The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-02-23

Gertrude

Gertrude.
/ "Do Won know, Gcrtruie. the opinion prevalent
in the ncghbOrhoud, III regard to your friend Wi!
toni'
Mother" said Gertrude, with forced composure
IL know Of nothing to hi- disadvantage. ! know
he has enemies herc--bitter, impiac; Die enemies
who would sacrifice him. | know. too, theil
tongues have no, been dlc--that defamation in it,
fouest nature, has been pentlfully bestowed up
on a vrtuous and high minded gentleman
/ "GertrIde.' said her mother 81 know that de
famaton has sometimes hunted down the pur,
and vrtuous, and blackened the fair fame Of the
upright and prai-cwurhy; but when so much /,
avcrred respecting Wilton-when friends and foe,
alike acknowledge his alterations, the one by %
pen attacks upon his reputation, tho other by
doubtful whispers and expressions oireal regret
and an evident withdrawal Of their former warn
and coniding friendship, we may Justly fear ther,
is indeed some reason for such charge, that oul
young and ingenious friend is yielding to the ia
cination of vice gliding gradually and impercepti
bly, down that fearful path which leads from the
light Of virtue and holiness"
/ II will not believe it--never," REPLIED Ger
trude, her clear blue eve lighted up with unwon
ted energy "MOthcr, YOU are deceived alike bl
the avowed enemies and the false and enviDu
friends Of Wilton. Believe me | have not re-
posed my confidence in a stranger. | know vii
ton to be virtuous and honorable. And who, le
me ask are those who tratluce his character (
Her beautiful lip cured into expression of III
effable scorn. rs she replied to her own intcrroga
tory: The falsehearted wretches creatures of en-
Wy and malice who woud as soon dare the falling
thunder as to confront the indignant glance Of tn,
man they have so fouly injured"
I Gertrude spoke from the impulse of her heart
She could not believe that such a man a. Charlie.
Wilton, could dcbase himself to the in Of drunk
enness, that he whose nature noble, So ele
waited, passionate lover Of the beauty Of the ma
tural universe, and the godlikc manifestations OF
human virtues, the outbreakng Of the immortal
spirit from the darkness of it. prison house. could
10y any possible temptations, yield to the naIeful
enticcments of the destroyer, and humble the god
like image of manhood lower than that Of the
brutes that perish
, And why was it that when all friends saw and
warned her of her danger, she clung vet closer To
the object of their fears Why was it when the
bosom friend of Wilton avoided him rs if there
was contamination in his very presence, that the
beautiful and intellectual Gertrude welcomed Iii.
approach with smile OF fondness, She loved
him, and the love Of "a heart like hers changed not
with the changes of the beloved. 1t burns bright.
er and warmer as the shadows OF evil close around
I Its object.
And Gertrude became The wife Of Charles vii.
ton, and his victim also She died early. bu, not
before every beautiful blossom of her affection
had peri-hed-rut before dcathlike. witherug
hand had gone over her heart until il became As
dust, and all rs warm and holy feelings CAV.
place to bitterness, lnathihg and abhorrence Oh
there Is nothing IN human suffering like wrong
and scOm from those whom we love and would
die tor, nothing which 50 changes and chiiis the
Conidng bosom And all thi, Gertrude felt. and
her hugh spirit sank under the trial She perish
ed, but the last moments Of her existence were
unsu0thcd by the voice Of affection. At times
indeed boated and lOathsonc form bent owe,
/ her pillow the wreck Of all which gives beaut,
and dignity to manhood, and voice hldeou~ from
drunkenness, murinurcd IN her c,lr the disgusting
words Uf an idiots fondness, to be succeeded by
the rude oath, the unieclmg lest the savage indf
/ ference to mortal suffering, which claractcrz,
the lost and shameless drunkard Let woman
beware Of the intemperatc. Let her Nhun then
presence as the accursed OF heayen-the smitt-r
with that moral lcprosy which is alike mmedica
| blc aud unescapable. Let her remember, that in
uniting her destiny with that of the lrunknrd, she
Is drawing down upon her head tho heaviest curs
es 1t were better 10 embrace the -rpulchrc
whose cold walls are haunted only by the spectr,
Of decay Ii il .he wedlock of beauty and pullu
tion--oi purity and pe,tilcnce the Llndiug Of
breathing form Of life to the loath,unenes. d
death