Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-03-30
Select Storm
From the Waverly Magazine.
NJ AIRY ALSTON.
A STORY OF W0MANS' INFLUENCE.
CHI APTER IIJ-TCoyrrrrn
BY MARY A. AVERY.

A"1' nc sAouId lose his place IN the tore
most ranks of his class ? That his N en-
ory should become treacherous, his Intel
lect clouded, his ambition to excel no
longer excited There was mystery in
1t that excited the attention of the college
officers, more on account of his former
distinguished position in the school than
anything else their suspicious became
excited, and he was watched narrowly till
they were confirmed
The delinquents were then secretly rep
rlmandcd, and threatened with exposure :;
but this produced DO other effect than a
change III their places of meetiug and
greater secresy In their management
They could not, however, long remain un-
detected with the surveillance now placed
over them, and the result of their impru-
dence was, that letters, describing the
dangers to which they were exposing
themselves, were sent to the parents and
guardians of eight promising young men,
suspendlng, and giving them leave Of abb
sence from the institution.
Mortified and humbled by his disgrace
Dana returned to his bereaved mother
upon whom the news of his Irregularities
had fallen like a thunderbolt She could
not at first believe that her son had taken
the downward road to ruin that he had
become a gambler, and almost a drunk
ard and that that was the key to his in
creaslng expenditures. But when he re-
turned, she could doubt no longer she
read 1T IN his averted eye and hageard
face, before he humbly confessed the
truth, and entreated her forgiveness He
then promised amendment. and cndeav-
ored to keep his promise; but the memory
OF his disgrace preyed deeply upon his
mind, and the thirst for excitement and
strong drink was frequently too strong to
be resisted, when he passed in the streets
the dens of temptation and nothing, at
such times, restrained him but the thought
of his mothers anguish The listless,
idle life he now led. without object or high
aim In the future. was in itself tempta-
| ton. Too rich to have any pecuniary
motive for exertion, he now only cared to
pass away the time He wandered away
upon the hills upon shooting excursions :;
lounged in the neighboring shops, or fshed
through the ice upon the river; anything
IN fact, but attend to his studies. which
had now become distasteful to him. or re-
main continually under the eve of his
mother, whose earnest, inquiring glance
he felt could detect all his thoughts -
Thus passed the winter away. and part of
the spring, when his casual meeting with
, Mary Aston turned the current of his
thoughts and then many were the plans
he had laid for finding her, and making
her acquaintance, and many were the air
castles he had built. with her for their
presiding genius, before he again had the
pleasure of seeing and saving her.
He had accepted the invitation of Ga
brlel Healy, fellow townsman. and one
OF his cldeVant club friends, in visiting
the wild region where they met, upon a
hunting and fishing excursion Healy
had friends in the neigh borhood, at whose
house they had spent the previous night,
and the day had been spent in wandering
over the hills with Healy's cousins
Toward night, in chasing a grey squir-
rel, Dana became separated from his com
panIons, and met with the adventure we
have recorded. Knowing that such news
would soon take wing. he mentioned it
that evening at Mrs, kean's supper-table,
and IN return, after all her questions were
answered, heard the history of Mary. and
all her family, for many generations. He
knew from the first that Mary was poor :;
he now heard why she was so, and Of her
energy and perseverance under all their
past troubles. When he laid his head on
his pillow that night. we may be sure he
did not forget Mary Aston and hours
after his companion was snoring: he Law
awake, thinking Of her That she was
poor. with him was no objection lie was
rich, and had enough for both That her
father had been a drunkard. was nothing.
as he might have less objection to him if
he should hear Of his past delinquencies !:
they should be all past, he thought for he
would now set about reforming In earnest
But might not Mary herself despise and
fear him, when she came to hear his past
history If she had been made misera-
BILE by the dissipation of father, might
she not fear repetition of the scene too
much to love or marry him. He resolved,
whether she looked upon him with favor
or not, that he would become worthy Of
her and. after tomorrow. quit forever all
dangerous associations.
\ fishing excursion had been planned
for the morrow, and when it came thav
started bright and early with their din
ner and fishing tackle, dogs and guns. re-
solving to make the most of their last
days sport together.
The day was bright and beautiful. and
the scenery around them wild and roman
tic but Dana's jovial companions cared
little for that, as they liked rough sport
better than rough scenery, and high
frolic better than romantic sentimental
ISM They sailed upon the lake in high
spirits, and for some time had fine luck in
fishing for perch and piekerel. sinners aud
catfsh-all seemed ambitious of tasting
the sweets Of forbidden fruit. or at least
wished to see the glories of the upper
world. After getting somewhat tired.
Healy drew in his line, and said
Well, boys, this is dry business !;
hand over that jug Of water, Jack
Jack pulled the jug out from among
their rations, and passed it over to HeaIv