Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-12-14
The Worst Enemy.
TRUE sKETcH...BY PAUL cREYToN.

| There was strange mixture of good and
! evil in Edgar Summers character, which few
could understand. Certain phrases of his ill.,
tercourse with society, represented him as a
pattern of manly virtue: Others betrayed dark
I spots on his heart, and proneness to lamenta-
bic vices.
The truth is this, Edgar was naturally up
right, generous, kind-hearted-all that is ad-
mirable in man. But he had early contract
ed the pernicious habit of indulging in an oc-
casienal social glass The habit, as is nearly
always the case, grew upon him, and became
/ his master. Dissipation deadened his bet
ter feelings, and he became careless of the
happiness of others. His pleasures absorbed
| his attention, his truest friends were neglect
/ ed, and his business suffered. Yet nobody
cal ed Mr.. Edgar Summer drunkard, for he
| never reeled in The street, and his excellent
constitution resisted well the train of fphyscal
evils consequent upon habits of moderate
| drinking. =a ~
! Now Edgar had wife, to whom he was
married but few months, and whom he ten
| derly loved. Emily was a patient anliable wo-
man, well worthy the affections of a noble
hearted husband. And she loved Edgar with
all the strength of her warm and devoted ma
| ture. Singular as it may appear, Edgar low
ing Emily as he did, could not give up his $50
eial pleasures" as he termed them, even for
her.
"My dear Emily" he would say, "you know
how well | love you: but you cannot really
expect me to remain with you at home, Men
Of business must have recreations in which
their wives cannot participate. Do you un-
derstand me, dear %
Emily invariably replied that she supposed
all that was natural and right, at the same
time, declaring that, much as she loved Ed
gar's society, and regretted his absence, she
would not for any consideration, deprive him
of his separate pleasures. Then Edgar woula
kiss his wife an affectionate adieu and hurry
away to meet his boon companions, never
dreaming that he took poor Emily's heart with
him, aud that all the dreary hours of his alb
sence, she wept for his neglect.
A year passed thus. Emily naturally feeble,
became languid, melancholy, pale She suf-
fered much, but as she never complained, Ed.
gar scarcely ever thought Of her failing health
At all events he never suspected the cause.
+ For one thing Emily had always felt CRATE
full; dissipated as her husband had become, he
always attended church with her on the Sab
bath. But at length she became too feeble to
90 out, except in the miIdest weather; and now
new Trial WIS duueu 10 ifeE Sullefin8S
One cold and gusty Sabbath morning in No.
vember, Emily had concluded to stay at home,
and anticipated much pleasure in having the So
ciety Of Edgar during the day. Herbiight an
ticipations, however, were dissipased, and her
susceptible heart was deeply wounded, when
she saw her husband making preparations for
going out AS she knew he never went to
church without her, she said timdly-
A., To 1oox -1.ty
Il thought would take a walk, and call on
eustomed to staying in the house all day"
Emily eyes gistened, and she sighed as she
turned away her face.
Il hoped you would stay with me to-day,
am always very lonely without you-but today
| shall miss you SO much =
aOh, / shall be back presently" replied Ed
gar in a careless tone, sand you must make Ell
len read to you while am gone
As Edgar kissed his wife goodbye, as was
bis lis wont, Re did not observe that her lips quiv-
cred, and that her cheek was cold; and when he
was zone, he did not know that she was she'd
ding tears of sorrow over his neglect.
Indeed, we may suppose that ne forgot her
quite; for he did not come home to dine; the
laying long in hopes Of his return, supped her
cup and ate her bit of toast without him; and
then the chill and gloomy night came on, and
Edgar was still away. - 1
The long and cheeress evening wore on,
and notwithstanding the kind inten1ions of her
sister Ellen, who was her companion, Emily
felt no happiness in the present, and saw no
hope in the future At length EdWardreturn-
ed and from his manner, Emily plainly saw
that he had been indnlging in the pleasures Of
the wine cup He was very gay, and while
his unhappy wife regarded him with fearful
ewes, he earnestly declared that he had come
home early for no other reason than to have N
game of whist with Emily and her sister! Too
much agitated to speak, Mrs. Summer only
sighed and brushed away her tears in silence,
while Ellen reminded Edgar that the Sabbath
had not yet passed.
aTrue |" he exclaimed-aI had forgotten! !!
And besides that, there are only three of US.
But we should do something for amusement,
girls, what shall it be? :"
.If you wish for amusement tonight" said
Ellen, seyerely.-she was = fiank, sensible GIRL
Of eighteenth you wish for amusement to-
night, Mr.. Summer, you had better go away
again. Emily IS very unWell, and your neglect
and carelrssness are killing her" a x sl.. vi
.Hush + gasped Emily, chow could You
speak SO, Ellen e Il sla.s ss1sssssses ffsee ss5
aBecause it is TRUTH" .#ssa
aBecause It is a lie--and because am not
master in my own home!" thundered Edgar,
angrily. "You are an impudent jade, Miss,
and if you come to create misunderstanding
between me and Emily, You will do well TO go
home again as soon as convenient"
sVerY well, sir z responded Ellen, turning
her back upon Edgar, and kissing Emily affec-