Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-28
Cgoite Eiterature.
From the Southern Field and Fireside.l
THE UNDYING ONE.
A LEGEND OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTER l.
speed on, speed on. nay gondola!
The light Of day is coming on;
Oh, bear me to my lady love,
Ere Jura gltters in the sun.
The morning star, |
In space afar,
Shines dimly DER the waveless lake;
Then cleave the spray
My gondolA,.
Ny song stall bid my love awake"
Such was the song that swelled smooth
/ ly over the calm bosom of the lake of
Geneva, as the saffron tint of dawning
5 day began to flicker in the East. A light |
gondsl2 skinned lightly over the CLASSY !
waters, and a youth of noble mien ran
" his fingers over the yielding strings of a
0 mellow guitar, raising his clear, full voice
to the harmonious accompaniment OF the
Eloquent cords. There was q peaceful
charm even in the wild majesty Of nature.
The ripples swept up the pebbly shore
the songsters of the wood, had not, as
vet awakened their cheerful melody the
leaves hung motionless upon the tangled
limbs, and the clear blue sky yet retain.
cd few lingering stars, whose waning
lustre bespoke the approach of the gol-
den monarch of the, day. The lofty sum-
nit of meunt Jura still looked darkly
towards the orient horizon, and each peak
OF the towering Alps seemed anxious to
snatch the first proud glimpse of day.
Half-hidden amidst groves of majestic
elns enc might, even at that twilight
hour, catch glimpse Of the white halls
of the villa of Wildenburg, as it stood
high above the waveless bosom of the
lake, and ssemed to court the voiceless
solitude. This villa had been the sum-
Iisr residence Of long line of barons of
the Wildeaburg family and, though it
still bore marks of its ancient architec-
ture, yet, 1t had partially changed its
fseda4 tsatsrss With ersgY gsperati0n,
,NAta - 4.ssuInSa SnarsCc&f OeJW6Un Ca
heavy 1nd dull structures of by-gone
ages, and the light, fantastic elegance o
modern edifice. Its present proprietor
Charles Baron, of Wildsnburg, was {
man Of power and wealth he obtained
his poSer by his open-heartedness, lib
erality, and urbanity. His wealth hac
not been accumulated by his own ex-
ertionS; his father, whose character wa
the reverse of his sons, as night is t
day, had left him more than enough fo
himself and family, and the surplus h
determined should be used for the ben
eft Of those around him. Blanca, hi
only child, was his idol bearing, as sh
did, o strong resemblance to her depart
cd neither, on whom he doated; a
adoned mind, and person as lovely a
hsr heart was noble, how could a. hus
bari help cherishing this animated an
beautiful memento of departed wife
Bislca's eyes were of deep, soul-speAl
ing blue, beaming gsntlensss and benig
niE-her complexion was made up
th delicate blending of the rose and th
lii; her hair, of rich auburn colo
fd in rich clustering curls over her fnt
lymoulded shoulders, while her forl
= ufited delicacy with grace and ease.
sight tinge of melancholy oversprea
hr countenancs, perhaps made habltu
finn the remembrance Of the death
he cherished mother; but, when smi
spread her lips, it shone with tenfs
ktlsndor, like = sunbeam bursting thr
tte folds of sombrs cloud. AS to h
disposition, it was gentle and affable, tn
still possessing a slight degree of haug
tiness, which probably sprung from
mother, who never forgot her heredita
dignity, even when moving amidst Il
splendor of royalty.
shall new introduce the young 9
renader to my readers. His name "
Wilfred St. Armand, the youngest son
poor, but noble gentleman, who prid
himself on nothing but the ancient a
honorable name he bore, two come
daughters, and four handsome sons.
Wilfred was the favorite associate
Baron Wildenburg, and was ever by
side as they ranged among the lofty AL
and passed days, nay, even weeks, up
their frowning brows, and in their de
vallies, in search of game. 1t is
strange that being SO often in the soci,
of the lovely Blanca, our young hun
should have opened his eyes to her D,
i fections; nor is it strange that the mi
herself, who saw but little of the wor
should also translate truly delight
language in the glances of his dark E
NV story would scarcely be worth re
ing did l not say that the twain
solved the hearts enigma, and lear
to think that nature had formed tn
for one another. Love is the veriest
.tAle that ever wagged sycopha
tongue he will leave a soft magic aro
the hesrt-deal in wizard lsres, and t