Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-07-04

pane. Her eyes are striving to pierce the te
darkness, but she sees nothing. Hark ! Yes!
1t is her husband. He has ascended the ii
steps, and now she distinctly hears the rat tt
Ting of his night-key in the lock. Why P
does he not enter? What keeps him so ly
long at the door! 1t is not locked against Ii
him. tt
At last the entrance was effected. The e
door swung heavily open and struck against
the wall with jar. Then a sllufiing sound G
of feet was heard, and then the door closed 5
with loud bang e
By this time the heart Of Mrs. Nichols was T
throbbing with new and strange fear. What e
could this mean! Eagerly she listened as e
her husband moved along the passage and |
came with kind of numbering noise up the !
stairs. A moment or two, and the door Of j
her chamber was thrown open and he came $
in. One glance was sufficient. 1t revealed
the blasting truth that he had come home
in a state of intoxication.
Good evening, Mistress Nichols ? said he,
as he staggered in. 4 hope to find you in
better humor than you were at tea-time.'-
He spoke sarcastically.
The poor, stricken wife could not utter a
word She stood, as if fixed to the spot, her
cheek blanched, and an expression of the
deepest grief on her countenanee.
Hope you've enjoyed YOURSELF he contin-
ued, as he sunk into chair, his head falling
on one side almost to his shoulder.
l have Enjoyed myself frst-rate. Prime,
and good fellowship. First-rate! Better
than moping at home with wife in the
dumps Didn't intend to go. Said l would
, not. Liked home best-that is, home when.
t the good lady is in good humor. Happen
} ed she wasn't. So went to Guys. First
rate oysters and terrapin.-Didn't. promise
to 90 again but guess will. Eh, Maggy
1 What do you say. Got over your pet Any
e sunshine yet l ike sunshine-always did.
: But clouds and thunder, ugh. They're my
especial horror
a Mrs. Nichols could bear this no longer
Tears gushed from her eyes, and she covered
: her face with her hands and wept violent
a ly.
That's always the way said Nichols, fret
fully. always crying or scolding; or else
Is looking as if you hadn't friend in the
it world. I'm getting sick of this But no
matter No crying, no gloomy looks at
+ Guys. That's the place for man to enjoy
himself
Edward! Edward exclaimed the wretch
h ed wife, now approaching her husband, and
d laying her hand upon his arm. Don't talk
in this way, or you'll Kill me
e No DANGER he replied, coarsely. "A wo
man isn't so easily killed. She's got as many
i lives as a cat But say, Mag Have YOU any
brandy in the house I must have enc more
ID glass tonight
And Nichols arose, but, in doing so, h
is reeled across the room and fell upon the bed
where he remained, and was soon snoring
RS, loud in drunken slumber.
k Oh what wretched night was that 70
lc- poor Mrs. Nichols. Wretched beyond con
Sc ception. With great difficulty she succeed
SO ed in removing her husbands clothes, an
getting him covered up in bed. Then, una
lp- bic herself to sleep, she passed the create
err part of the time till morning in weeping c
be selfreproaches.
id It's no wonder that Mrs Nichols had n
Pc inclination for sleep; nor that she spent mo-
ar of the honrs Of that dreadful night in tears.
1t was long past daylight when Mr.. Nicho
er awoke. The sun was shining brightly int
his the room from the open curtains ; but all W;
silent He raised himself up and looked
of round. On sofa lay his wife asleep. Tea
- were glistening on herpale cheeks. His hea
yes ached, and his mind was confused. Son
moments elapsed before he was able to con
prehend the meaning of what he saw al
felt Gradually, then, the memory of h
as evenings debauch grew distinct, and, the
was a faint recollection Of what he had sa
it, to his wife on coming home.
With a deep sigh the unhappy m;
Is threw himself back upon his pillow; that sic
penetrated the ears of his wife, and she ST.
hall ted up with an answering sigh. Nichols pc
ceiyed this, and let his lids fall-feignil
per- slumber He saw nothing but he heard !
any wife approaching-h felt her breath up
his forehead, as she bent over him. VIII
ar was that upon his cheek, the sudden tou
con- of which sent a thrill along his nerves?
oho- was tear A stifed sob was now heard
And then his wife moved from the bed-sit
ong For full half an hour did Nichols .contm
hols to feign sleep. He could not make up
and mind to meet his wife after the debauch
Ten had indnlged in on the previous night, a
way. for which he now heartily despised hims'
hing 'Ahp he sighed, as he lay musing o1
own the unhappy aspect of affairs If Marga
that would only control herself little more.
she would only makeho the pleasant plf
sked it should be, nothing could tempt me abro
y. into such companionship.
ct At length, as he lay with such thoug
on filling his mind, sig moved his lips, q
Of a forgetting that he was acting part, his e
uuclosed. Mrs. Nichols was standing nj
And looking upon his face.
n o. IL I'll