Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-10

hef to plead for her grandmother and her
heart mad been Wrung by what her father had
done, Tor she disbelieycd the tale
Alice Leigh tcll on her knees but Edith
quickly raised her, and then the girl told a
story She little expected to bear She said,
she had been the wife OF Edwin Wsinfete !
four months; that her grandfather, Captain
Leigh, was soldier and gentleman, who
had dled in the civil wars fighting for his
king. Her father had fingered after the re
stofatlon without notice, Or reward for the
losses his family had sustained and on the
death OF both her parents her grandmother
had retired with herself and what small
property she had left to the village where
they had lived SO many years ALI this she
said, was known to her husband, who had
promised through his brother toanake inter-
est for her grandmother with the king. But
he procrastinated; he failed her altogether,
IN this greater need. Lhave seen hila twice,
she said, since that dreadful night Qneaning
when her grandmother was taken, and I
know can place 40 faith in him-not in him
whom have loved SO much heis fearful,
vaciating-oh be is selGsh-he will make
no etfort-he will leave her to diep
"The girl seemed diseractei, and Edith
Wainficto was scarcely less so; but she saw
at once what ought to be done and she tried
to soothc her, and promised 10 do her best
for her. She herself took her down stairs.
and saw her out of the house when she ina
glned every ono was asleep; but her tssister
Helen heard the noise and watched her. and
followed her TO her chain her toGemand an
explanation to what she had seen. Edith.
had nothing to hide, and told her sister ev !
erything. Helen listened in silence, and SEEM
ed SO nnmoved that Edith was surprised and
deiighted, expecting TO see her fall into
mighty rage, whatever.vi she took of the
subJect. Helen saia she could best snai.age
the matter her oNn way, and she doubted
not would do so satisfactorily, and she made
Eslth promise net TO breathe word on the
subject, even tn Edwin himself knowing
that Helcn's influence over both nina and her
father was greater than her own, she readily
consented.
:" But calm as saoseened, Helen feelings
were raised to quite .orIn Of las. ion. She
suGsfId e Z 1S S7urTncT
if she could help it; she had silenced Edith
for the present, and she doubted not to man
age her weak minded brother,
&c She sought him that night, and he cow
cred under herA fierce reproaches. He was
himself horrifcdsat having become relative
to woman convicted of so heinous q crime;
for all bis book learriihg had not taught him
slater than to believe insWitchcraft Helen
bw her advantage, and haf@persuaded him
that he had been drawn into the match
by the old woman S art, though he well knew
that the courtship and marriage were alike
secrets to her. On questioning him, Helen
| learned that the ceremony had been per ;
formed by an old schoolfellow of his, Just en-
tered into holy orders, who had been at the
Grange on a visit some months previous
There was no written document to prove>the
marriage, and the young clergyman who
! promised to keep their secret, had gone
abroad. 1t seemed easy to deny the mar
riage altogether, and this Edwin consented
to do. .-
"One week after, when the trial came on,
old Mrs Leigh WAS found guilty and condemn
ed to die Peoples hearts were SO hardened
by prejudice that there Were few to feel pi-
~ for the beautiful young creature who stood
by her grandmother's side, looking eargerly
and wildly round to see if any were there to
come forward and speak for her as she had
hoped When the sentence was spoken she
fell on the floor of the court like one dead
at was in the month Of July, and on that
very afternoon young woman made her ap
n pearance at Ellaby Grange, and asked to See
kthe colonel Hex dress was disordered, hel
feet dusty, as well as they might be- for sht
u had almost flown from Upton, !. dis4Saee 0
eight miles; and thick veil was drawn oyel
her face, so that at first the servant didn'
know her. The colonc! consented to sec he'
and when they were alone she lifted her vel
and fell on her KEGS. But seeing who it wa
he stopped her. Pooh pooh J be said
: Its no use you coming here, / can d
, nothing for you. But Alice weuld be heard
and she told him OF her marriage with hi
q son, and his promise that he would inter
fere to save her grandmother.
: without answering her, the colonel ran
the bell violently and summoned his fan1il
!, into the room Edith was then il in bet
+ but the others came; and before them 9