The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-05-12

sat at the gaming table over the wine cup
Oh I! man, where is thy heart where
the vows iondIy pledged scarce three years
since when thou didsr lead that gentle girl
to the bridal altar! Alas where many
others have gone before them Vengeance
will follow thee.
The clock struck three, and as its last
ringing died away a step was heard ap-
preaching the door. The wife flew to o.
pen it, and cIaspng her arms about him ex,
claimed:
'Oh am so glad you have come,
Frank, for have been loncIy,very lonely
And the bright tears gathered in her eyes.
The husband gazed upon her moment
then casting her from him, exclaimed, in a
harsh voice: "Why have you awaited
my coming did not bid you do other
wise 2
But | thought YOU would be cold and
hungry replied she, meeky.
Hungry! Ella, hungry no; I've had
enough for one night. am ruiued- ut
terly ruined
But Frank, why do you playr
And what would you have me do Ella
Work cannot-beg | will not. There is
no alternative. And my father has done
it-he has made me what | am,and may
Stay, stay, Frank curse him not; he
is thy father yet But say, only say that
you will relinquish the gaming table, and
all will be WELL
Saying this she led him to the bedside
of the sleeping child. For moment his
heart seemed soltened: then again his iu-
ry returned.
And my father can know this muter.
ed he through his cIenched teeth, 'and vet
wlthold his helping handn
His wife saw the change, end gently
leading him away, placed before him a
neat but simple repast. IIe ate but little,
for his heart was full, and soon retired.-
Ella kneeled by his bedside, and offered
her nightly prayer, 1t seemed to touch
his heart, and make him resolve to lead 4
different life, But alas for mars resolu.
tons How often are they broken.
CHAPTER III.
81 10 wih thee. will be thine,
In veal, in want, in woe"
Yes, Frank, where you 20, there will
go: your home shall be my home" And
she threw her arm around his neck, and
wePt i'll the very fuIness of grief.
The officer piied her distress, but duty
compelled him to the task. Frank was
conveyed to prison, and the wife followed.
There, like a minscring angel, she hover
ed about him. Once and once only, did
the father visit him, and then it was to
upbraid.
you were ever curse to me y exclaim-
ed he, 'and now may the law avenge me-
In vain the wife pleaded with all the ell
oquence of affection and impassioned sor-
row. lie left them, and hope seemed fled.
Still the wife clmg to him with woman's
undying love! ! and this, together with the
sportive laugh of his child, served to keep
his heart from despair.
Oh, Ella he would often say, 'how
have wronged your
Say not so, Frank It's yourself you
have wronged. But return now to the
path of duty: It's not too late
Thus did this gentle wife, with her deep
love and persuasive tones, try to win back
the erring one. Hers was no force of law,
but the simple distates of the heart-love's
suasion, if you will.
But the husbands health and spirits
sunk beneath his mslortunes and ere
one week had passed away he was in the
grasp of a raging fever, Dalirium seized
him, and it was truly heart>rcnding to
hear his calls for mercy and lamentations
for the past.
ooh my father he would exclaim,
'behold thy work With one word of
kindness you might have saved me but
now 90 down-down'-and shuddering
he would conceal his face beneath the bed
clothes.
All this while Ella stood over him. -
lie knew her not yet believed her some
one sent down to save him. But the fever
spent its rage, and he recovered.