Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-14

had turned and was approaching them.
a bner looked again, and saw that blush
was just fading from his sisters face:
but why it had been there at all he did |
not know.
Mary Hyde soon recovered her self
possession, (that she had lost it for some T
reason, almost any one might have OBJ
served but Abner, who was taken up in
making observations in another quarter |
and took her chair, FIRST puttingit lit |
tie back into the shade of c6rner.
'Was-Mr. Fielding hurt much, Alb
ner? she asked with great composure in |
the tone of her voice.
Shot in the wrist, poor fellow. He is |
al my room now Though it had been |
along time. since 7 saw him, / find still |
have the old college.boy feeling towards
him. met him just coming into town
as | was'on my way down the country to
see what ! could pick up. ] got per-
mission to carry him to my room, and so
saved him from crowded hospital. By
the way, poor fellow, he's mighty down
hearted-a afraid of amputation. (How
pale Mary turned, back in the shadow y
You girls might go to see him-it might
| cheer him some'
Yes-we might go, answered Mary,
Immediately.
Oh! I'm so afraid of seeing those aw-
fi1l wounds cried Lucy.
| There's very nice surgeon, with soft
blue eyes, and mighty gentle ways, who
attends him. continued Abner, contem--
plating his boots, and then giving blank
!. look at Lucy.
/ ri suppose we might CO. said that
young lady, if Mr.. Fielding would like to
~us-and the surgeon is handsome.
oh, you won't be able to go in when
he's there, however, said Abner, rising.
/ They demonstrated with him for leav-
ing so soon, but he said that ne must re-
turn to Chester. He left, promising to
call for them in the morning to take them
TO see his patient. He called Lucy when
he got to the door. She came back in q
fcT moments, and said that Abner was an
You nsugnsy sssri, ys. . s -.
ANYTHING about it, said Lucy Gwynn to
Mary Hyde, as they left the parlor to 60
to supper
Iassure you I have nothing to tell,
answered Mary, passing her handkerchiel
7 over her face, and exclaiming that.it was
: 50 warm she declared.
, Lucy Gwynn scolded Mary the mex
. morning, for taking so long to make he
toilet preparatory to the proposed visit t.
i, Chester Fielding; but the toilet in ques
/ ton was certainly not elaborate, excep
in scrupulous neatness and good taste.
Abner did not come at the appointe
~ hour, of course, nor did he condescsnd
y make any excuses for his dereliction.
= Lucy complained, as they started ou
" that he was abominably perfumed wit
a tobacco smoke, and changed her positlo
so as to bring his sister between them.
;s When they arrived at the house
10 10 which Abner's lodgings were, he left the
N at the door, but in few moments return
80 ed and told them that his highnes
+ would be graciously pleased to see thel
~, The color fed Mary's cheeks, and S
sb steadied herself by the banister all t
- way up the long stairway. - :.
w Chester was sitting up in the rockl
!" chair when they went in. Nothing
the sling in which he had his wound
- wrist, and slightly worn look about
~ eyes, discovered any change from
:" usual appearance of robust health. L
n cy knew him but slightly she advanc
a;r however and shaking his hand, expre
hnt ed great deal Of sympathy for him.
M pleasant way, which became her mi
an,, better than her usual somewhat hipp
manner. Mary offered her hand,
rod SAID nothing but a faint how are
you Mr. Fielding Chester colored very
- ceptibly. Abner looked a little chagri
orG at Mary's want of cordiality, but l.
oow gave him a significant glance, which
: ha dently had no significance to him, h
,ood ever, and taking, up the thread OF con
In sation broken by an awkward pause,
e made up in volubility what she lacke
G :; interest. But Abner was very much
COW noyed by the inconceivable still
~, which seemed to have seized everybe
oniee and was quite dumbfounded. The I
yersation tagged very much. Che
a 70 had very little to say, and Mary, whe
ton er she spoke, Kept her eyes on
tho which she had taken from the tab
Who Lucy discovered, through the open
ch.d SOME very pretty flowers which were
4 tho on a shelf projecting from windo
nj the passage-and Immediately dec
her intention of going to look at the
made She went-Abner followed.
of What in the thunder II beg pa
lump what in the world, meant to S
and the matter with you all Are you
, who of a wounded man? asked Abner
Abner humoredly.