Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-05

pFedSt Oh IxuZtBC bNihs - 49, DfNff -
ed nureIv and deeply, he had loved the cir
before him; But until now lie had not peEe
tra,ed her real character, nor would he have
believed that an exterior SO gentle could con
ceal poisons 81 so deep nature. But the charm
had not been broken, nor lessened perhaps
though was changed IN charaeter--though ne
saw something TO dread, be stiil worshipped..
This power is rarely given to men, san
he, at length slowly raising his eyes, with
deep sigh-'sthe mighty Of earth are but lew
and far between. Genius may claim domln-
ions, and talent, and learning, honor; but |
Margaret. have neither Of these, you wei
know, and may never hope for either. why
tantalize me thus I"
IL would not iantalize you, Eugene, but
would give you hope. Is there. then, no tai
isman TO which men bow, even mlghtger than
genius !" -
A sudden light flashed from he eye OF the
Young man, as he recoiled beneath her gaze.
while his fingers were eenched eonvuisWely
together.
"Gold!'' exclaimed he, in deep passion
ate tone. .'Gold!"
For an instant Eugene held his breath. and
the very blood seemed curdling about his
heart--but the next, he drew his cloak tightly
around him and rushed from the house.
With teversh Impotence, the youth hur-
ried homeward over the pavement. Strange
thoughts were in his heart rew hopes and
new desires were holding unolden councils
,here--yet he crushed them within him, or
stroye 10 do so but the word ''gotd seemed
forever ringing in his ears. He was what the
world would term a ''moral aud upright
YOUTH conscientious in all his dealings with
others, and, until this moment, had put no
value upon money, farther Than II was neces-
sarv TO the comforts, or perhaps Injuries OF
life. But now it suddenly possessed new
value in his eyes. The logic, and passion oil
Margaret, were like electricity; they had en-
tered his system. and unconse.ously 10 him.
self, remoddled his whole being.
He had proceeded with a rapid and uneasy
step a considerable distance over the pave
ment, when he was startled from his feiiec-
tons by hand laid somewhat rudely upon
his shoulder.
81 know YOU BY your gait, Eugene ex-
claimed deep sonorous voice, Though TIE
late hour almost belied my senses. Have you
ANYTHING in hand, anything IN view Tor the
night--eh ~
allow! Harry7 All you frightened me
sadly. Ii isn't so pleasant to be grasped al
mid night, by the hand OF one. knows not
whom"
"Noi but have sometiug 10 tell you" and
he glanced around him hurredly; then draw
ing close to his companion, whispered IN his
ear.
For an instant Eugene hestatedand The light
that flashed from aneghborng window show
ed counienance of ghastly paleness, An
hour before he would have utterly refused the
temptation; but now; he pondered; and
while course Of rapid and underlined thought
was going on within his heart, his friend
drew him aside, and they entered one OF those
dark dens of iniquity, which are the bane oil
populous cities, and where wealth and begga-
ry are made the plaything OF a hour, and al
most life aud death, the sport Of the gaming
table.
Fortune sometimes strangely iavors the
guilty as we'll as the brave, while the honest
and upright are apparently going down hill.
1t was almost Eugene's first decided compro-
mise with conscience, and ii succeeded For
many days every successive night found hun
at the gaming table, and when at the close OF
fortnight, he found himself master Of con
siderable sum Of money, by an effort certainly
uncommon, he stopped in this career OF SIN
full uncertainty, and with his small capital i'm
mediately commenced business for himself as
a merchant.
Success followed success--hiS business and
capital increased. Months and years went by F.,
and wealth flowed into his Golfers, and he
drew the girl whom be had so wou--won at
the gaming table-to his Own hearth stone,
and She deemed herself happy; for they were
rich and who can deny that they were honor
ed He had gained that power over others
for which he thirsted-and men looked up to
him, and bowed lolc as they passed him on
their way, and flesh and blood cringed at his
feet for even single touch o. his finger!
One cold. windy night in December of IS
Just as the clock toled one, the shrill and start
ling CIV of ''lire!" was heard echoing through
the deserted streets Of New York. Eugene
slept soundly, with his wife and child BY his
side AS the cry Strcck his ear, he started /,
turaed, and murnurng Ill is nothing" drew
the clothes still more closely around him and
slept StlA the cry arose. louder on the air, of
fire! fret" at monetary intervals, and
men and boys We're hurrying through the
streets, with rapid and eager steps, towards
the principal house of the sleeper. Still he
awoke no, from his uuearthly sleep, ill the
crash Of the door, broken in from without,
started him to his senses, and he leaped from
tue bed Just as the flames Were rolling and
flashing through the room, and upon the in
slant the bed curtains caught, and his wife
and child were enveloped in ilamesl
1t was but the work OF an instant TO rescue
them, and hurry down the already burning
stairs. But the work of destruction was done.
Many block, and two or three whole squares,
were consumed before the fire could be sub
dued and with the dwelling house of Eu-
gene, his large mercantile establishment was
burned 10 10 ashes. That very day the insu-
rance company failed
Nor was this all. The morrow brought IL
dings of the wreck Of ship in which he had
invested large part of his fortune, and Eu-
gene Hepburn was ruined
Could we trace the deStinies Of mankind,
and penetrate into the secrets OF their lives,
we should see oitener than we now suppose
that the world of retrbution is accomplished
hereto considerable extent at least The
goods of this world unlawfully gained are not
unirequenty wrenched violently from the
grasp, or, if retained, become in some way
the curse of life
The wife lay on her death-bed. The flames,
which had entered her yitaIs, were rapidly I'm
ishing the work of destruction, and who can
say that she had not wrought her own doom 7
Eugene" said she, in low voice, laying
her thin hand in his, "it is all over now
| have beer thinking Of the past-the night in
which breahed into your ear than thirst Tor
poleers, that deadly ambition which tortured
my soul--and have traced il all along from
that hour to this, and" Cher eyes We're lifted to
his with an almost prophetic expression While