Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-23

DHN0SA SNNAA %ANb N@Nt -
wine deserted father and mother, and kin
dred, for her husband, and identified herself
with him, so far as lingering FIRST affections
would permit. But, if her heart yearned
oyer the dear first friends of her youth, she
never suffered her conduct to betray what
she accounted a weakness but clung to her
husband with a madness of affection, which
deserved a better return than she received.
Henry Irvine, as we have said, could not
bear prosperity. A secret reason, hardly
acknowledged to himself, why he disliked
his wife's connections, was because they per.
ceived his dangers, and ventured to warn
him. His sensitive pride took ca2tious alarm,
and he gloried in hooking reproof, by per-
sisting indiscretion.
The end of such a course is easily proph-
esied. lie fell among thieves; and for wounds
of friends exchanged the selfish fattery of
knaves. Plucked of money, and bankrupt
in credit and character, he awaked at last to
find himself a ruined man, with a meek, un-
complaining wife dependent on him, and
feeling twice as keenly as he did, all his ruin
and degradation. The temptation which has
ruined many, came in to complete his des-
truction. He sought oblivion of his degra-
cation in the wine-cup, and there lost the
last redeeming trace or hope of manhood
1t is a fearful fall, when the appetites tri-
umph, and the reason is dethroned when
the maj wakes only to misery, and rushes
back to inebriation again, in the vain hope to
forget himself.
A lower depth still remained and Henry
Irvine found even that. His jaundiced
thoughts dared to suspect her who, for love
of him, had surrendered friends, home, hap
/, piness, hope. Because she did not, and
could not, rail against her own, as he did
. because she was meek, and quiet, and un-
complaining, he quarelled with her ALSO
2 He charged that she hated him, and regret
/ ted that her fate was coupled with his. The
last she could not deny the first he saw in
{ his Owl heart, and judged that it mast be ir
hers also. 1t is their own fancied concealed
reflection in the good that the wicked hate.
And he dared, moreover, to accuse his wifi
r as the cause of all his misfortunes. He sait
u she triumphed in them! Can we wonde
that she would not say she did not? 1t Nigh
II have been that she thought such a charg,
too wickedly preposterous to answer; or, i
n might have been that she was wearied int
is hate at last, and not displeased to find tina
there was one mode in which she could ir
hict pain on one who had heaped so man
wrongs on her. Mary was drawing nea
her dark hour.
~ There is in most, if not in all careers,
" moment--the crisis of a life an hour upc
~ which all the future hangs. That cris
~ came to Mary Irvine.
:" Her house, disrobed Of many comforts, W
:" not yet quite desolate. She clung, while
'l glimmer of hope remained, to her faith
10 her husband. She believed that all W
III knew him did not know his degradat on. S
~ thought that she had concealed it from II
ny-and, fond simpleton imagined that IN
az did not see through the hollowness of /
smile, when she spoke of her husband.
1t was night, and late. There were vote
and a rude knock at the door. She oper
it, and her own brother entered, 9recedi
the policeman, in whose custody he
found the inebriate husband.
She looked, and comprehended all. Tt
laid the senSeIess man on a sofa and
strangers left the house.
Put on your bonnet, Mary said
T. brother, and com home with me-
Mary cast an eye on the wreck Of her |
e. and hope. Loathing thoughts rose wit
tho her she made one ste1 as if to comply ;
NOV escape was now first in her thoughts,
she felt that she had borne all that hur
Iond nature could endure. The child, distur
oror in its sleep. recalled her to the thought
hopeless was escape the Dabe smiled, an
the smile she saw the sunshine of other d
a. Bowling over the cradle, she sobbed out
~ her heart all its stern resolves.
~ 'Come y said her brother.
~ 'But-my child
w will send for it, said the broti
but perceiving a strange look, almost in
80 nant, through her tears, We will take it
49,, u.s. he said. But the first careless exy
ha5 sion turned the scale. She made no ans
IL until, after waiting a moment in silence,
,.oala brother said, and now more sharply
Conner
Yards NJ VII '".iv,io"
o. e She made no reply but bending owe
al infant, soothed it again to sleep. She
.nmo. verod-thought, p~arleyeti and was no,
49,. at last, from a half dream by the noise
ILL., closing door. She rose suddenly, and 6
III wildly about her. Her brother had
' hns' her dark hour had passed for the ter
NJ NJ ton was withdrawn. Did she do rigt
- tho Hank the sequel, and then answer.
!, had m
with Henry irvine awoke TO consciousness
burning fever. 1t was not merely that ,
Tut OF invariably follows debauch, nor was it
holce' terrific delirium consequent upon long
ne OBJ oence in intoxication for his fall had
flUnC