Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-08-23

II reproach, however assaults of calumny might
tlicken around him. She had one terrible mo-
ment of distrust-her faith and confidence for one
moment had been shaken in the man for whom
she would unhesitatingly die-the man she low
ed with mos intense aud overmastering devotion
but it was over almost with breath. She kiss
cd his lips again and again, the first time since
ner marriage, wine-tanted-she laid her cool hand
on his forehead, hot and throbbing with the OK
citement of the night game he had been playing
she Intervene her soft fingers with his hair,
and softly whispered
DO you love me, husband, my dearest and on
ly lover
80, Susie, you are a heavenly crcature-you
are the sweetest of all sweet angels-I adore youl
Why do you ask me if love youl'
He Very well knew why she asked him. Ifhe
truly loved her, could he possibly persist in do
ing voluntarily and deliberately what he knew
greved and panied her Utmost soul' There was
test for him. He would have given thousand
worlds to blot out the last night page from his
history-and what would have been Susie's con-
sternation if she had known the fact that for the
first time in his life, Paul Manncring had that
night played for wager!
But the sound of his voice, the magnetism of
his touch had soothed every alarm. Susie said
more. In few minutes her husband knew
by the psssionless repose in her face, and by her
gentle breathing, that her distress and anxiety
had all subsidized, and Susie was asleep in his bo-
SON.
Next day Mr. Manncring did not rise very
early-not early enough for church, He had not
closed his eyes till the dawn, and besides he had
aviolent headache. Susie banished the baby, be-
cause he was boisterous and exacting as babies
are wont to be when you most want them on their
best behavior. She shaded the windows and
made the light as soft and agreeable possible.
She hushed every noise that could annoy or ir-
rtatc her husbands already excited nerves, and
then she sat down beside him to anticipate every
desire before it could be expressed and to lavish
upon HIM those sweet caresscs and attentions
whick are thousand-fold more curative than
medicine. He was very silent, and Susie only
spoke when she could no longer suppress the
out bursting of her tender devotedness, that
seemed to swell and expand more and more, the
more he suffered and the more she nurscd him.
Mr.. Manncrng never had loved or valued SUI
san half so much in his life, and if he prayed any
prayers that day, it was to thank the Lord for
Susie, and to invoke heavenly blessings upon
her. He felt exceedingly self-condemncd, and,
when late in the afternoon it came to light that
she had been sick all day, and had not once be.
trayed it because he needed her attentions, his
compunctions became bitterer than ever.
III-FINALE.
Years afterwards, Paul Mannering, Esq, and
his wife were sitting by their cheerful fircside,
alone. He looked older little, but time had laid
very light hands upon him. The iron-grey of
his hair had turned to silver, and that ripe, ma
ture expression rcigned over his noble counten-
ance which marks uncrringv the perfection Of
manhood. Susie was close beside him, and his
arm circled his waist, and his hand clasped hers,
not as if he were in the wi! intoxicating costa
Sy OF new love, but as if his whole heart, with
al It's admiration and confidence, were immova-
bly, anchored upon her.
Susie looked older-but her hair was Just as
smooth and bright, aud her eyes just as black
and loving as when he had made her his bride
She wore deep mourning; more becoming to her
style of beauty, perhaps, than any other dress,
but it was the outward sign and symbol of her
inward sorrow. Mr. and Mrs. Mannerng were
chiid.css. Paul. the frst-born, in the bloom and
lovCliless OF his third summer, had been trans
planted from his mo theirs bosom to the bosom
q an angel in heaven. Little Susie, the sweet
daguerreotype OF her mother came to cheer the
household for 4 few short months, and then she
too faded away, and they wcpt over her tiny
coffin. And now the father and mother, bercav
ed of their little ones, all the world to each
other. Susie Mannerng had surrendered her
children without murmur, but she wildly pray
cd that her husband might live to close her eyes
and stand by her grave-thc whole wealth of her
heart, the whole treasury of her affection, she
pour:t out upon lIim-she desired nothing to love
nothing on winch to bestow her DEVOTION but
her husband aud heaven!
Mr.. Manncring looked in her face with a scri-
ol:s smile, and said
Susie, have l ever panied you made you
unhappy since our marriage =
You are the dearest, nUblcst, best of husbands,
and l the happiest OF wives she replied eva
svely.
That does not answer my question Tell me,
Susie. | have particular motive for inquir
ing
Not these many years, she said smiling, while
her radiant face con tirned the truth of what she
uttered.
Well, Susie, since you won't bring me to the
confessional, l must come voluntarily. Did you
ever know was passionatcly fond of billiards
during my bachelorhood \
Not from any such communication that you
ever m:dc to me- she answered archly.
Did you ever know played after we were
married, and our little Paul was born 2
Husband said Susie, do You remember one
night when our baby had paroxysm OF Group,
and one Saturday night!'
Most painfully well, Susie-what then =
That Saturday night, beloved / heard that
you allowed yourself habitual indulgence i'll
what | had always instinctively regarded as vc-
nv vicious and wicked. In word, heard that
You was gambler! My whole soul revolted
You had never empowered me by your confidence
to contradict it, though believed it false, every
word. You had been absent late at night. o,
husband, that night | was more unhappy than
ever before, or than l have ever since been.
have tasted very deep and bitter sorrow, since.
When kissed and caressed our dear little Paul
and Susie, and they were buried away out of my
sight, knew they had gone to the bosom of Jc-
sus But that night somehow, l felt as if you,
nv best beloved--tor well as | loved my son
loved you better-I felt as if you were on the
brink OF a fearful danger, and was powercss to
warn or save you
Il was on the brink OF fearful danger, Susie,
and your gcntleness, your indcscribabc sweet
ness saved me. Youhave been the angel folding
your shielding arms about me whenever | have
since been similarly tempted, and the thought
of You has made me strong-hearted, resolute,
upright man, have said Get thee behind me,
to many temptation, because your dear image
stood before me in your heavenly purity and
truth.
Susie, you can form adequate idea of the
interest and fascination that gradually take cap
tive the reason and conscience, the body and soul
of the player of games OF chance. / do not won
der that taFotables decoy thousands to their ruin
Everything is made so charming, so bewiidcring
to the senscs-the saloons tastefully, some
times gorgeousy furnished-the entertainments
/ are SO tempting to the appetite is SO
gentlemanly aud so courteous-it is so easy and
comfortable to lounge on those damask cushions
and everything has such an air OF freedom, OF
fairness OF honor, that | do not wonder the un-
wary are enticed, like bird that hasteth to the
snare and knOweJh not that it is for his life, nor
II. s=r,r, se.N.. 81 -,