and still the
careless habitueS of tho place lounged in
and out as if they were well accustomed
to the habit of turning day into night.
zone more glass, Thorpe, before you
60. Let us drink success to your mar
ried life in the brightest champagne that
ever melted into golden formp exclaim-
cd handsome, dsshing young man,
whose laugh had been the gayest all the
evening
But Cyril Thorpe shook his head,
smiling, and buttoned his coat closer.
No; the sooner contract habits of
graceful abstinence the better. | must
learn to wear the matrimonial yoke, you
know, Maylie Cons, suppose you
walk with me to my hotel; it is just
the right distance for cigar
Well, if you must go, am with your
said Maybe, lightly setting down the
wine glass. And en- route you can tell
me about Mrs. Thrope that is to be. /
am quite curious to learn the charm
which has captivated gay Lothario
like Yourself
My dear Maylie,' said Cyril, with a
slight sneer, as they emerged arm in arm
into the mist and darkness, have you
lived 26 years in the world not to be
aware that there is but one charm worth
mertioningY =
And that -
is good red gold, my unsophisticated
friend p S4.ss-s.,----.ss -....sse
/ confess though,, said Maybe, some
; what puzzled,,' don't see how this ex-
plains Lillian brakes conquest over you,
Thorpe. She is pretty little girl, with
curls jus; like the coiled sunshine, and
round cherry checks, but l never knew
she was rich
Neither i she, but it isin the future
that her prospects lie. Did you never hear
of Grant Colvin, the pursy old banker OF
c. And did you never know that
Lillia Drake was his niece and heiress
apparent?
NO. said Maybe, with wide open
eyes. -
mo! We who pride ourselves on the
cunning of the serpent, if not the harm
1essness of the dove, find out variety
ofthings which remain sealed to your
dull vision, my honest companion. You
mast know that spent last fall at sea
carrying on nice little Irritation with 6
black eyed houri who happened to be
a govcrness in the family where was
staying. A splendid girl-dark ant
sparkling as spaniard, full of wild i'm
pulses / shouldn't wonder, by the bye
(though never thought of it -before)
the mink had gypsey blood in her. b.
Jove, Lillian Drake is no more to be com
pared to Sara Haynes than draught o
water to goldbeaded champagne. But o
course it did not amount to anything
never thought of marrying a low gov
erness, however beautiful, and when
learned indirectly where old Colvin'
wealth was intended to flow, resolve
to try my luck with Lillian, the heiress
No sooner resolved than done. bough
a'tickct for--that very afternoon, an
-pshaw, you know the rest. Pm nc
often disappointed when l make up M
mind to thing In brief | came, sa,
and conquered!
And the black eyed governess p
oh you should have seen the fir
flash from those same oriental orbs, whe
I mentioned, as mildly as possible, tn;
my feelings had undergone a change
etc, etc.
Seriously though, Cyril, wasn't
rather heartless business ?"
Cyril Thorpe elevated his finely arche
brows.
Maybe, this talk. about heart is q
hunbug. don't believe such an o.
gan exists except in Anatomy Self il
terest is the handspring of existence
Love, heart and all that sort Of thing q
nonsenser ]
DO yon mean to tell me you are &
ing to marry Lillian Drake without ca
ing whit for her ?
Just that, mon ami! Come, here
are; won't you come UP to my room a
smoke another cigar?
Bat Maybe declined rather abrupt
Gay young man, though ne was, SON
thing in his honest heart rebelled agai
the cold selfShness Of Thrope's philos
ply, and he felt rather relieved wi
two or three squares interposed tn