Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-08-31

suitors might be expected, very natural ],
ly, to present themselves, it was not so
very unreasonable on his part, to desire
that in her choice of husband she
should favor the suit Of 0ne who should
bring with other necessary recommends
tons and qualifications, the desidsra-
tum of wealth.
The subject had never seriously pre-
sented itself to her mind. She was in
no hurry to fall in love, and consequent
ly, white the young gentleman of her ac-
quaintance were always welcome to the
parlor, and the drawing-room, ffone was
foolish enough to fancy himself the fa-
vored guest.
Letters from Scotland had been re-
celved by the Doctor, and it was observ-
able By his daughter, that her fathers
face had become more thoughtful, and
his manners more abstracted than form
erly. The package was laid aside, and
carefully placed under lock and key, and,
as the old gentleman made no reference
to the contents, Maria did not think it
ssemly to make any inquiries on the
subject.
One afternoon while Maria was in the
parlor arranging some flowers at the
window, carriage was driven up to the
+ door; young man of fine appearance
descended, and running rapidly up the
steps, piled the knocker SO vigorously
that the whole house re-echoed with the
peal.
!. Who could the stranger be ?
| The gray-haired butler opened tho
4
of the gentleman, and muttering some
thing about ga want of manners" pre-.
sented himself ito answer the question
of the party.
On enquiry for Doctor v, he
was shown in the: library, and the old
servant withdrey'
In short time the library bell rang,
and the domestic, who answered 10 call,
was told by the Doctor to tell Miss Maria
| he'wanted to see her in the li6rary
Wondering what the meaning of this
summon could be, and somewhat curl.
Ions I'd to tha
adjusted her curls and dress, and pro-
ceeded at once to obey the mandate.
4 On entering, both gentlemen arose,
and Doctor W proceeded to intro
duce the stranger as his nephew just
arrived from Europe, and bade her treat
her cousin in every respect as fhe were her
brother. For moment. both parties ex-
: pressed their mutual admiration by looks,
and then, as if feeling that it would be
expected of them to say something, Ma
, ria gave him an earnest and affectionatc
Igreeting as her kinsman; while he in
! turn thanked her with warm-hearted
1, thankfulness for the pleasure it gave
: him to meet, on his arrival for the first
> time in R, with his dear little cousin
!. and his kind and respected uncle.
9 The carriage or hack was dismissed
. a servant was sent to the hotel fol
Charles VS. baggage, and that evening
y saw him installed as aa inmate of Docto
VS. house.
He was fine specimen of manhood
- nearly six feet in height, his own ey
10 clear blue, his cheek rich with ruddy
glow of healthful constitution, his hal
nearly the same hue as that of his petit
~ cousin, and although his air bore the un
y mistakable imprimatur of the foreigner
- yet the polish of his manners indicate
~ that if from the land o'cakeS," he ha
n travelled in other localities, and had be
"a "a come no unapt pupil and graduate in tn
- elegant courteses which distinguished i
, that day those who were pronounced pa
:. excellence gentlemen. A term by tn
~ way, most villainously misapplied nov
a-days!
VI u Cousin Charles soon became, not onl
~ a favorite of the old servants, but of ~ey
az ~ cry visitor of the house. Through til
ho tlo Doctor he made a large acquaintance wit
40 10 the principal merchants of the city, mo
90 60 of them being themselves from Scotlan
u "a and having brought letters of credit fro
on abroad, he soon made it known that b
do main business in R-was to establish
Ne importing house, in connection wi
Az ~ friends in Glasgow.
Now the Doctor had never mention
to Maria that she had a cousin Charl
ing until she saw the young gentleman
.uo propria persona.
at "Why?' she asked her father.
ght He gave her some pleasing erIasive a
MI swer. Spoke of his being the only S
ele- of his deceased brother, a merchant
re- Glasgow, who, on his fathers decea
So had been sent abroad by the survivi
partner, on business, a portion of VIII
be consisted in the experiment of open
it's and inaugurating branch of the ho'
cti- in R. He also enjoined upon.
tits, daughter not to question her cousin
lore reference to his home history, as it wo
L r u