Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-12-05
and abandoned wife was reunited to her
fallen, but still affectionate husband
"All theughts-all feelings-all desires
That thrill this mortal frame,
Are but the ministers of love-
And feed his sacred flame"

All IHSugnIS--fail teellngS--aIl desires
That thrill this mortal Frame
Are but the ministers of love-
And feed his sacred fame"
If any one should doubt the truth of
this strange fact, that Raymond was false
to the woman he loved dearly-I answer,
am simply telling the truth-human ma
ture is full of just such contradictions
Ihts IS " an oacer true tale" There are
no fabulous characters here, no angels nor
ideal nothings, who dwell unseen, like echo
in the hollow heads of would bee -daeuer-
reotypists of humanity. Is not thisstran-
ger than fiction I?
Inez, and her children, went home again,
and peace and happiness once more blessed
the home, and hearts of Raymond McGre-
gor and his devoted wife
Oscar, what are you thinking about ?"
said Inex to me, one evening after her re-
turn to Raymond--{silence had fallen up
on our conversation
Il was thinking just then," said 1,
chow deeply rooted love for your husband
must be in your heart, for nothing can
destroy It."
"Who told you said she, "t that 1 lore
Raymond p
The actions," I answered, "of Inez
McGregor, and they speak louder than
words. Pardon my frankness, have nev-
er seen in any wife, so much devotion, as
you have always shown. l have never
heard you say single unkind, or even
peevish word of, or to Raymond; not even
show weariness at his sometimes unreas-
enable requests.
And yet Oscar said she sadly"
feel that do not lore my husband as [ once
loved him. When l found the golden
idol of my deep devotion, was false tking
Of clay, the fire Of love in my bosom flick
cred out, Oscar it is very bitter thought,
but the love of early days has faded-fa-
ded-faded. l pity Raymond now"
"I wish said I" some fair lady
would pity me if in the world was
hidden, only half Of your present deyo-
tion.'
1" / sometimes said She" thirst for
the old feeling; almost pant for it to come
back again but da,{y and pity has taken
its place. The thought that Raymond
once betrayed me haunts me. I want
to trust him again His intemperance only
made me love him the morc-the deeper
it sunk him, the closer | chung to him !;
but my love withered and died, when /,
who trusted, was betrayed"
Inez," said L" Raymond was crazy
| are you not harsh in your judgment upon
!, tbs drunken ects Of, a rxm-aaddened ree
MAC. You know that your husband has
| been mad-I appeal TO the generosity Of
, your noble nature. Raymond loves you
has always loved you more than he does
his own soul You are unjust to your
husband-unjust to yourself"
"Then,' said IRez-" give me the COB.
let Of oblivion, and make me forget the
past"
Let the past Il replied" be buried
in the past" have thought thousand
t times since, Of this strange conversation
For many things have most minute and
everlasting memory tut repeat oar eer5
, ao0rds.
Several years rolled by, and Raymond
; and his noble wife lived happy, contented
and prosperous The painful passages il
D their lives were almost forgotten in presen
G cares and joys; or only remembered tt
make their spirits cling closer together.
/ A child died and the mutual sorrow
: was sanctifed by love, to knit their souls
/. still closer. A child was born, and an
other golden link was added to the chair
G of affection.
n Raymond was taken sick I called t.
5 see him. "Oscar," said he" do yol
f think | shall die p
d No Raymond" | replied
" am not afraid of DEATH said he
It all is peace here and lie laid his hant
upon his bosom.
d Cheer up Raymond said I, don
Il give up the ship
), want to live, Oscar, said he, no
for myself, but to pay debt I owe to Inez
u 1t will take me long time to payit off,
u Have you forgotten Oscar, that Inez nurse
me for days in den of infamy, when
[ was too i'll to be taken away, and did no
d know her in my mad dclirium. Inez is m
st guardian angel. May heaven bless m
noble wife
A. On Raymond's convalcscence, which wa
[, slow, in an evil hour, his physician, agains
Inez most urgent appeals, ordered porter .
stimulating tonic. Raymond drank
le single glass. The first for years-like
is blazing brand flung into a powder mags
zine, it flashed up the smouldering liquo
thirst, that once kindled never dies
J. burnt like Greek-fre in his heart Bod
and mind, both weakened by long sickness
to the fame winged demon of the bowl, sweI
down all before it like prairie grass CT
h. down by the red pinions of fire. Unknow
er to Inez he left his sick bed-tottered like
, feeble child down the street, and, oh
er damning shame found law licensed run
IN shops invitingly.. open all around. E
IN drank, and drank, and drank, until his sha
tered body gave way, and the victim of tt
= Liquor- Licensed La1-tte rune-neurdert
ID maniac was carried home frantic vii
ce mania potu.
to ooh. Oscar !-Inez ! screamed the d
On ing mans save me-saye-the blaZiL
IN waves of hell roll over me-snakes a
he twisting all around me-take them off
ng take them off, r-water-water-
it nv bed is on fre-my heart is in flames
-there-kill it-kill it--that sec
er pion--look at the devils mocking me-
g, drive them away-keep them of-save n
re from this HE'LL am in hell-Oscar, it
a getting dark--I cannot see-wife-Inez-
air dear I-n-e-z.' and the name of her he low