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HOUGHTON, MSMT,BAKNES&MOORE
rajiisbers and Proprietors.
w v. BOl'(iIITO.\, ) ...
(Confcbcritte Pinion
Is published Weekly, in Milledger Hie, Ga.,
Corner of Hancock and Wilkinson Sis.,
(opposite Court House.J
At $5 a year in Advance.
Ol'R SEW TERMS.
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benefit, charged as transient advertising.
vt.—Citations for letters of administra
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ten by Administrators, Executors, Guardi
ans, occ,
Application for Dismission from Administrator-
Application for Dismission from Guardianship,
Application for leave to sell Land or Negroes,
Notice to debtors and creditors
Sales of personal or perishable property, (per
square of ten lines
Sales of Land or Negroes, (per square of ten
Each'Sheriff’s Levy, of ten lines or less
Each Mortgage sale, of ten lines or less
All advertisements by Sheriffs exceeding ten
lines to be charged in proportion
Foreclosure of Mortgage and other Monthly
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Establishing iost papers, per square olten lines,
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LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
Sales of Land and Negroes, by Administrators, Ex
ecutors or Guardiuus, are required by law to be lielc
on the first Tuesday in the month ; between the hours
of 10 in the foreao<ui and three iu the afternoon, at the
Court house in the county in which the property is
situated.
Noticeof these sales musl be given in a public ga
zette 40 days previous to the day of sale.
Notices for the sale of personal property must be
given in like manner iO days previous to sale day.
Notices to the debtors and creditors of an estate
must also be punished 40 days.
Notice that application will be made to the Court of
Ordinary for leave to sell Laud or Negroes, must be
published for two mouths.
Citations for letters of Administration Guardianship,
A must be published 30 days—for dismission from
Administration, monthly six months—tor dismission
from Guardianship, 40 days.
Rules for foreclosure of Mortgage must be published
mout'ih/ for four months—for establishing lost papers,
for thi full space of three months—for compelling titles
from Executors or administrators, where bond lias been
jri von by the deceased, the full space of three months.
Publications will always be continued according to
these, the legal requirements, unless otherwise ordered.
VOLUME XXXIV.]
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, IS63.
[From the Baptist Banner.]
Chickamaug-a.
It is said that during the-prevalence of small
pox among the Indians living on the banks of the
Chickamauga river, those afilicted with the loath
some. painful disease, sought reiief by plunging
in the cool waters of tie mountain stream: Many
died Irom exposure; so ike name “Chickamauga,’’ j
signifying “river of blood, or death,’’ was given i
by the survivors of the tribe. I
Long years ago, above thy glancing tide,
Thesilv’ry willow drooped its branches wide.
Along thy banks, inwrought with stars of gold,
Aud veined with violets, the hunter bold,
With footsteps fleet, the bounding stag did chase.
Fresh from the trail of blood, his vengeful face.
Stain'd with the war-paint, came ths Indian'brave,
In thy cool flow his weary limbs to lave.
The dusky maiden came with lightsome tread,
’Neath which the hare bell hardly bent its head,
There, in the tresses of her hair to twine. .
The coral clusters of the bright wood-bine:
Then, bending o'er the wave—with glad surprise,
Saw, mirror’d there, her starry, flashing eyes.
Thy name was then some gentle, liquid word,
Caught from the carol of the woodland bird.
To the Headers of the Confederate
Union.
Now that the Election is over, we
shall have a large space in our paper to
devote to Miscellaneous reading—com
prising choice selections ot Literature,
Agriculture, Science and Art. To the
ladies, we promise as good a variety of
miscellaneous reading as can be found
in any paper at the South. Not love
sick, namby-pamby, tales, but solid,
entertaining and instructive reading.
We now have ten times as many lady j
reai’
since our connection with the paper.
Of course the “ War News” *vill have
a conspicuous place in our columns.
But to the‘red men s, home, unsurr.moned, esme
A guest, with burning breath and hand of flame,
Whose touch was agony. Mad with fierce pains,
Longing to cool the lava in their veins,
The victims plunged within thy sparkling waves,
| To find, beneath the crystal tide, their graves.
1 he living fled away, us, with hush'd breath,
j j They whisper’d •Chickamauga’—^'stream of death"
Beyond the sunset hills of the far West,
The Indians, years ago, have found a rest;
And children of the ‘pale face.’ free and strong,
Embalm their names in story and in song.
At first, we could the savage taste but blame
Rut now, ice gaze upon thy tus bid flood,
And call thee, ‘Chickamauga’—■stream of blood"
| From the bleak mountains of the frozen North
j The tyrant called his hireling legions forth;
From the rich valleys of the fertile, West
! In hordes they, came, to find—But grates unblcst'.
To ravage and to desolate our land,
Ills minions rush’d with sword and blazingbrand;
t But soon they fell, or fled, before the might
Of patriots aimed with lrecdom and with right.'
’Mid the loud clangor where the sabres clashed,
Where the red lightning of the ordnance flashed,
Hurling hot deatli-bolts through the serried lines,
Crashing thro’ sturdy oaks and mountain pines—
Our brave men battled for our liberty.
Defying death to make their country free,
Till the green turf along thy winding shcro
Was crimson with our noblest warriors' gore.
‘River of death’ wert thou to gallant youth;
‘River of death, to chivalry and truth;
‘River of death,’ to hearts bowed down in woe—
Aye, stream of blood and death, to friend and foe!
But old we know to many iiT that strife,
Not ‘Chickamauga' thou, but, stream if life"
For ere their forms were laid beneath the sod,
Their souls were resting in the smile of God!
Rest, patriots! in your dreamless, peaceful sleep;
No cannon’s roar can break your slumbers deep.
Your name on Glory's roll call Fame shall trace.
In characters that Time can ne'er efface!
And ye, who passed unscathed that fearful fight,
On your gay banners now may proudly write
But ‘Chicamauga.’—that one word will be
A rnon'ry and a pledge of victoy!
lets as we have had at any one time I The soldier wounded on that glorious day,
' With thought of it shall chase his pain away;
’Twill give the sluggish blood a heathful start,
Bringing back hope and vigor to bis heart.
But let no careless lips thy name e’er speak,
Or else some womau’s loving heart will break;
For near the ripple of thy blood-stained wave,
Unnumbered hopes have found a cruel grave.
Oct. 16. 1S63. NYMPOKTE.
Politics will be eschewed for the pres
ent, at least to a great extent. The
doings of the Legislature will receive
due attention. All local matters con
nected with the State offices at the
Capitol, of public and general interest,
will find “ brief mention” in our paper.
Persons who wish to subscribe to a
cheap and good paper,now have an op
portunity to do so. Our Terms are !
$•3.00 a year, in advance ; G copies for ;
S‘23.00. Address Confederate Union
otllee Milledgeville, Ga.
The Hegira of the Gamblers.
"There is no rest for the wicked”
gambler in Virginia. Like the "Wan- ;
dering Jew, must “march, march, |
march,” away from Virginia. An j
avenging Nemesis pursus him, bearing
aloft in her hand a red cow skin.
Away, away! but they must not stop
in Petersburg, as some have done, nor
in Lynchburg, but “shove along, keep
moving” out of Virginia. No sky
parlor in hotels, no garrets, no cellars,
no “stable loft” will hide them. The
cow skin Nemesis will avenge the
reign of the young, the middle aged,
and the old man.
It is said by our agent of the cow
skin Nemesis that every gambling hell
in Richmond was closed on Thursday
night, and that the fight of the gam
blers to Petersburg bad begun. A
short remove from the Capitol will
not satisfy the aforesaid Nemesis with
the cow skin; the Mayor and constaul-
ary fore of Petersburg must be up and
vigilant; hendsoine rewards repay in
dustry under this law. Be vigilant
he watchful, and hunt “the tiger” out
of his every lair in Virginia.
Richmond Enq., 17.
A patrioc lady of A'eutucky, by the
named of Adams, has sacrificed to her
patriotism the comfort of her infant
child, by naming him Geo. D. Pren
tice Jas. P. Grant Orlando H. Rose-
crans Stanley Berryman Burnside
Adams. The little fellow is only five
Weeks old and cannot remonstrate.
A your.g man on being asked by bis
sweetheart what phonography was, took
out bis pencil and wrote the following,
felling Ler that was phonography : “U It
A 13 U T, J, X.” (You are a beauty,Ell
en.)
The men who can stand up against
the chain lightning whiskey and tan
gle foot peach brandy* now soid at
outofthe way places in this section,
ar e stvled “iron-clads.”
Promoted.—It is rumored that G.
f-Anderson, of Georgia, was appoint
ed Major General during the Presi
dent's late visitto the Army of Ten
nessee. (Jen. Anderson is a brave and
efficient officer and belonged to the
United State Regular Army before the
vv ar. He is knowfi among his men
Uv the sovhrigvct of “ Old TigcE
“DRESSING FOR CHURCH.”
_()—
I las anybody heard the bell ?
. Yon have ! dear me, I know full well
I'll never dress in time.
For mercy's sake, come help me Jane:
I'll make my toilet quite plain,
(This for the sake of rhyme.)
Here, lacethis gaiter for me—do;
“A hole,” you say ? plague take the shoe!
Please, J any, try to hide it.
I know it’s Sunday—but my soul,
I can not wear it until a hole 1
The men will surely spy it.
They're always peeping at our feet,
(Tho' to be sure they need’nt peep
The way we hold oar dresses,)
I'll disappoint them tho’ to-day,
“And cross myself,” pray, did you say T
Don't laugh at my distresses.
IIow beautiful this silk will rustle ;
(Please hand my “self-adjusting bustle,
My corset.and iny hoop.)
There now, I’ll take-five skirts or six;
Do hurry, Jane and help me fix—
You know I cannot stoop.
“How shall I say my prayers to-day ?”
As if girls went to church to pray !
How can you be so foolish !
Here, damp this ribbon in cologne;
“What for,” to paint, you silly one—
Now, Janey, don’t be mulish!
It's no more harm than “Lilly White”
('Please see if this cheek’s painted right,
And hand my box o£chalk.)
Now damp the towel, Janey, dear,
And wipe this eyebrow—much I fear,
I shall be late to walk.
Now then my bonnet, if you please—
The thing’s as big as all out doors,
The frightful sugar scoop !
Thank heaven, my mantle s handsome tho’
It cost enough to be, I know,
(Straighten this horrid hoop.)
My handkerchief and gloves you’ll find
Just in that drawer—you're very kind.
(Does my dress trail I)
It’s all the fashion now, you know,
(Pray, does the paint aud powder show
Thro’ this lace vail!)
Thank you my dear ! I believe I’m dressed.
The saints be praised ! the day of rest
Comes only once in seven ;
For if on all the other six
This trouble I should have to fix,
I’d never get to heaven.
Written for the Magnolia Weekly.
sented, gratis, to the regards of the passers
by-
On the footstool at her feet sat lier com
panion, a pretty, sylph-iike figure, with
bright dark eyes, and brown hair. She
was at this moment reading aloud the fol
lowing lines, from the last number of the
“Literary Star,” just out.
“ TO MY SPIRIT LOVE.
“ BY ETIIERIA.
“ Where art thou, my lonely heart's beloved?
Thou unseen idff of my weary soul:
Say, in what sunny regions far removed.
Or in what icy realms beyond tbe pole ?
Dost thou not feel tbe spirit's mystic yearning,
Drawing thee to me with a spell divine—
E'en as my pining soul is ever turning
To seek a mystic sympathy with thine ?
“ Away T with earth ! Oh, on its eagle-pinions
My soul, with thine, is soaring far above,
Wandering amid aereal dominions
To find its destiny, unseen spirit-love !
Come to me, come ! my lonely heart's ideal,
Spirit or human—whatsoe’er thou be !
For 'mid the low, the actual, the real,
I dwell alone in dreams of heaven and thee!”
“ It’s lovely !” said the young lady ad-
| miringly; “ and such a sweet name—
! Ethcria ! Oh, how I wish that I could write
j poetry like you do, Mary Ann !”
“ Breathe not that wish, Sarah Jane !”
returned her companion, with impressive !
j and melancholy earnestness. “ Alas! did ]
j you but know at what juice the gift of"
I Song is purchased—of the sliarji thorns
j that lurk beneath the laurel wreath which
adorns the brow of the poet—you would
pray to be spared that glorious but fatal
distinction, aud to be allowed to walk the
common paths of life unnoticed and hap-
pv !”
Sarah Jane had a great admiration for
her friend, Miss Mary Ann Hopkins,whom
she had known a long time—indeed, ever
since she had come with her grandma to
board at the Misses Sciuggs’, nearly six
months ago ; and she now listened almost
with awe to her words. It sounded just
like Miss Landon’s poetry, she thought.
“ Do you ever wish that, Mary Ann 1”
she enquired.
“ No, Sarah Jane, no ! If mj r guardian
angel has seen tit to bestow upon me that
fatal gift, I will not shrink from *he lot it
entails—though that lot be to walk alone
and unsympathized with among the com
mon herd ot humanity. Yes,” she added,
with a lofty resignation, “let me jiass un-
complainingly through this earthly life,
mingling with creatures of clay, while my
soul, that divine spark of Immortality, is
ever soaring away in yearnings for a purer
life, for a dearer companionship—a holier
communion !”
“Don’t you think, dear,” said Sarah
Jane, hesitatingly, “ don’t you think you
would be happier married ?”
“ Married !” cried Ethcria, in a tone of
lofty scorn ; “ married ! And who among
the beings with whom I am daily brought
into contact, could my spirit stoop to ac
knowledge as its lord and master? Who
among them could appreciate my actual
sell—my spiritual nature ?”
“ I know, Mary Ann, that all are not
gifted as you, or capable of appreciating
your talents, blit don’t you think that some
where in the world—I don’t mean here, in
Crabville—there may he some one whom,
if you could meet, you might like sufficient
ly well to marry ?”
“ Undoubtedly, Sarah .lane, there are
kindred spirits on earth—but, alas ! their
lot is to walk alone through this life, each
pining for its own destined companion, yet
doomed never to meet except in a future
A young man, well dressed and good
looking, with a brightlisank fape and laugh
ing black eves, entered. This was Harry
Martin, whom everybody iu Crabville
knew and liked.
Behind him appeared a thin, flabby, un
wholesome looking face, enlightened by a
pair of spectacles, through which gleamed
a couple of very light colored, very promi
nent gray eyes, and whose face was further
adorned by two thin and straggling tufts
of flaxen hair pendent from either cheek.
This was Air. Sciaggins.
“ Come in, Sciaggins,” said Air. Harry
Martin, half encouragingly,half coaxingly ;
“we don’t interrupt the ladies, I hope.”
Thus adjured the unwholesome visage
advanced into the room, borne reluctantly
forward by a slim body which appeared all
arms and legs, loosely hung together. 1 he
limbs deposited themselves in an arm chair, I
the bony hand caressed the flaxen tufts,
and the eyes stared vacantly through the
spectacles at a portrait on the opposite
wail, in quite a ghostly manner.
“ Fine face that, Seraggins,” said Mr.
Harry Alartin, as if amiably desirous to
draw his friend into conversation and ac
quaintance with the ladies.
“Ah! eh? ares—very!” responded
Seraggins, absently.
“1 can’t agree with you, Air. Alartin,”
said Miss Hopkins. “ I’ve no taste for
thin mer,, and as to flaxen hair, I have
never-known a man with hair of that color
who had a particle of character, or more
mind than a lobster or a wood-pecker.”
And ATiss Hopkins, rising majestically,
stalked fiom the room, drawing aside her
skirts as she passed Air. Seraggins, as
though he were some loathsome reptile,
whose touch would he pollution.
From tint hour a deadly enmity existed
between Miss Hopkins and Air. Seraggins
—manifested by the first in a mein of lofty
contempt,and by the latter in an affectation
of supreme indifference.
As to Sarah Jane and Harry Martin, it
began to be observed.thatthey seemed very
good friends.
closed the window and retired—not to
sleep, but still to dream of her Israefel.
On the following day, it was agreed be
tween tho two young ladies, that as daily
visits to the post-otliee in disguise mighL
[NUMBER 24.
ded to the natural jealousy of Aliss Bridg
et’s disposition, kept her in a state of sus
picion and distrust, and her lover, as lie
himself declared, ‘in a kittle o’ hot water.'
With this urfflerstanding ot the case, it
CHAPTER II.
On the Saturday following, Miss Simp
kins rushed into Aliss Hopkins’ room,
flushed and breathless with excitement.
“ Listen, Alary Ann ! only listen !” and
tearing open the pages of that day’s ‘Lit
erary Star,’ she read aloud, as follows :
“ Will Ethcria, author of the lines enti
tled “ To my Spin/ Love," send her ad
dress to one who can appreciate and re
spond to the Feeling
ill prompted that
beautiful poem ? Address Israefel, Eden
How, Crabville.
A1 iss Hopkins’ cheek flushed to the hue
of a carnation, and hastily snatching the
paper, she in her turn read the advertise
ment aloud, as if to satisfy herself of its
reality.
“ Only think !” said Sarah Jane.
“At last !” murmured Etheria, clasping
her hands, and uplifting her eyes to heav
en ; “ At last !”
There followed a meffnent's awe-stricken
silence on Sarah Jane's part ; while Ethe
ria, with tlie assistance of a flask of sal
volatile, slowly recovered from her emo
tion.
“ Of course, dear, you will send the ad
dress?” said Aliss Simpson at length.
“ That,” replied her fiieud, thoughtful
ly, “ requires consideration.”
“ So the two considered for half an hour,
existence. Some indeed, do meet, and at the end of which time they arrived at
walk together through life in a perfect com-,
muiiion of heart and soul, but such a lot is
rare indeed,and I fear,will never he mine.”
Etheria sighed.* Sarah Jane looked with
sympathizing earnestness, and turned again
to the paper, reading over the lines of “ To
my Spirit Lore,” slowly and musingly.
The silence was broken by the opening
and shutting of the front garden gate.
“ Here are tho gentlemen !” exclaimed
Sarah Jane, “Do Alary Ann, do let me
shew them this lovely poem of yours.”
the following conclusions
That under the circumstances, ‘ Mary
Ann Hopkins,’ was not exactly an appro
priate name to send to Israefel. It might
possibly shock his spiritual sensibilities, as
it had ever been revolting to those ot its
fair owner. And beside, “ the JHisscs
Scruggs’ Boarding house sound-, d so ex
ceedingly prosaic and common place. No;
the real name and address must he with
held for the present.
Moreover, as Aliss Simpkins rather tim-
Never !” exclaimed Alary Ann,snatch- ' idly suggested, that they did not yet know
ing the paper from the hand of her friend ; ' who Israefel was. lie might he, an im-
“ never, Sarah Jane, “ unveil the most sa- ! postor; a gambler, or swindler, or a releas-
cred feelings of my soul to the vulgar gaze.” I ed convict even.
“ Air. Martin isn’t vulgar, I’m sure,Alary j But here Miss Hopkins interrupted her
Ann said Aliss Simpson, (that was Sa- w ith dignity. Was it possible that Sarah
’ Jane had never heard of Israefel, one of
the seven Archangels, and the second in
order after Gabriel ? And she reminded
spirit
rah Jane’s sir name,) with more
than she had yet displayed.
“ Air. Alartin may be, and I dare say is,
a very nice person,” replied Miss Hopkins, her of Fee’s poem,
condescendingly, “but still he is‘ofthe
earth earthly,’ and as for that other, that
odeous Mr. Seraggins—”
“ Hush !” said Sarah Jane, warningly.
For the window was open.and the young
I men were approaching it. As they passed,
; the following fragment of their conversa-
i tion wa3 distinctly audible to the fair lis-
J teners within
Seraggins.
I ter supper ?”
! Martin
“ In heaven a spirit doth dwell,
Whose heart strings are a lute,
None sing so wildly well
As the Angel, Israefel;
And the giddy stars, (so legends tell.)
Ceasing their hymns, attend the spell
Of his voice, all mute !’’
The Spirit Bride.
However, Aliss Simpson’s suggestion
was not without its effect upon Aliss Hop-
*<—little champagne and oys- 1 kins—wherefore the following note was
j written, upon perfumed and gilt-edged pa-
With "-reat pleasure. But j per, and at the mystic hour of twilight de-
suppese we step into the parlor, and posited by Aliss Simpson s own hand in
eDjoy the society of the ladies for a while, j the post-office ; she aud Etheria being care-
I dare say we shall find Aliss Hopkins j fully veiled from the vulgar gaze of curios-
there.” ity, in thick green veils and shawls, which,
Scroggins. “ ’Xcuse me, my dear fel- ! as the weather was warm, seemed to at-
BY S. A. W.
The last rays of the setting sun stream
ed forth from a gorgeous cloud, tinging its
edges with burnished purple gold, tipping
the peaks of the distant mountains with
roseate hues, and lighting the nearer steo-
lah. I’ve a horror of fat girls, aud as to
red heads, they may be very well in lob
sters aud woodpeck ”
The voice and a slight laugh accompa
nying died away, and a scraping of feet on
the door mat succeeded.
Aliss Hopkins’face flushed scarlet.
Fat! She, Etheiia, accused of being
fat ! To think of a spiritual essence eu-
ple of the village church, until'they rested shrined in a fat body ! and red-headed. She
at last in the small parlor of the Alisses compared to a lobster and a wood-pecker !
Scruggs’ hoarding house, in the town of • The insolence, tbe presumption of that odi-
Crahville. ous creature, Seraggins, whom she verily
In that parlor sat, within the shade of believed had not two ideas in his brain, aud
a faded moreen window-curtain, two mai- j whose solo enjoyment of life seemed to
dens. One, a damsel of twenty-five, re- I consist in'eating aud smoking. Not that
dined lano-uidly in a large arm-chair, ga- | she knew much about him in any respect;
zing pensively out upon the river at the ! only, that he was travelling about for his
bottom of the garden, now reflecting the 1 health, and that meeting with Harry Alar-
rich hues of the sun-set. Her eyes weie tin, an old schoolmate, at the MissBctuggs’
light blue ; her complexion fair, inclined to .boarding-house, he had been induced to
florid • her hair, (covered as much as pos- ; prolong his stay there for some weeks ;
sible by a blue and silver net,) was what and that on the whole, lie was a strange,
most people would have called red ; and shy. reserved, incomprehensible and tim
ber figure wasrather plump than otherwise
Altogether, her appearance was, or lather
would have been agreeable, hut for an ex
pression of her languid intjjfterencc and
chilling'hauteur— as though earth contain
ed not fling of sufficient worth to interest
her. On her lap lay an open volume
“ Sorrows of JVerter and a cluster ot
oughly odious sort of a person ; never com
ing near the ladies except at meals, when
compelled to do so, aud then manifesting
the most perfect indifference to their socie
ty ; never opening his mouth except to eat,
whiih he did voraciously, hurrying away
the moment he had swallowed his last
mouthful. No wonder that the Alisses
crysanthemum, and a scroll of music were ! Scruggs regarded him with awful looks,and
visible on the small table beside her. A
harp and one end of a piano dimly filled
up the hack ground of tho tableau thus pre-
that Miss Hopkins cast upon him glances
of supreme contempt. But now to think—
The parlor door opened.
tract the attention of the passers by.
“Let Israefel (for reasons which must
for the present remain enshrouded in mys
tery, think of and address Etheria by that
name alone—heedless of her earthly ap
pellation. A time may come ”
And with this delicate hint of encourage
ment the communication ended—leaving it
in a delightful state of mystery and obscu-
rity.
That night Aliss Hopkins sat up two
hours beyond her usual hour of retiring,
gazing from her open window upon the star
lit heavens and the moonlit garden, with
the glancing ripples of tbe river beyond,
and dreaming dreams of her Spirit-Love, as
loug sought, and now, at last, thank heav
en, found. F At every faint sigh of the
night wind she fancied that she felt his
breath, the breath of Israefel, on her brow.
At each slight rustle behind the old-fash
ioned wainscot—(the vulgar idea of rats
never entered her refined mind,) she start
ed as with a sense of his presence near.
Earnestly she gazed into the moonlight,
with a vague thought of the possibility of
an incomprehensible destiny leading his
footsteps mysteriously thither at that holy
hour. But she only saw the gaunt figure
o. tl eyounger Alisi Scruggs, curiously and
possibly attract attention, especially off^ot to he wondered at that Mike’s singu,ar
Aliss Scruggs, from whose Argus eyes noth- conduct for some davs past, in stealing out
ing connected with her boarders could es- about dusk, and on'his return declining to
cape, it was absolutely necessary to entrust confide to his lady-love the cause or nature
that important errand to some third person. 0 f his errand, had aroused in the mind of
After some debate, they fixed upon Alike, that lady the most dire suspicions. And
the Irish waiter, a well-behaved, obliging . when, on the iinjiortant evening appointed
youth, as the person most likely to fulfil the f or the tryst with Israefel, Alike made his
commission to their satisfaction. Alike was appearance in the kitchen in his • Sunday
accordingly spoken to in private, and “for • - - -
the considtherationof obleegingthe ladies, ’
agreed to the plan, ar.d was at once promo
ted to the office of carrier-dove, with a fix
ed salary of twenty-five cents for every
letter directed to Etheria which he should
privately place in the hand of that young
lady.
Alike’s visit to the post-office brought
Aliss Hopkins the following note ;
I have read your beautiful poem,Ethe
ria. Its words have burned indelibly up
on a heart where for twenty-two years all
lias been an aching void—a horrid blank.
There must your image be forever impres
sed some person or some “spirit” “on
the Point,” at “lialf-past eight,” when
(here would be a “full moon,” and
fliat they were to “wear veils,” and
hat they somewhat dreaded the inter
view-—and that Mike had something to
io with it—and that they hoped that
she, Miss Lorinda, would be “out of
the way.”
Here was mystery! here was a plot!
And Miss Lorinda Scruggs set her who
soul to the unravelling of both.
She said nothing to her sister about
the matter; because Rebec’a, with her
straightforward, abrupt ways, would
be sure to spoil every thing; but she
formed her own plan, and was troub
led only by the difficulty of keeping it
from her sister. And therefore it w r as
that Miss Lorinda, upon finding herself
left alone to her own devices on this
evening, exclaimed, “How fortunate!”
She looked hurriedly at the clock.
“Three quarters past seven.” Time
[enough yet!
Mtuie, witn a burn standing: collar and lot- , , , , ,
. ii, i- ^ . n-j .. VY hereupon she put on her bonnet,
tj-rcrowncu fiat, and in answer to Budget s , . 1 , , , ’
enquiries merely hinted vaguely something ant * Passing out at the kitchen-door^
about ‘ladies’ and an ingagement. Miss took her way through the back garden,
Brian’s whole soul was aroused in jealous ; (which as we have elsewhere remar
suspicion. ! ked, extended to the river,) and thence
‘ Maybe it’s givin’ me the slip,he manes.’ ; followed the banks of the stream in
said Bridget to herself: ‘givin’ me the , vea r of various gardens and lots, until
slip, and lavin’ me a lone woman,while he’s : she reac hed “the Point,” about a quar-
znarrvm some nowlu-faced Jiussv that s . r „ a; . .
\ took him in, unbeknownst tome. But I’ll
: folly him,’ sire-added determir.ately ; ‘ I’ll
| follow him, and see wid me own e}es what
j thricks he’s up to.’
And in accordance with this resolve,Bid-
sed—my as yet unseen, though net nn- dy hastily put aside the last Sunday’s din-
known Spirit-Love. 1 or do we not know ner-napkins, which, according to the rules
each other through that invisible soul-
communion which needs no medium of the
sense for perfect mutual recognition ? I
felt this as I perused your beautiful lines
and felt each thrill to the inmost core of
my heart, in tones strange yet familiar—
awaking answering echoes of soul-music
which had long lain in its depths, silent yet
not dead—awaiting the touch of the Angel
who was to call them into life. Perchance
Etheria, in a previous life we may have ex
isted, yea. and loved. For who can unrav
el the secrets of the mystic Infinity? who
reveal the springs of the soul’s divine in
stincts ? And therefore, Etheria, may I,
the lonely Israefel. claim thee through all
ages as mine own—my Spirit-Bride.”
Etheria flushed ar.d trembled. Then
she smelled at the flask of ether to ca!m
the nerves—ate a green pickle to reduce
the unbecoming cclor ; and, finally, took a
pen and wrote as follows ;
“Thcu hast truly spoken, oh, Israefel.
The heart of the lonely Etheria does in
deed respond to thine in answering tones
of kindred sympathy, and admit that in
thee it has found that divine tie of spiritual
union, so long sought, and now at length
found.”
The next note from Israefel contained a
request for an interview.
“ In order,” lie beautifully remarked ;
“ In order that wc may know each other in
our earthly, as well as m our spiritual like
ness.”
“ Do gratify him, Alary Ann,” said Aliss
Simpson,who was dying of curiosity herself
to behold the “ earthly likeness” of Aliss
Hopkins’ spirit-bridegroom.
But Etheria hesitated. For full before
her eyes were the awful words, in round,
red characters of the odious Seraggins—
‘ Fat and red headed !’
Would Israefel view her in that light?
The thought was not to be borne.
‘ Do consent, Mary Ann,’ pleaded Aliss
Simpson, * and for the sake of propriety,
you know, Israefel being a stranger, 1
would not object to be present at the inter
view—though of course out of hearing,’
‘ But where could an interview take
place V said Aliss Hopkins, despondiugly.
This was a serious consideration.
‘ Couldn’t he call here, dear V
‘ What! a formal call, like any ordina
ry visitor?’
‘ He could be let in, you know, without
the formality of ringing.’
‘ But Aliss Lorinda Scruggs !’
‘ To-be-sure,’ said Sarah Jane, despond
of Alisses Scruggs’establishment, she was
ter of a mile distant.
A few moments after she was snug
ly er.sconsed behind a clump of fig-
trees just within the enclosure of Judge
B ’s garden; and, commanding a
full view, within ear-shot, of any per
son’s standing on the Point.
Scarcely had she settled herself to
damping and ironing over for next San- ] ier satisfaction in this umbrageous re
movements treat than she heard footsteps ap-
But while Biddy was thus railing at proaching along the garden walk.
Alike in the kitchen below, she was herself “Good gracious!” said Miss Scruggs,
the subject of discussion in the parlor above peering from between the fig-leaves
stairs. ]jke an elderly Dryad; “Good gracious!
‘ Rebecca,’ said Aliss Scmggs the young- there’s two of them instead of one—
er, whose name was Lorinda, to her sister ; ant j a j declare!” she added, with
‘Rebecca, theres sometbmg ads that girl. a palpitating heart; for this species of
JJiady Isnan. r or some days past she s * r i r . , , r
not been at all herself.’ animal was her mortal terror.
‘ So much the better, I dare say,’replied Now, Tony, said a gruff voice,
Aliss Scruggs, senior, who was remaikable ‘‘you stand yonder, behind them rose-
i foutlie brevity and sharpness of her speech. Bushes, with Grip, and be sure to keep
I * She’s been uncommonly absent and ir- him quiet until I whistles, then let him
: ritahle,’ pursued Aliss Lorinda. | fly at their throats. They’ll get none
‘ Always is,’said Aliss Scruggs. o’mv winter pears to-night, I guess.
‘ And to-day when 1 just looked into the pjj } ie b this here ho ] e that they made
kitchen to see wflat she could he about, I . ,, r , , er J j -c
i : • -,, , /iii i in the fence, and cut em on, and it
| tound her sitting with her arms folded, and ... ,
| the pot boiling over, gazing into the fi.e. they don t give up quietly 111 treat,
i And upon my remonstiatipg, she mattered ’em to a pepperin’ with my old gun
in the most insolent manner something here.”
j about ‘ having olher things to think of he- Whereupon, to Miss Scruggs’ unut-
j side biliu’ beef.’ Depend upon it. there’s terable horror, the speaker proceeded
j something on that girl s mind.’ ..to ensconce himself on the opposite
,‘Jts the sn eer spoon.no doubt, said gjflp 0 f the very fig-bush behind which
i Miss beruggs sharply ; thus alluding to a , . if l j
. • 1 ‘ , , she was herself concealed.
| loss nincfi having occurred nearly two j
; years, had ever since been a theme of bit- |
terness and contention between the Alisses
Scruggs and their domestics.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ responded
Aliss Lorinda ; ‘ and there’s the table-cloth
CHAPTER III.
The clock struck eight.
At exactly ten minutes thereafter,
that was missed off the lines the other day, tw0 f ema l e figures, muffled and veiled,
and my collar that never came in from tbe ig8lied f orth f rom the 8 jd e door of the
with various others *bich ymi Mj?geg Scrugg? > boarding houge and
my
wash in:
know have been missing iateh’. ,.t. ,
Irish are all rogues, and cunning enough to 8VV dtlj and silently gliding through
avoid detection generally, and though I the yard, took their way down a nar-
uever actually caught Bridget in—” row aud grassy lane which led towards
Here Aliss Lorinda, who,while speaking, the river,
had been also cautiously peeping through The taller and slenderer of the two
the window-blinds, made a sign to her sis- bad nothing particular in her appear-
ter, who immediately came to her side ance to attract the attention of a pas-
‘It s Budget, said Aims Rebecca, after ser . b but the oth er wore a white
a moment s survey. ‘ i> fly, wflat can she . , ... . ,
he about now!’ muslin dress, visible beneath her dark
Bridget’s motions, indeed were calcula- mantle, and on her brow was a wreath
ted to excite the attention of a less curious- of which crysanthemum, overshadow-
]y inclined person than Aliss Lorinda ed by a black poke-bonnet—the latter
Scruggs. With a shawl thrown over her evidently worn for sake of disguise.
head, and even gathered across her face,
she was lurking in an obscure corner of the
garden fence, whence she every now and
then emerged partially, and would then
suddenly dodge back again, as afraid of
being: seen. She was in fact watching Mike,
ingly. ‘ Of course she would be peeping or i and holding herself in readiness to follow
eaves-dropping somewhere, and find it out. ! his motions.
‘ Rebecca !’ said Miss Scruggs awfully,
‘Rebecca, that girl is bent upon no good.
Where can she he going in that disguise?
and what can her errand he, that she is
afraid ot being seen ?’
‘ To some receiver of stolen goods, no
doubt,’ replied Aliss Scruggs, decisively ;
What do you say to taking an ice, or a few
oysters at Fates, and meeting him there ?”
Etheria cast upon her friend a look of
lofty rebuke.
‘ Sarah Jane,’ said she plaintively, ‘ I
should never have supposed that you could
so trifle with my most sacred feelings as
to propose a meeting with Israefel in such
a place. Icecream and oysters ! Gracious : immediately arose and put on her bonnet, at each demonstration of the
It was the SpiritBride, accompanied
by her friend, on her way to meet her
Spirit Love.
They were followed at a short dis
tance by a figure attired in a very long-
skirted coat, high-crowned hat, and
a large standing collar; and who occa
sionally paused, looked round, and de
fiantly brandished a short stout stick or
club.
In the rear of this personage was
dimly visible a stout female figure,
which followed doggedly, yet cautious-
and being a woman of prompt action, she lyj pausing and shrinking out of sight
heavens!’
‘ 1 beg pardon, dear,’ said Aliss Simpson,
penitently. ‘ I’m sure I didn’t intend to
hurt your feelings, but you see, I am not
spiritual like you, so how could I help it ?’
‘Amid starlight, and flower-odors, and
the murmur of waters, should our meeting
be,’ said Etheria, softly.
Aliss Simpson’s face brightened. •
‘ Oh, then, Alary Aun, suppose we go on
the Foint ? It’s not far off, yon know—
that pretty, grassy point, jutting into the
river at the bottom of Judge B ’s gar
den ? The family are away now, and be
side, the Foint don’t belong to them ; so
we may take the liberty.’
Why, where are you going, Rebecca?’
‘ To follow her !’ replied Aliss Scruggs,
firmly ; * To find out where these articles
are taken to, and then to call a policeman.’
And the strong-minded lady stalked
from the room, and vanished into the ob
scurity of the deepening twilight.
‘ How fortunate,’ nunmured Aliss Lorin
da, upon finding herself left alone,
very 1'ortunace!’
of the hat and collar.
The rear was brought up by a tall
stiff fornij in a black bonnet and cloak,
which stalked along with the upright
and resolute carriage of conscious
virtue bent upon a righteous errand.
And thus the procession, headed by,
* How | the unconscious Spirit Bride, swiftly
progressed toward the spot where,
Now to explain the cause of this ex- j amid moonlight, flower-odors, aud the
clamation, we rnay mention simply the murmur of waters, those two Kindred
following acts. j Spirits were to gaze tor the first time
Aliss Lorinda Scruggs as we have J upon each other’s mortal lineaments to
elsewhere had occasion to hint, was a listen for the first time to each other’s
But,’ still objected Miss Hopkins, ‘ bow person of exceedingly enquiring mind - earthly voices.
would it look, two unprotected females on
the street at so late an hour ? For if I
and acute observation. Consequently
it is not to be wondered at that the
They reached the appointed spot!
“I don’t see him,” murmured Sarah
Jane, trembling and looking round;
and it’s so dark!”
For the moon, which should have
j been serenely smiling upon this inter-
agree to this interview, $arah Jane, it must i mysteries going on in the house should
take place about dusk, or by moonlight. not bave escaped her notice. She had
(In this way Aliss Hopkins trusted to get -
over
soft moonlight', israefel’would not be shock- j ami ascertained that he brought letters ] esting scene, had now become obscur
ed or disappointed by a too sudden revela- to Aliss Hopkins. She had then turn- 1 ed by enviousclouds. The sweet mur-
tion of those unfortunate defects of her ed her attention upon that young lady, j mur of waters was drowned in the
earthly embodiment.) - and—in fact, we may as well mention discordant voices of certain frogs close
1 If a protector is necessary—wcuidu t ]t at once—she had from some obscure j by, while an odor of stagnant marsh
would Mr. Alartin do l . ; hiding-place overheard the following re- and decayed vegetation overpowered
‘Certainly not, respon ed U leim. lua)bs 0 f y,i ] ss Hopkins and her friend the flower-scents.—Moreover, the wind
‘ vvhat take him into our confidence in a , r , . , , , ... , ,, , , ~ .,
matter such as this, lie appreciate or sym- s i :< ^ en ln t « lies 80 low « s to r , eaoh 1,er I wa ? chill, and the ground damp, lor It
patbize with a spiritual affection ! Tam 0!1 L V 111 tnc fragmentary form here pre- : had rained that day.
" sented. j “Suppose he don’t come?” said Sa-
“I am almost afraid—(in Aliss Simp- |rah Jane, shivering.
surprised at you, Sarah Jane. As well ex
pect the glow-worm to appreciate the spir
itual affinity of the stars of heaven !’
‘ Would Alike do ?’ suggested the abash
ed Sarah Jane. ‘ I think we might trust
Alike. lie seems faithful.’
Alike was accordingly again appealed to,
and readily agreed to ‘ pnrtect the ladies ;
an’ had scran to the unmannerly villin as
’ud daur to cross their path where he an’
b
over,
aud
son’s voice)—“wish it were
to-morrow come.”
“I fear nothing,” (Miss Hopkins’
tones.)
“Wonder what he is like—Hope—
not a real spirit.”
Then followed—
“Certain!v—full moon—hope no
bis shillalagh was ! Trust me, it’ll all
right, Aliss !’ added Alike, cheerfully and body 11 he oil the l’oint—must be punc-
encouragingly. j tual—know us?—wear veils—hope—
But Alike reckoned without his host, j won’t keep us waiting Half past
For it so happened that the cook of the ; eight—hope the Point won’t be damp
Alisses Scruggs’ establishment, one Biddy tooth-ache—wish over. Alike won’t
Brian by name, had cast her eye ^P oa • iai [—Miss Lorinda be out of the
Alike, with the intention of captivating that i ,
susmeiuusiy ic^aiumg lit, mm, u^umu youth s affections, and securing to herseif t ‘ . ..
window-blinds; she only heard the unsen- : the appellation of Airs. Michael O’Finni- > ■* lt)m these bioken^ and disconnec-
timental laugh of the earthy Harry Alartin, gan ; which in her ears sounded infinitely j ted fragments, Aliss fccruggs gathered
accompanied by the sepulchral tones of Air. more 1 ginteel’ than that of Biddy Brian, a pretty correct idea of the matter un-
scraggins’ voice, creaking forth a popular Now Mike was good looking, while Biddy der discussion. It seemed then, that
Ethiopian song. In disgust Aliss Hopkins was remarkably homely ; which fact, ad- Misses Hopkins and Simpson were to
‘He will,” replied the Spirit Bride,
I in a tone of lofty faith. “Let us wait.”
| They waited.
j “Be sure, dear, to remember and doff
; the bonnet when you see him coming,”
j whispered Sarah Jane. “But don’t
mash it, or drop it in the mud, for its
grandma’s second best, and she’d be
sure to enquire about it.”
A solemn silence followed.
“Hush !” said Miss Simpson, nervously ;
“didn’t you hear something ? There,
among the bushes.”
In fact a mysterions rustling had been dis
tinctly audible. Was it his invisible pres
ence ? Could he be indeed a disembodied
spirit ? The thought occurred to tho
minds of both watchers at the same mo
ment. Sarah Jane trembled, and Etheria
held her breath with awe.
“I declare I’m afraid,” faltered Misf