Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-12-14
tionate|y; "Good night sister. Don't cry

| fore she cou'd speak, Ellen had left the room
! Alone with his wife, Edgar looked darky a
| the fire, and mused some moments in gloom,
silence The sobs of his wife aroused him.
"IVhat is the matter!!" he asked abruptly.
Emily could make no reply. Edgar scowl
ed at the door through which Ellen had dis
appeared, and bit his lips with evident perplex
ity. .n. ".
"This is a queer state Of things he said a
length "That girl has been trying to pu
strange ideas into your head Emily. Can yor
say that am ever unkind to you!"
"Oh, no !" cried Mrs Summer eagerly. "Yor
have never been unkind to me, l am sure.
"Then why did she speak SO TO me!'
Emily made no answer. r- ? ..
"She is certainly an impudent girl" mutter.
ed Edgar "Why should she try to make dit:
ferences between us!'
'Oh she did not, Edgar. She means well
the dear girl; but she spoke hastily"
"And perhaps did, too" added Mr. Sum-
mer. A ~ s-. ~
No more was said on the subject of Ed
gar's neglect, and he probably would not have
thought of the matter again, had he not dis
lowing day, that Ellen had gone home to her
parents.
"What does this mean p he asked.
"She said you told her to go" timdly an
swered Emily. -.s ~
Edgar's brow gathered, and he fixed his
dark eye on the ground.
81 did say something to that effect, do be-
leve," he murmnred-"but said it too hasti-
ly. She should not have gone for that"
Il demonstrated with her. said Emily.
"But YOU know her spirit She would not
stay, although she loves me, and knows how
much need herr
Edgar appeared very much amazed. But it
seemed that nothing indeed could make him
long thoughtful his wife's comfort. After
dinner he went Diminishing q popular air, and
returned not until dark. -....-..
The domestic had laid the cloth, and Edgar
and Emily sat down to the table together. It
was then that the vacant seat, which Ellen had
always occupied, drew his attention, and occa-
stoned pang of regret, and pang ofremorse,
perhaps. 4 s
1t was cold evening, but there was warm
fire burning in the CRATE, and as Edgar buried
his slippered feet in the comfortable rug, and
opened the last number of Backwood's Maga-
zine, to read to Emily, the thought struck
him, that it might be possible for him to spend
one evening pleasantly at home
Emily's face was radiant with happiness, as
she listened, gazing upon the manly features
of her husband, whom she loved so well.
"Dear Edgar" she said, when he paused to
stirt the CRATE, you are SO good to stay with me
this evening! You make me very happy in
deed!' ... s e. -.--. 4
sDoI?" .....
Mr. Sumner kissed his companion affection
ately, and resumed his reading. At that mo-
ment, an approving voice within him made him
glad that he had not spoken of going out.
An hour passed, Edgar became weary Of
reading, and laying aside his book, added fresh
fuel to the fire. Then, notwithstanding the
presence of Emily, who endeavored to amnse
him, he sat gazing thoughtfnlly at the fantas-
tic blue flames which crept over the dark Goals
in the CRATE, growing brighterand brighter, as
they cracked, redeemed, and began to burn.
Wretched man! He cousd mot content him.
self at home with the wife he loved, even for
one short evening; old habits were imperative;
old ASSOCIATIONS shut out from his heart the
comforts of home. and already the powerful
thirst for. excitement rendered him impatient
to Join his compafliens. ssSs So
ssWhat time is itsa he asked. &
ga few minutes past nine," answered Emily.
Five minutes elapsed. Edgar paced to and
fro uneasily. .g....sf--...-
"Emily," said he, at last, 81 believe must 60
out for a few minutes. You'd better not sit
up for me, although shall be back soon." 4
Emily afIectionately urged him not to go,
but he persisted. declaring that he would not
be gone an hour. She said no more, and Ed
gar hurried away.
Emily retired, sick at heart, end weary of
existence She slept not, but as the heavy
hours rolled by she listened for the returning
footsteps of her husband, praying heaven for
strength to suffer, and power to win Edgar
from his habits Of dissipation.
AT midnight she heard footsteps in the silent
street. They mounted the granite steps, and
then the well known sound Of Edgar's latch
kew was heard Edgar had come at last ex-
cited with drink, as Emily had feared. In her
agony of spirit, she neither spoke nor moved,
and her husband thought she slept. s4s
Again, on the following night Edgar forsook
his wife for the society Of his vicious compan-
ions and from that time his course was down
ward still, and Emily, during the cold and mel
ancholy nights, was always left alone.
Strange, that Edgar saw not how fast she
failed, and how the light of her eyes We're wax
mo dim, and how her lips We're becoming
thinner and paler, with an expression Of settled
grief
II twas now no unusual circumstance for Ed
gar to return home in d state of intoxieation,
which beIied his oft repeated boast of being
moderate drinker. Frequently he reeled upon
The threshold, and exhibited signs Of shocking
inebriety, On his return to his suffering but pa
tient wife.
On one occasion, Edgar staggered into the
door at midnigifts 1t was a stormy February
night and his garments were covered with
sleet and frozen rain; but in the forgetfulness
which vine had wrought, he had left at the
scene ofhis debaacheries. both his umbrella
and his surtout. Even the cold storm had not
sobered him; but he was sobered soon
A strange spectacle met his eyes. Innu-
merable faces seemed swimming before him
-, a u,ef. h,,f fnasf, nc he snrrnnrhed. ynsr rprg