Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-07-11

comparatively independent OF The smile,
and patronage Of any iudividpsi--eould
have laughed 10 seofn those who would
pretend 10 withdraw their rountensnee,
because be had cbossn TO act for him
self, IN taking 10 his bosom The woman
be loved.
This change. however. which came
over the prospects Of the young nan.
lest iis vonied and Legitimate eiIecis.-
Instead Of bearing up CALAMITY. as = race
horse impatient 10 run bis race and win
the offered prize. after q few ineffective
exer,ions. he droopsd in spirit and effort.
and al last, selipquished ell attempts. as
though fate bad shut up every possibility
Of suceess 10 him-and what was far
worse than all. with inactivity he quickly
imhibed vile habits. whose :ouch, as With
tie wand Of The evil eae, turned what
vas amiable into contamination, and
what vas once strong into incapsciiy. In n
word, infsnpuanee obtained the ms,tery
over that, which was not shielded BY
pure sne high minded principle.
In narrow and obscure street Of our
city, The character Of whose neighborhood
vas Of questionable respecisbili,y. there
sio2d a iwo story frame building. which.
from lis dilapida,ed Appearance. would
dscoie to the passer by. that 1t had no: for
many long years felt the renovs,ing hand
of either painter, carpe alter, or mason
Iss begriued and dirty front scarcely pre-
Sonted q trace Of the coat Of white paint
"a had once received. aud itI broken win.
dovS. there not being an entire pane Of
glass lsfi IN any Of the six which faced the
street. gave il 4 forbidding and desolaie
aspect. The interior OF this Gomieile, COR
II Vas still inhabited BY a number Of
wTstched families, was no, less gloomy and
time vorn, than its exterior was uninyi-
hns. and ii needed no inoIdinaie stretch
Of the Imagination to conceive ia occu-
pants as being among The most vretched,
Il not the most dcbassd. OF the human
kind.
In dark and badly ventilated chamber.
upon tbs second floor OF this building.
we're tao individuals. One OF them n
young man, about twenty-five years Of
age. though bis pale atienuaisd appear
ance would declare him TO be some five
or ak years older than that. wss lying up
on . straw pallet in corner OF The room.
His companion was . youpg female. who
was sitting BY his bedside, with, u painfully
anxious expression,c OF eoun.enAnce. and
watching every gesture and movement Of
the invalid. ~
There was 10 funiiursin The apartment.
save some few articles actually necessary
for tho preparation OF the most simple
meals. il We except an old pine God ia
bic, deprived Of one of i,s leaves, which
Sas standing near the bed, with some
powders folded up in white aodb paper,
and several vials coniainins medicine. w.
ing upon IL; two chairs. and the bed stand
Jog IN one corner Of the room. In the
hrs place there was 4 small clay furnace
and handfui Of burning charcoal upon
which was tin vessel, apparently con.
tanning some nouTishmeni or drink Tor the
sick man.
Tho natural gloeminess Of the chamber
was now thiekened "a the dusk Of even
ing IVES fast approaching. and fiekerin9
light OF the charcoal FIRE being unsiea6ily
reflected through the apartment and upon
The eoontensnees Of lis inmates. gave a
wild and Somewhat supernaturs! appear
anee TO every object, which was heigh-
tened by the noise Of the beisierous aad
stormy elements without as each fresh
gust Of wind struck upon the old building.
causing ia roof and sides to grosn. and
TIRE ateniog their displacement. II not the
destruction Of the building itself
The Glamour OF the storm awoks the
invalid. He asked for drink, which vas
Immediately given hin. BY Emily. for she
it was Who was so sedulously nursing her
sick husband. After having drank, with hia
wite's assistance, Cecil sat up in bed. and
in tone Of soft esdesrmenl she inquired
If bic fever had abated.
s'How do you dearest, Do you not
feel better my hus0snd - and with a
napkin she wiped the moisture from his
forshesd. which bad gathered there from
bis slight exsTtion; be answered family.
"a feel something better. Emiiy-- though
! am feeble, very feeble" AID Cecifs
hand, as he reached il forth, trembled as
though iis owner vas far advaneed in
years, and dseTepitads confirmed his as
IeriioD. IA Iitils better" he continued,
after short pause, Il, !, hard trial 10 be
'isk-to be laid PROSTATE and heiplss. a.
N infant; but ! should noi repine--for
you. dear girl have been a guardian spirit
to mS through the whols time Of my pain
fully tedious days and sietpless nights
HOY can repay thee fer all thy care and
goodnes TOW ards meme. who am so ON
worthy ofreesiying kindness at Thy hands,
Do you not detesl me. Emily. hate me.
the degraded. the fallen, the dishonsureds
Do you not wish that were"
Hii wife, With weeping eyes. funz her.
self upon bis bosom, and sobbed aloud as
she erred, mo nol-Delssl you. nv Ce-
cal You! my own dear husband-ne.
Ser'--noT are you indeed so fallen. Cecil.
bot all msy yet, all uill yet be Well-nol
dlshonoufed--not degraded"
Kind, sweet girl" be responded pas.
sionsiely, Is he drew her stll closer 10
his bosom. Kind. sweet girli-your
husband has ever been bind 20 thy sir.
iue'-hs knew not the angel he possessed
~ his Emily-uniil nov. be never half
anrrartated fhV qereafrasa 49, .~rsst A -