Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-24


readyNto drop to the floor. In this season of
deep af1iction might he not forgive the past
Hope sprung up within her. In the presence
of the dead he could not throw her OF. She
laid her hand gently on his. He turned. Her
fearful eyes were lifted in his face. A mo-
ment Of thrilling suspense. Pride and anger
conquered again. Without a sign of recogni-
ton, ne turned away and left the chamber of
death.
Braeing herself up with an intense struggle
Laura pressed her lips to the cold brow Of her
mother, and then silently retired
During the time that intervened from his
marriage mp to this period, Mr.. Perciyal had
been gradully rising in the confidence, respect
esteem OF this community, and was acquiring
the bar As a husband he had proved most
kind and affectionate. As a man he was the
soul of honor. All who knew him held him in
the highest regard.
After the death of his wife, Mr. Woodville
fell into gloomy state of mind His busi-
ness, which had been declining for years, was
becoming less and less profitable, and to in
crease his trouble, he found himself progress
ing rapidly toward embarrassment, if not
bankruptcy The man whom of all others he
had wished to see the husband of his daugh-
ter, married beautiful heiress, and was liv-
ing in style Of great elegance. He met the
brilliant bride occasionally and always ith
One day while walking with gentleman,
they passed Allison, when his companion
said
eff that man does not break his wife's
heart within five years, L shall think she has
few of woman's best and honest feelings
Why do you say that?' asked Mr.. Wood
vile, evincing much surprise.
. In the first place" replied the friend, "a
man with bad principles is not the one to make
nght-minded woman happy. And, in the
second place, man who regards neither vir-
tue or decency in his conduct, is the one to
make life wretched.' -
I" But is Allison such a man ?'
50 tie is, to my certain knowledge, 1 knew
him when a boy. We were schoolmates. He
then gave me evidence of more than ordinary
natural depravity; and from the training he
has received, that deprayity has been encOur-
aged to grow. Since he became a man have
had many opportunities for observing him
closely, and 1 speak deliberately when say
that hold him in exceedingly low estima-
tion. am personally cOgnizant of acts that
stamp him possessing neither honor nor, rs
l said before, tecency, an d a very long time
will not probably elapse before he will betray
all this to the wCTld Men like him indulge
in evil passions and selfish desires, until they
lose even common prudence"
"YOu astonish me, p" said WOOdville, Il
cannot credit your words. He belongs to one
of the best families -
$50 called, but judged by the true stand
ard, should say ono of your worst families. >
why do you say that asked Mr.. Wood
vile, evincing still more surprise.
"The virtues of an individual make. his
standard of worth. The same is true of fami-
lies. Decayed wood, covered with shining
gold, is not 50 valuable as sound and polisheI
oak Nor is a family, raised by wealth, or
any external gliding, into a high social posi-
tiOn, If not possessed Of virtue, half so worthy
OF confidence and esteem as one of less preten
sions, but endowed with honorable principles.
TIE father of Mr. Allison, it is well known.
was gentleman only in the Chesterfield
sense. A more hollow hearted man never ex-
listed. And the son is like the father, only
more depraved.
Mr.. Woodville was profoundly astonished.
All this he might have known from personal
observation, had not his eyes been so dazzled
with the external brilliancy of the person con-
demned as to disqualify them from looking
deeper, and perceiving the real character of
what was beneath the brilliant gliding He
was astonished though not entirely convinced
1t did lot seem possible that any one in the
elevated position of Mr.. Allison, could be so
base as was affirmed.
few months later and Mr.. Woodyille was
surprised at the announcement that the wife of
Mr.. Allison had separated herself from him
and returned to her fathers home. Various
IL.
prominent of which was infdelity. Soon after
application for divorce was laid before the
Legislature, with such proofs Of iIl-treatment
and shocking depravity of conduct, as pro-
cured an instant release from the marriage
construct.
BY this time, the proud, angry father was
beginning to see that he had probably commit
ted an error. An emotion of thankfulness
that his child was not the wife of Allison arose
spontaneously in his breast, but he did not
permit ii to come into his deliberate thoughts
nor take the form of an uttered sentiment
Steadily the change in his outward circum-
stances progressed.
He was growing old, and losing the ability
to do business on an equality with the younger
and more eager merchants around him, who
were gradually drawing off his oldest and best
customers. Disappointed, lonely, anxious, and
depressed in spirit, the conviction that he had
committed great mistake was daily forcing
itself, more and more, upon the mind of Mr.
Woodyille. When evening came, and he re-
turned TO his silent, his almost deserted dwell
ing, his loneliness would deepen into sadness,
and then like an unbidden but not entirely
unwelcOme guest, the image of Laura would
come before his imagination, and her low and
tender voice would sound in his ears. But
pride and resentment was still in his heart,
and after gazing on the pensive, loving child
for a time he would seek TO expel the vision.
or what was her husband? A low vulgar fell |
low, raised little above the common herd |
Such and only such did ne esteem him; and |
whenever he thought of him, his resentment |
toward Laura came back in full force.
Thus it went on until twelve years from the |
time Of Laura's marriage had passed away, |
and in that long period the father had seen |
her face but once, and then il was in the pres |
ence Of the dead. Frequently, in the first |
year Of that time had she sought a reconcilia- |
ton; but repu!sed on each occasion, she had |
ceased 70 make approaches. As to her hus-
band, so entirely did Mr.. WoodYille reject him |
that he cast cut of his mind his very likeness, |
and not meeting him ceased actually to re-
member his features, so that if he had encoun-
tered him in the street he would not have |
known him. He could, md had said, there
rut know him . OF his rising reputation ard
social standing he knew but little; for his
very name being an offence, he rejected it on
the first utterance, and pushed aside rather