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

for her baby alone, while Paul Mannerlng had
been exercising diagonals on avelvet-covered bill
lard table Susie smiled ON her husband more
gladly than ever, and smothered her own alarm
for her boy to soothe and quiet that of his father
She watched the stars cut, over the little crib,
while Mr.. Mannering slept--at least, all his COM
Functions would allow That night he would
have sworn solemn oath, if Bible and mag
istrate had been at hand. fi H.
Very few persons have the independence to say
Get thee behind me- to favorite temptation
Little Paul triumphed over the Group. Susie grew
more and more radiant with happiness, and Mr.
Mannerino came to the conclusion that one more
trial of his skill should be his valedictory at the
billiard saloon; besides, some of his old compan-
ions were to be there, and he had been laboriousy
occupied all day--it was easy to persuade himself
that the recreation would he good for him. Alas
for poor Susie that night. Mr.. Mannering did not
come home TO tea Susie kept everything nice and
hot for him till eleven o'clock, believing that bu-
siness detained him. And when he did not come,
and she softly requested the servant to take away
the tea-things, and the toast and cakes she had
prepared for him, her heart did sink. Susie cried
as any one would cry, but nobody saw her. Eve
rybody had gone to bed, and TO sleep before she
surrendered herself to her paroxysm Of grief; and
while she was helpless under its power she ear
nestly hoped Mr.. Mannering might not return till
the bitterness had passed. She knew she could
conquer the agony-her bowed head would rise
again, erect in her holy innocence-she would be
stronger woman, a more devoted wife.
But the disappointment in not meeting her hus-
band at the tea table, and passing the only hours
he was at liberty from business i'll his beloved So
cicty, was not all Susie cried for that night She
had overheard conversation between Miss Crimp
hermantua maker, and Janctte, hernursing maid
which had electrified the most intense and dis
tressful anxieties Miss Crmp was very knowing
She sewed in all the first families, and hea ears
were both wide open, and her tongue going all
the time she laid OH her patterns, and shipped up
your silk into tatters. She was i'll possession OF
all the gossip, and liked of all things to pedde it,
esquire Mannering is out o. nights pretty much
these times isn't he!' she assertIngly inquired of
Janette.
Now and then, replied the nursing girl, who
liked gossip too.
Now and them quoted Mis- Crmp. IF what
they all say is true-now don't know anything
i'll rhe world but what hear i'll the first families.
where sew; don't see how Mrs .Mannering can
hold up her head and wear such constant smiles.
She is such sweet, generous lady, and never
screws all she can get out of you for days work,
and don't mind bit if you can't make change TO
a cent with her. She deserves 4 better fate, poor
thing. s....
Janette's curiosity was cruelty spurred by this
last remark ofthc oracular Miss Crinip. She open
ed her leaden eyes to their full capacity and stared
in Miss Crimps mysterious face. 1t was now her
turn to quote
A better fate What can you mean, Miss
Crimp! What has Mr. Manncring done?
Come, now, don't try to play thar game on me,
Janette. Perhaps Mrs. Mannering has given you
your orders, however. 1t isn't possible but you
have hcard-why it is the common conversation
in the first families where | sew'
Janctte protested, and truthlully, too, that she
had never heard single word to Mr.. Mannering's
discrcdt III her life. She thot him very gener-
Gus, liberal man, for he had offered her higher wa
ges than she asked because she had her sick mo-
Their to assist. and the young heir othe name and
estate OF Mannering was particularly troublesome
Miss Crimp laughed a tantalizing laugh and
waited fora little urgngto unite the strings other
budget OF tattlc. Janctte grew very inquiSitiVe.
Money is plenty as blacllbenics with some
that done work for it, she very significantly re-
piled to Janette'S remark about her wages. Now,
Janette, l wouldn't have you tell it from me for
anything, but they say he does gamble like all the
world. They say he is very rich, and that mighty
little of his money came by law business!
Janettc did not believe word of all this strange
talk, but she could not gainsay it, and the fact of
Mr. Manncring's being out late and fire.
quentiy, seemed to make the probability of Miss
Crimp's statement prepond2ratc. She began to
be quite agitated about something, she hardly
knew what, and turned it over in her simple mind,
whether she had not better give Mrs Mannering
notice that she must supply herself with another
incumbent Of the post she occupied
But fit agita;ed Janette, what may Miss Crmp's
story be supposed to do the earnest and desoate
heart of Susie, the trusting, almost adoring wife!
She transtiXed with astonishment and men
raj anguish. Her husband reputed gambler -
Her instincts all tod her it was false as sin. Her
husband-,he MODEST, the trucst, best of men
she knew he would disdan like the contact of pol
tuition, deep, dreadful moral pollution, a vice so
low, 50 nischievous, so indclibly stamped with
the black impress Of iniquity But she had read
and heard about the almost irresistible fascination
that coils Itself about games of chance; she had
read and heard Of the sccrcsy of ali gamblers opc
ratons; IL her husband, open x fuli of confidence
On all other subjects, had never once alluded to
the cause of his remaining away till such unreal
sonabc hours Besides, to her clear perception,
to her pure and upright Judgment, ercesses Of all
kinds hare a look Of daager 0b0m them; and what
stared in her face, but the incontrovertbe fact
which had staggered ,Ianctts philosophy! Poor
Susie's heart iluttcrcd and throbbed as il it would
burst the slight walls that enclosed it, while to
all outward seeming she was calm, sunny, even
ioyfUl. But when the lockers on had Withdrawn,
when she had hushed her baby TO his soft repose
on her bosom, and laid him to his rosy rest, she
took her place by the window and looked out i'll
the clear moonlight, watching with fearful gaze,
each passerby till his eehoing footsteps died away
IN the distance-stiil he came not. The chimes
from the churchtower proclaimed the entering in
of a new day; it was the day hallowed and con-
secrated 10 all future ages by resurrection And
still he came not. Susie rose from her place by
the window, and knelt beside the bed. She clasp
ed her hands and softly breaihed, 20 Father! good,
and merciful, and plying! My husband-lead
him not into temptation but deliver him from evil!
And then she bowed down her bright head as me
flower bows beneath the rush of the storm-wind'
and wept such tears as she had not wept since
the hour of her blissful wcdlock-no, not since
her tears of bereavement and agony fell upon her
mothers coffin and she was left destitute and an
orphan.
When Mr.. Mannering came home that sabbath
morning, it was nearly three o'clock. He went
up the stairs very softly, and quietly opened the
door into the 'penetralia.' Some men would have
looked out for greeting of tears or reproaehes.
Mr. Maunering expected Susie would smile, but
he knew there would be place cruelty smart
ing and singing in her pure, loving, devoted
heart.
1t was n summer night. and the drapery of the
bed was thrown aside Mr.. Mannering. with noise
less footsteps, approached the couch, and his
heart smote him as he gazed enraptured on the
lovely spectacle before him. Susie was asleep.
One fair hand clasped the dimpled arm of her ba-
by, whose siiken cheek lay close to hers like a
rose leaf resting on satin-thc other lay upon the
folds of her white cambria robs that rose and fell
to her irregular breathing the hand itself white
save the blue tracerv OF the vein work. as the