The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-02-10

ed ghastliness that shocked me SC
much, sprang from the bed, exclaim
ing, Joseph ! Mr.. Leland, what is the
matter 7" he stared at me an instant,
and in an excited tone replied, " "Don't
be fool, Clara /; go back to bed and
let me alone !" The truth flashed on
my mind, and Indignantly and silently
again pressed my pillow, where 1 sought
to fasten the blame on him rather than
to take any shame to myself. The next
day nothing was said of the occurrence
of the preceding day and night in fact,
there were few words spoken on any
subject; / felt injured, and gloom
seemed to have settled on the counte-
nance and manner Of my husband.
Itwas not till years after, that knew
what | may as well mention now. When
Mr.. Leland left the store on that event.
full night, he paused moment on the
threshold uncertain whittier to direct his
steps, dreading, after the tolls Of the
day, to encounter the fretfulness Of an
arbitrarary wife at home. Homo =
home no longer to his peace loving and
gentle spirit. Just then an acquaintance
passed, and accosting him gaily, invited
him to go and partake of an oyster sup
per at a fashionable restaurant. I'm
happily, his stomach prompted his mind
to accept the invitation. That night
the tempting wine-cup was held to his
lips; second and third followed in
rapid succession, and in what state he
sought bis chamber, we have already
seen.
Following this, there came success
sion of days and months fraught with the
deepest misery to both of us. I will
draw veil over the recollections Of this
period, only mentioning that but few
had elapsed before the hollow
cheek and blood-shot eyes told a tale
that none who saw him could fail to
read. My husbands conduct and ap-
pearance at this time, instead of causing
'elf-reproach, and exciting pity, led me
o look upon myself as the most injured
If wives, and my selfish and wicked
leart hardened towards him till rarely
spoke, save in tones of harshness and
eproach.
We had now been married about two
'ears. One morning Mr.. Leland went
o the store as usual but soon returned.
IN looking at him I caught my breath
n astonishment his eyes were wild and
cleaned like hot GOALS, aud as he stag
yered across the room, he would have
fallen had he not grasped chair into
which he sank. He sat moment as if
collecting his thoughts, then in voice
firm and solemn, while l almost felt his
burning gaze, he said, "Clara, thi. day
am ruined NANNY employers have
watched my steps, have lamented over
ny downward course, have expostulated
With me; finding it all to no purpose,
his day, on which l should have been
'aised to an honorable and profitable
position, finds me cast off, sick, broken
hearted, alone, without money and with
,ut friends. Trouble and disappoint-
nent drove me to the wine cup; then,
10 find oblivion for my sorrows. neg
ected my busin ,ss, became involved in
lebt, and this is the consequence. /
fear you have long since ceased to love
and respect me, Clara, and think me too
to feel such an emotion-but
it is not so-God knows / love you, and
it is the conviction that this love has
been thrown back on my own heart,
without any sympathy or return that has
made me what | am"
l felt that his words were true, alas |!
too true-and the thought Of all my un-
kindness, my love aud waywardness,
came rushing on my heart with an over
power, that brought agoniziug
tears to my eyes. As my husband ceas-
ed speaking his head sank on his bosom
sprang to his side and found he had
tainted. Using such restoratives as were
ut hand, l placed him in bed and sent
for physician. For weeks he fingered
on the verge of the grave. In the deli
RUM of fever he uttered truths that his
kind heart would have shrunk from in
aicting on his erring wife. AT length
he began to recover, but before he rose
from that couch of sugering, mutual con-
fessious had been made, and L, the
guilty aggressor sought forgiveness Of
him whom 1 had so deeply wronged even
as / had before asked it Of our Heavealy
Father, and together we prayed for de-
livery from temptation. Never shall l
forget the light Of love and hope that
beamed from his eyes when the past was
put out Of remembrance. What cared
.ua rnur &c. no Mora ,,ho- tuc Wern rich