Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-07


ded. It was hot, and the balcony was
crowded. The dust raised by the pas
sengsrs and horsemen who thronged the
streets below made q position on the
balcony anything but agreeable.
The scene witnessed by those who over
looked the streets would have been en-
Evening but for occasional intrusion OF
the most painful spectacles. Had there
been nothing to attract the attention out
the long lines of dusty prisoners, the eso
eort bearing the captured colors. or inc
knots of citizens who congratulated ope
another on their deliverance from the'oe-
s%eigipp foe. the scene would, lndeeo,
have been most exhilarating; but now
and then a litter was borne by the eye
. of it's pale occupant fixed on vacuity as
the throbs of vitality grew feeble within
his breast or another, from which a
manly face, regarding not the throng
which parted for the bearers, exhibited a
struggle between fortitude and suffering.
These dark touches sobered the whole
picture ; and while the hearts of the spec,
tators swelled with gratitude for victories
won, their purest emotions were excited in
s~ympsthfzing with those who had suffer-
cd in battling for them.
One Of the two young ladies already =
mentioned was Mary Hyde, the sister of
Chester Fielding's friend; the other was
Lucy Gwynn, in whom Abner either was
or thought he was, particularly Interested.
Lucy, with her father and mother, on
hearing Of the beginning of the battles
around Richmond, had started from South
Western Virginia where they resided, to
be near at hand in case her brother who
was in the army should come to any harm
in the contest. Mary Hyde at the in
stance of her parents, the health and age
of neither of whom permitted their trav-
cling under the discomforts which are
inseparable from a journey now a -days,
had accompanied the Gwynns to look
out for her brother Abnsr, who they fear
ed, might put himself in jeopardy in some
way according to his custom when dan
ger was convenient though they hac
learned from his unfrequent letters tina
he was : out Of range, and in the NOR
peaceful walks of affairs unwarlike.'
The Gwynns had heard of the safety q
their boy and were anxiously awaiting
visit from him now that the hottest of tn
fighting was probably over. Mary wa
as yet ignorant of Abner's whereabouts
in fact she hardly knew how to common
q search for him, as Abner was never ex
plicit enough in any of his letters p Civ
any clue to his movements besidek the
had not received one from him fosksom'
time consequently she was very niue
uneasy about him. Let us leave II
balcony, Lucy dear she said to her con
panion who was wholly absorbed in VIII
was transpiring in the street. Oh n
Mary don't 20 yet there will be son
more prisoners presently ; | want to S
them bring o General by /; they mig
catch;McClellan you know, and it won
be a great pity not to see him. Blu
can't stay any longer Lucy +; Pm in terri
for fear that Abner will be brought
like the poor officer whom we saw j.
now; l cannot bear it any longer
Her voice was really piteous, and Lu
felt the arm which was around her wa
tremble so, yielding to these eloque
appeals she went IN, though with sol
reluctance.
They sat near the window to cat
what little fresh air was stirring.
(CoNCLUDED NEXT WEEK.