Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-12-26
Vol. AXXVz.-WhOie No. 1857.


She was indeed a portion of nv existence
But went into the world. | be-
came infatuated with fashion | learned
selhshness, vanity, deceit. Julia was new
er quite forgotten; but after a separation
oil few months-when | had ACQUIRED 4
taste Tor gay dIsslpation-I began to fear
/ that she would not compare favorahly with
the brilliant company into which had be-
! come introduced, and the admiration which
! | courted.
| Although a future union had always
been considered, as matter of course. bv
/ both Julia and myself, we had never made
4 formal engagement TO each other. The
greatest tolly-the greatest crime | ever
! committed-was the mean advantage |
! took of the peculiar nature of our agree
| ment, TO break the contract which our
hearts had made-the solemn contract.
| which, q whispered my conscience) was
not binding, because ii had not been made
IN the set terms of speech.
Loving Julia still-knowing that she
loved-feeling that | could never love
more strongly, or be more devotedlv loved,
! at the same time sacrificed everything to
IL
uttered oath of love which my heart had
solemny made.
70 be brief, married another,' ex-
claimed Mr.. Atherton, in a tone of bitter
self-reproach.
You loved her, of course suggested
Hiram.
That other ? Eyelina Yes; oh,
yes loved her very well she was
such . fine lady-such an excellent match
L was so fortunate, 1t was said to win the
hand of such magnificent creature But
how different was my secoud love from
my first! 1t was composed Of passion,
admiration and pride. | adored Evelina
| thought II condescensIon in her to love
me. But where was the purity, the unset
hshness, the deep devotion, to which nv
heart had not, formerly, been a stranger
Alas where was my first love
Julia was not forgotten. SAID TO my
self love her little vet; but it was
impossible for ME to marry her. Then
my heart was so pulled with congratula-
nons and flattery, on the occasion of the
grand wedding which came off, that had
scarcely room IN 1t for anything but vanity
We'll, was married. | had the salts
faction of knowing that fifty fashionable
fellows envied me the possession of so fair
and accomplished Il bride. knew, too,
that had gained an influence, an import
ance, IN soclety-all through the instru-
mentality of my fashionable wife.
And she loved me, too, as well as peo
pie OF fashion usually love. had moth
ing to complain of on that score. Much
as everybody admired her, had no occa-
sion forjealousy.'
Then, said Hiram, timidlv, svou must
have been satisfied with the match !-Y on
should have been happy
Perhaps should. And for n long
time l was. | could afford extravaganza
i had time for dissip pation-and | led a
gay life for five years. But gradually |
grew thoughtful. Day after day | felt
more and more that | was drinking the
cup of my folly. A wrinkle in Eveiina's
brow frightened me. Every gray hair
which silvered the darkness of nv locks.
cost me thousand sighs. Age appeared
to me dreadful. My feelings on this sub
Ject convinced me of the truth what CON
science had SO often whispered that INV
weary heart was sinful. | said to Eveli-
ma Let US give over this butterny's ex-
istence, IN which only the youthful should
indulge She sighed, and repaired her
fading beauty with powder and rouge.
Then l saw the necessity Of the peace
OF home 10 the heart of man. fell hun
CRY for the happiness Of the household
hearth. But EveIina had no sympathy
with my longings. She answered nv
sighs with hollow laughter. Home pos
sessed no delights for her. She led me in
the same cheerless chase after gaiety, when
was weary-weary-we nigh unto
death
We lost our only child. Heart-broken.
humble, dying for want of sympathy in
my desolatiOn, | prayed Eyelina to with
draw with me from the world, and from
that time of sorrow, to know its hollow
ness and heartlessness no more. She
could not deny herself! The intoxication
of what is falsely called pleasure, was ne
cessary to her existence. From that time
| led life of lonely wretchedness.
'The next crisis in my existence | will
pass over briefly. Eyellna' health failed
her. But she kept up and struggled with
the strength of the destroyer until one fa-
tai night. She took cold coming from
ball. In one week she was
i was a widower,' said the old gentle
man, coughing, A sad widower, too
one whom atlliction had taught terrible
lesson. was plunged deep in desponden-
cy, when heard from-Julia.
People told me she was i'll. Some
said she was dying. | had not seen her in
ten years-my affection for her had smoul
dered in ashes-she had become like 4