Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-03-13
darkly at the FIRE, and unused some mo-
ments in gloomy silence.
"What is the matter? he asked abrupt

"What is the matter? he asked abrupt
ly.
Emily could make no reply. Edgar
scowled at the door through which Ellen
had disappeared, and bit his lips with ev-
ident perpIexity.
"This is queer state Of things" he
said at length. "Thst girl has been trying
to put strange ideas into your head, Emf
ly. Can you say that I am ever unkind
to you?
"Oh, no." cried Mrs Sumner, eagerly.
.You have never been unkind to me, |
| am sure"
"Then why did she speak so to me?"
Emily made no answer.
'She is certainly an impudent GIRL"
muttered Edgar. "Why should she try
to make differences between us p
"Oh, she did not, Edgar. She means
well, the dear girl; but she spoke hastily"
/ "And perhaps did too," added Mr.
No m,re was sold on the subject Of Ed
gar's neglect, and he probably would not
have thought of the matter again, had he
not discovered, on coming home to dinner
on the following day, that Ellen had gone
home to her parents.
"What does this mean?" he asked.
ssShe said you told her TO CO." timidly
answered Emily.
Edgar's brow gathered, and he fixed
his dark eyes on the ground.
81 did say something TO that effect, do
believe" he murmured-"But | said it
! hastily. She should not have gone for
that"
81 demonstrated with her." said Emily.
"But you know her spirit. She would
, not stay, although she loves me, and
, knows how much need her."
) Edgar appeared very much amazed
: But it seemed that nothing indeed could
make him long thoughtful Of his wife's
; comfort. After dinner he went off whist
} ling popular air, and returned not until
, dark.
. The domestic had laid the cloth, and
{ Edgar and Emily sat down to the table
together. 1t was then that the vacant
! seat which Ellen had always occupied
drew his attention, and occasioned pang
of regret, and pang Of remorse, perhaps.
t 1t was cold evening, but there was a
warm fire burning in the CRATE, and as Ed
gar buried his feet in the comfortable rug,
I and opened the last number of Black
! woods Magazine, 10 read to Emily, the
i, thought struck him, that it might be pos
. sibe for him to spend one evening pleas
: antly Il home.
, Emily's face vas radiant with happi'
ness, a. she listened, gazing upon the
n manly features Of her husband, whom shs
= loved so well.
\ "Dear Edgar" she said, when h
paused to stir tho CRATE, '.yoa are so goot
:, 10 stay with me this evening! You max,
! m. 50 50 very =, happy indesd!"
J. Mr. Sumner kissed his companion affec
b tionately, and resumed his reading. A
that moment, an approving voice with,
> him made him glad that he had not spoker
! Of going out.
| An hour passed, Edgar became wear,
e Of reading, and laying aside his book, add
ed fresh fuel 10 the fire. Then, notwith
d standing the presence Of Emily, who en-
deavored TO amuse him, he sat gazins
thoughtfully at the fantastic blue fame.
= which crept over the dark coal. in tn
t CRATE, growing brighter and brighter, q
. they crackled, redeemed and began TO burn
d Wretched man! he could not conten
i himself al home with the wife he loved
y even for one short evening: old habit
s were imperative, old associations shut OH
r from his heart the comforts Of home, ant
|; already the powerful thirst for excitemen
v rendered him impatient to join his com
v panions.
"What time is it?" he asked.
1t "a few minutes past nine," answers
% Emily.
y Five minutes elapsed. Edgar pace
'i 70 and fro uneasily.
il emily" said he, at last, II believe
II must go out for few minutes. You ha
IS better not sit up for me, although | shal
be back soon."
e Emily affectionately urged him not I
! go, but he persisted, declaring that h
n would not be gone an hour. She said n
'e more, and Edgar hurried away.
Emily retired sick at heart, and wear,
is of existence. She slept not, but as tn
I'd heavy hours rolled by she listened for tn
'e returning footsteps OF her husband, pray
lie ing heaven for strength to suffer, and pow
r er TO win Edgar from his habits of dissi
I'd patton.
IN AT tmidnight she heard footsteps in tn
I'd silent street. They mounted the grant
<, steps, and then the well known sound G
ID Edgar's latch key was heard. Edgar ha
e. come at last, excited with drink, as Emil
OF had feared. In her agony Of spirit sh
neither spoke nor moved. and her hus
+ band thought she slept.
y Again, on the following night, Edga
'g forsook his wife for the society Of his vi
;" cious companions, and from that time hi
J" course vas downward still and Emily dur
k, ing the cold and melancholy nights was al
IS ways left alone.
h Strange that Edgar saw not how fast sh
u failed, and how the light Of her eyes wa
y waxing dim, and how her lips were be
IS coming thinner and paler with an express
ion of settled grief!
Id |: was now no unusual circumstanc
for Edgar to return home in state Of in
toxication, which belied his oft repeate
m boast of being moderate drinker. Ere
- i hat hrs hb IL