Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-04-27

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be from town flew days. She mentioned the
subject that had been so abruptly dropped, |
and told him she desired him to stop drink
ing Lena, have you fears that | will be-
come a sot? Do you thinl-have you 80 !,
/ poor All op!nion ofmy stability. as to imaeina
! thatI vil! come to the gutter ~ a. he spoke
| his brow lowered, his lips turned pale, and |
! the hot blood rushed to his cheeks. Ihis,
disturbed Lena more than anything else had
done. NO" SAID she, after pause. MOI
now but you are on the way" and she fxe /;
her calm penetrating eyes upon him" ''u
| wish, dear Eugene, that you would PROM
ise TO drink 10 more" ..
You are TOO fastidious, Lena, it viii
be quite time to exact such promise whes
| drink too much"
Think of what you are saying, Eugene.
I have told you would not marry drata
drinker."
"Wby, Lena! are you really in earnest 7
will hear DO more now, see it is time wa
at the Depot. Let's not part in anger, dea.
est, said Eugene as he pressed her hard tt
his lips.
Dear Eugene, I'm not angry; but yc
mist hear mare Of this, or we may part !
anger. You whom | have looked to as ths
soul of goodness; you = -drinker!'-.
Aud the bright tears crept from beneath ths
long lashes. i
"Why, Lena! I Gid not dream that yoa
were such little preacher Stop, mu>i
go now. shall be back in time for tn,
party. will also write :; but do be your.
} self Good bye"-and Eugene kissed tn,
tears from her cheek. She wept long an
| bitterly; she feared that she could never gel
him to give up his wine
In a few days she received letter from
: ;r ho o1 +ho:r 1,c
; ton: II have thought much of our last con.
! versation, dearest; but why are you so muctt
afraid for me to take social glass will
| never be drunkard-I have complete con-
$ troll of my appetite IF I thought would
ever become intoxicated, [ would nccsr
: drink again; tor of all degraded creatures, u
> drunkard is the lowest. | loathe the name;
, and if thought l would Fill drunkards
t grave, | would even now commit suicide
| am safe-have no fears for me. But my
e own Lena, take back those words" Thus, he
wrote.
Q Lena sighed-then the tears fell like rain.
9 Raising her heart in prayer, she asked
= strength to fulfil her duty. 1t was given
: She wrote an affectionate letter. She told
: him entlemen who were less fond of wins
r had filled drunkards graves. :" Now Eu-
y gene" she wrote, you have to make your
u CuoICe give up "IHe.OT give up your LeIa
4 Though my heart break while | unloose the
a cords that bind us-yet cannot recall what
= | have said aoiU not marry drunkard F"
With beating heart, she folded the letter,
n and gave it to the post boy. She was sad,
d oh ! so sad. How could she give him up,
= yet she determined to do so, unless he gave
1t up his wine.
y In the same village lived girl, beautiful
10 as Lena. Less firm but not less losely in
IS disposition /; had her mind been directed
d rightly she would have been Lenas equal
j. From childhood Lena Clements and Carrie
Devon had been bosom friends. AS Lena
Is stopped writing-and had done weeping,
h Carrie came bounding into the library
% LENA Lena - she exclaimed" We have
n formed riding party, and you must join
ID u.s. Why, | believe you've been crying!- =
is But you will go, Lena p Stop, "Puss,
al said Lena, Il must know moro about It
) Where are you going"
ID "Oh, anywhere. Mr.. Wilbur is going
with me, Mr.. Jamison is going with cousin
~ Bell" and you are to bear off the Beau o
IN the season ? Let me cong ratuate your
r but who will go with lneg" laughngly
lie asked Lena
/ With Mr. Leighton, of course All tn,
h. girls are dying of envy, and we will .7f7aisl
he them this trip" replied Carrie.
be "Why Carrie, Mr.. Leighton is out o
o. town."
ve Sure enough. shall inform Brothe
IS Frank of that, and he will be delighted t.
d. bear off the Belle of the season. exclaim
w ed Carrie. . / must retnrn," continued, she
- "for it will take me three whole hours t
or don my riding habit, and have my hair ar
he ranged becomingly. You see | mean to b
perfectly irresistibles-ha! ha!"-and sh
,rt dashed away like a sunbeam.
ed Young Wilbar was not beautiful, yet on
ma could not see and fail to admire his pale ir
on tellectual brow and dark flashing eye Len
IS had ever admired him. especially as he wa
led firm advocate of Temperance. He ha
o. loved Lena, and to her he had told his his
tory-told her of his boy bood-his unhap