The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-08
nearer and paused at their own door.

, II hnust oe Ienry but why did he not
enter. Possibly he had forgotten to take the
nlght-key, and hesitated about ringing for
fear of disturbing the family. Filled with
this idea, Helen flew to the door and OPEN
ed it, and her husband staggered into the
entry almost knocking her to the ground
as he fell against her.
Nearly fainting from alarm, Helen
leaned against the wall ior support, ex.
claiming in faltering tones:
"Oh, Henry, whathas happenedl Are
you hurt2 Are you illl Speak to me for
the love of heaven!" she almost shrieked
as the unhappy man gazed at her with
vacant stare, but without making any at
tempt to reply.
"A loud and insulting laugh of derision
was the answer to her last appeal, and in-
stantly the dreadful truth flashed through
the mind of the poor wife. For an in
slant the shock seemed too great to be
borne and consciousness was suspended,
but the deep, devoted love of true wo-
man overcame her weakness, and tremb-
ling in every limb, she closed the door, and
inwardly congratulating herself that no
eye but her own would witness this dis
grace, she gently placed her hand on Hen
rvs arm, and supported his unsteady steps
to their own room. Another dreadful hour
passed before her repeated and patient ef-
forts had succeeded in inducing him to
take off his clothes and go to rest; but at
length this task was accomplished and he
fell into deep, heavy sleep.
Through all this the little one had slept.
protected by the guardian spirits around
1t; but now he awoke aud urged his claim
to the mothers attention.; well timed call.
Tor when the immediate necessity for exer-
ton had passed, Helen would have Weld
ed to the overpowering sorrnw which had
come upon her. But the infant cried, and
her own grief was again hushed, while
she ministered to its wants.
1t is ever thus with woman. No thought
of self intrudes, while aught remains to
be done for the loved ones in whom her
thoughts are centcred.
The eastern sky was becoming briph,
with the light Of day, ere Helen souS III,
her pillow, not to sleep-for how could
she sleep, when he who had so BETRAYED
her trust lay by her side in the deep re-
pose of drunkcnncss-but, her throbbine
temples seem almost bursting, and her
trembling form was unable longer to re-
tain an upright position. Thought after
thought crowded upon her mind. She
could now see thatt this was no sudden and
accidental downfall. Many little circum-
stances came to her recollection, which Mt
the time had passed unhceded, but which
now presented themselves in fearful array
to prove that her be'oved husband had in
deed become what she shuddered to name
even to herself. What should now be her
coursel Surely he was not yet irrecaim-
able. 1t should be her task to win him
back to virtue She would exert herself
10 make home even more attractive than
1t had hitherto been; and for Henry's sake
she would consent to leave her babe more
frequently with its attendant and again
mingle with the gay society in which he
had formerly delighted. Not a rcproach
should pass her lips, and unless he forced
the truth from her, he should not even
guess that she was aware Of his situation.
These thoughts tranquilized her, and
feeling the insutiiciency of her own strength
to combat the trials before her, she poured
out her full heart in prayer to her hea-
venly Father, and received in return that
peace and consolation which earnest pray
er never fails to bring.
A few hours Of sound sleep brought re-
turning consciousness, and a dim recollec-
ton of what had passed, to the mind of
Henry Graham. His heart was filled with
shame and repentance, not so much for
the evil itself, but for the grief which he
knew he must have occasioned his wife,
lie dreaded to meet her eye or to hear
the gentle tones Of her voice; but her first
words relieved him. They contained
merely kind inquiry for his health, and
whether he had recovered from his fati-
que. Surely she could not speak in this
manner, if she had suspected the true
state OF the case. He endeavored to reply
in an unconcerned and Indifferent tone;
but in vain; he could not return her looks
or words Of love; and when she placed
the babe in his arms, he shrunk from its
touch ar if he feared to contaminate one
50 innocent and lovely.
Well had it been for him il lie had then
paused in his course, and firmly resolved
with the help of heaven to transgress no
more. But lie was again tempted and
again he yielded to the temptation.
His almost heart-broken wife finding ST.
lent endurance, and devoted love Of no a.
vail, ventured to speak plainly on the sub
ject, and poured forth her feelings in ear
nest and gentle remonstrance aud entrea-
~, urging him to pause ere it was yet too
late, and save himself and his family from
the ruin which awaited them. But, alas |!
it WAS in vain. Henry's whole nature
seemed to have changed. The prayers of
her whom he had so lately almost idolized
were now unheeded, and her fears treated
with contempt and ridicule. His rner
unremitting attention to his business was
now exchanged for idle, desultory habits,
which soon involved his affairs to an
alarming extent but still he rushed mad