Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-26

Aggle French had not arrived at the |
entire truth about the separation between
Miss Ash and Howard Thorne. She had
not Tilted him. They had given each
other up mutually. 1t was the fortieth
lovers quarrel, perhaps for Miss Ash |
was of tempestuous temperament, and |
Thorne not over patient 1t was the one |
too many, at any rate, for they had new |
er made it up, and FIVE years have passed
without seeing each other. In the mean
time, some of Thorne's relations had died /
and LETT him fortune, making him bet
ter worth winning Miss Ag.ie was !
mistaken, too in thinking that her friend
came to The Shoals without knoying |
that her cid lover was there. No allu-
sion to the knowledge had escaped her
in her letter.; but the certainty of meet
ing him had been her sole. motive To
do her justice, she did not know of his
engagement. She learned that for the
first time in her two hours with Miss
French before tea. 1t dismayed her not
little. 1t was an obstacle she had not
toTescen, and she did not feel entire
l1.th now in the success which had seem
ed so certain before.
When they were introduced she had
looked at Alice anxiously. She was not
blind to the youth and freshness against
which she must contend. She acknowl-
edged to herself that the girlish face,
with the bunch of blue flowers (the
treasure-troVe) in the soft hair, had
sweet charm of its own. She almost
despaired-not quite.
For some days she held herself rather
/ HNr 4
betrothed. When any thing brought her
IN contact with .them, she was play.
full sometimes, sometimes little reserved
and sad, though kind always. There was
so much variety in her moods that Thorne
grew interested before he. knew it in
watching them. He began to realize,
now he observed more closely, how roY-
ally beautiful she was. She had been
far l.ss- 81 e, = .1 - =, ~,
by her SMILE Her manner had changed
too. She had been impsrious then-she
was so still at times; but oftener there
was tender, half pathetic softness in her
words and ways which made him think
she had grown sadder with the sad years.
Had her life missed him? There was
subtle hattery in the thought against
which his vanity was not proof
He was not untrue toward his little
love in all these speculations least
not consciously; but they were danger
ous-very dangerous one day when he
suffered himself, sitting idly and alone
on the piazza, to wonder what would
have been the result of his meeting again
with Miss Ashe if he had never seen AL
ice.
:, Just then she came up in her loveliest
mood. Tenderness in person to whom
nature has given the seal of sovereignty
moves us far more than in those gentle
: persons to whom it seems Indigenous -
= She looked sad, this Lady Magnificent
as Aggie French had dubbed her. Sh,
was simply dressed, in a robe of feecJ
> white, with few flowers stuck for sol
+. ornament in belt and bosom. Her eye
r were downcast There was stain as O
tears on her cheeks. Some impulse h
q should haveresisted drew Thorne to he
s side Are there moments in all live
T. when our good angels forsake us? Hal
g unconsciously he said to her: Mis- Ash
e Georgiana, we were friends ence. I
= not like to see you sad.'
The great amber eyes turned on hiI
le look of mute reproach. After mo
) ment she said, with tri1e of the cid pet
ulance:
r Il do not like to have my moods noti
N ed. 1t is not generous of you, with a
n you want in life, to look out from tt
- safe shelter of your happiness and watc
ct how bear loneliness and heartache.'
ne All want in life
h He repeated the words after her dream
ht lily, as if he were questioning himse
- whether indeed he had what he want,
~ in life. The past seemed to threb aga
in his heart-tingle in his pulses. We
a. the days dead in which he had be-
,aI this woman's lover? They had turne
n mechanically as it were, and were pas
n ing down the shaded path which she b
rht walked up alone. For a while Meth
he spoke. What subtle magnetism was
,ot her presence that made it thrill him
- - just to walk by her sides He stole
1g look at her at length. She was pale
hsst the lips, and slew tears were steal,
20 frem under dropping lids. A sudd
as. mad impulse swayed him-a wild lor
ent ing to read her heart. He put out
.t hand and touched hsrs. He spoke W
;ch tone that would be obeyed
,ud What is it! VIII know. Is it 8
and thought of the past, of me, which mo
led, your
an She turned her eyes full of repro
upon him.