The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-09-17

e little longer. A, length the sound Of approacl
t ing wheels was heard. Rapidly they drew neR
d and carfinge stopped before he house. VIII
o heating heart Ella hnsteued TO the door. hlt
some sl'gh' tii'ul,y she succeeded in opening i
= and the anxiou.ly expected one was bciale her
but no word If greeting fell from his lips, no ,os
! IN Of recognition met her eager glance. SPEECH
less, powerless, with his head bent heavily o
. lis side he WAC supported by an erect postio
| by twome who were strangers to her.
Don't he alarmed, madna,' said one Of then
respectfully. The gentlemen lad rather mtr
~ time over theiS wine At the hotel where ! an
porter, aud n Nr. Marvin had drank too freely
he has been sent home under onr protection. ]
/ you viii show 10 his room, We will hslp him VI
stairs
Trembling with excitement Ella led the wav
and after LAY ing the nanirna,e fOrta of Marvin up
on sofa, the men withdrew.
For this scene, the trusting wife was not pre-
pared. That her husband by auy possibi,,
could be induced TO thus degrade himself, she h.c
never Imagined, and the present shock was {,
her ms sudden and unexI ectad as /, was soul
crushing.
His dea'hly stupor, how Il terrified her. sho
applied resior,tives, but finding her efforts in
vain she su' down TO collect her scattered
thonghts, snd wait fer the approaching morn.
All! If the barhed sting Of ln,emperance rank
led only in ih. bosom Of its vo,ary, it woud IN.
deed bs ref ofhslf It's power, But alas 1t daily
percss mutitudes Of quiyering hearts among
the best and purest ofear;h's chldreu To see 9
stranger reeing through the sueets or lying in.
ebriated 10y the roadside, exrifes eur pity and
grief but what new startling light gathers
about the evil, az we behold its rGst on a link If
our own lovechan. How is its magnitude in
creased and its attendant consequences realized.
| Poor Ella The early day beams stole softly
| into the roamand found her still watching with
pallied iaee and sad glance. Bat Eir down in
the secluded recesses Of her soul there was
gushing fountain Of religious faith It was u
part Of her inuer, life, and although its ripping
| voice bsd often been unheeded in he turmoil Of
fashion, and Tho gi!dy round Of pleasure, il. re-
freshng waters now she'd soothing iufinenc.
Jpn her her spirit Fervenily did the invoke
the aid Of Him whoes listening ear is ever open
TO the sorrowing tone Of his cbildisn. and in
measure she was calmed and conlorted Yet
the world had put On gew aspect to her. and
she felt that benceforh instead OF lgxuriatny On
careless ease she had a work 10 perform Her
husband. he by whose side lifes journey aust be
trayersed. bad wandered from the riph path. and
her gentle hand must lead him back Tenderly
would she reason with him, aud he could not re-
sist her earnest plesdings.
Thu, did she muss and hope. And when
few hours later. the spell of ntoxication was re.
moved, Marvin, ashamed-vexed at himself sol.
emnly promised il should be the last time that
he ever INDUCED in strong drink to excess
Pthow often are such resolutions liz IL hel!
and carelessly.brokcn 1t wgs thus in The pies
ent case.
CHAPTER ".
T. l. 4
his earliest childhood. His father was sirewd
man Of business his mother was fashionable
womsn. As their only child and heir, he was
relted fat,ered and iniuIged. After his moth.
.sr's death, his fathers declining Lealih requiring
q more gcnel climate, Edward accompanied him
tn = southern city. where they remained several
months. Here ha became intimately associated
with set Of Young men, who, although ming
ling in what Is termed good society were in fact
haDtud,ed 10 every specios Of dissipation and
vice, In Marvin they behsld ono whose moBey
could minister to the gratiiicatInr OF their evil
desires, ana with cunning art sheir dangerous
web was spread around him. Bis Welding dis.
position rendered him On easy prev, and the
gaming table, with its exciting accom- mpsnimeuts.
soon became to him favorie rosor.. Already
had he involved himself a debts of honor, false.
ly SO calIedl to large amount when the death
OF his father recalled him FOR while to other
scenes.
1t was about a year from this time that be |
met Ella Gray. Her intelligence, rure beauty, |
and graceful manners, made a deep impression
upon his heart, and he exerted his best cndeav
crs to win her affections in return Ofhis sue /
cess we aro already acquainted He had no, the !
moral courage to inform her Of his previous con.
duct, hut he resolved in lis own conduct, but he |
- i'll al. r
should atone for the past. and from the time Of
his marriage until the evening mentioned in the ,
preceding chapter, he had never given her reason
to suppose that he was augh, 'lss than her ex.
pec,a,ions demanded He soon discovered, how
ever, as many have done before that to restore
a vtistcd appetite and dcpraved taste 10 health |
aud purity, Is task Of no small magnitude, re
Iur NJ cea,eless energy and determined perse
verancs. faculties he Possessed only in a small /
degree.
With many engaging qualities, and naturally
talented Marvin might have been an ornament
10 society and domestic life, but he lacked stabil.
ty aud rIgh, principles Of action. lie was i'm
pulslve. easily tempted and having been trained
10 no industrious or business habits looked upon
he routine Of active life as n necessary evil with
evil with which he chose to have as llttle to do ne
possible. The counting rooms where his father
Nad podded on !nr years progressing slowl,
rom bare subsistence to luxurous wealth, ech.
',d batseldom to the footsteps ofthe sen. Eve.
-ything Of pecunia:y nature was entrusted to
,lerks and agents, and So uug a. his purse failed
nat TO supply the many demands on it, Marvin
Exhibited no disposition TO enter into details re
'petiing the sUu-ce from whence lis money
come. II
ho different phases other husbands character
'Oon became more apparent to Ella and her faith.
'r's words of counsel glowed brightly in her
memory, but regrets were unavalng and her
ouoyunt disposition sull hoped for the best
The holidays were fast approaching, and with
hem she expected her father He had promised
o spend several weeks in New York, and had
written that he would be with them by Chris,
mas Eve. Ella determined that her anxieties
md troubles should be closely hidden in her own
bosom, aud that nothing should occur to mar the
pleasure Of his visit.
With nffectionate zeal she bussd herselfin liz.
lie preparations for his comfort; and when the
lay of his expected arrival came as evening ap.
preached, she exhibited her arrangements to her
usb'nd. Just see how cozy and comfortable
athets room appears che exclaimed as she
hrew open the door. i was fearful it might be
damp, so have had fire in the CRATE since ear.
y thus morning Here is nm easy chair for him
by the centre table. which have furnished with
late numbers of all his favorite periodicals and
books, and here are his Christmas gifts. This
beautiful dressing gown you brought for him to-
Day, the velvet slippers that embroidered and
,ur miniatures which he will yare more than
anything else How glad shall be 10 see him