Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-04-28
CHI A VII.

CHAPTER VII.
Mrs. LaYerne led her husband home, pre-
vailed upon him to drink a cup Of coffee, and
then to 60 to bed. She said nothing concern
ing his drinking, and endeavored to act towards
him as though she had been ignorant Of his
condition.
The next morning he awoke with swollen
eyes and aching head but his sufferinggs were
light when compared With the aching heart Of
his wife. She knew not the real cause Of his
recent unhappy state of mind, and in Ter mag
~ination she tancied that he had, by some means,
been alienated from her. There was madness
in the thought; for although lie had debased
and degraded himself, and been guilty of con-
duct calculated to wound her feelings and
wean her affections, still she chung to him,
still wound the tendriIs of her heart around
him, still cherished the fame # her young love
in all its brightness, purity, ad glowing
warmth. She had pictured MIN noble and
sing issi ali t GHegpeeT Fl and devoted, a aea as i PU pises.
and though reluctantly convinced Of the con.
trary, and though that picture wasnarred and
many OF its most beautiful tints faced. still
she regarded him as the object of,er choice
the one dearest to her, and the patnhr of her
destlnies. Such is woman's love.
Mr.. Laverne felt deeply his share. and his
co~untenance betrayed his feelirs. After
breakfast he seated himself by his wife, and
after a moments silence, said:
julia, will you forgive me for nv conduct
last night p
The wife burst into tears and tbrw her arms
about his neck. In this he had Is answer
As soon as she could speak, she sail:
my husband you know I1orgive YOU
all. But tell me, Horace, and tel me trnlv
have lost that high position in YOUR affections
that | once held p
No, dearest, | love you now. DEGRADED. RI
med as l am, more fervently, and more deeply
than when first our vows were pliehted. /
call Heaven to witness the sincerity of INV
love; but a demon possesses me, and drives
me to a course [ loathe and abhor. I resolve.
and resolve, and | lament my weakness. but I
cannot help it. But in all my wrono doinos T
still cherish my love for thee and our child and
1t pains me to think you doubted it, and that
pain is increased by the reflection that I have
given you cause to doubt it.
i have marked your u~nhapp;ness for MANY
weeks replied Mrs. Laverne. and I feared
that it was | that caused it,
No, no. interrupted Mr.. Laverne, earnest
~, : and that you may no longer harbor that
thought I will reveal to YOU the true canse If
my trouble, though it is with a shame that
wrings my heart to do i'll owe more None
than can pay. My debts in Charleston have
accumulated, and | have squandered the pro-
ceeds OF my sales, until I am broke. For nv
self care not, but for you and our little Ma
Iears rushed into his eyes, his heart rose in
to his throat, and he could speak no further.
Mrs. Laverne, instead of being overwheIm-
ed, felt a relief that even gave her ioy and she
conso.ed and encouraged her husband until he
felt like a new being. He had long known
that his wife must, at some time, know The true
state OF his affairs; but he had determined to
keep it from her as long as possible, thinkino
thereby to save her much grief and yexation7
1t weighed heavily upon his mind, and now
that he had got it off and saw the effect it had
upon her-so different from what he had antic-
ipated he felt a relief equal, perhaps, to hers.
An hours conversation ensued, but t~oreveal
1t is none Of our business. At the end of that
time Mr.. Laverne took his hat and left to 90 to-
his store. He had been there but a little
while before the sheriff entered ard levied on
his books and the contents of his store. MIR.
delivered every thing tohim and gave
HIM possession Immediately. IT.
Turned out of his own store, whittier. dear
reader. do you suppose he went ? Was it to
his wife, to hear her words of cheer and com.
tort Did he turn from his cares and trials
to seek consolation in the bosom Of his family
and to enjoy in the domestic circle that peace
and repose denied TO him elsewhere2
Alas! for human nature Alas! for the
trallty OF man! He sought a cure for his trou-
bles in their cause. Again he found bis wav
to the - Hotel, and into the underoronnd
responsibility of it. Frederick Dravton and
he again drank to old acquaintance and tbon
seated themselves for a game { for amusement,
Soon a bottle was placed upon the table be-
tween them, and-need we say more The
old enemy, whose hold he had partially broken
was again at tue throat of Horace Layerne
Isn't it a pity a good fellow can't always
himself till he gets tired of q said
Drayton, laughing.
What are you driving at now q said La
verne.
%, nothing laughed Drayton, only I was
thinking how much better is nv condition than
can 60 where | please, stay as lono
as please, and do as | please. and / have No
one to caudle me when | 90 home. or to come
and take me home before [ get ready to 90. I
you, old fellow, if [ had a wife 7 would
learn her better manners than to interfere with
my business
A shade passed over the brow of Horace
Laverne, for, intoxicated as he was, there was
something in the thought of his wife that went
to his heart.
by Cd! exclaimed Drayton, If l had a
wife | would teach her TO stay at home. She
not disgrace me among gentlemen as
yours did you last night
The words were scarcely out of his mouth
before the fist Of Mr.. Laverne was planted be-
tween his eyes, knocking him down. Drayton
endeavoring to draw a pistol, but Laverne
hurled the bottle at him, striking him in the
breast and again laying him upon the floor. I'M
conscious He then rushed from the room and
hurried away.
CHAPTER VIII
Time rolled on, and Horace Laverne stiU
continued to drink. Without employment and
income, his scanty means were soon