Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-29
Original Sturp.
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
II 0 r A G L L A Y ER N E,
OR THE WIFEs TRIALS.
ICONCLUDED FROM OUR LAST.
CHAPTER VII.

Mrs. Laverne led her husbsnd home, pre-
|. vailed upon him 10 drink cup Of coffee,
and then go to bed She said nothing con.
cerning his drinking, and endeavored to act
towards him as though she had been igno-
rant Of his condition.
The next morning he awoke with swol-
len eyes and aching head bat his suffer
ings were light when compared with the
aching heart Of his wife. She knew not
the real cause Of his recent unhappy state of
mind, aud in her Imagination she fancied
that he had, by some means, been alienated
from her. There was madness in the
thought; for although he had debased and
degraded himself, and been guilty of con,
duet calculated to wound her feelings aud
weau her affections, still she clung to him,
still wound the tendrils Of her heart around
him, still cherished the flame of her young
love in all its brightness, purity, and glow
ing warmth. She had pictured him noble
and manly, generous and devoted, and as
possessing all the virtues of manhood with
out its vices and though reluctantly con-
vinced of the contrary, and though that
picture was marred and many of its most
beautiful tints effaced, still she regarded
him as the object of her choice, the one
dearest to her, aud the partner of her des.
tinies Such is woman's love.
Mr.. Laverne felt deeply his shame, and
his countenance betrayed his feelings. At
ter breakfast he seated himself by his wife
end after a moments silence, said:
Jniia, will you forgive me fer my con-
duet last nightY
The wife burst into tears and threw her
arms about his neck. In this he had his
answer. AS soon as she could speak, she
said:
90 my husband you know forgive
YOU all. But tell me, Horace, and tell mi
truly, have / lost that high position il
your affections that | once held 2
mo, dearest, / love you now, degraded
ruined as | am, more fervently, and NOR
deeply than when first our vows were pligh
ted. / call Heaven to witness the SINGER
ity Of my love; but a demon possesses me
and drives me to n course loathe and ab
hor. resove, and resolve, and lamen
my weakness, but cannot help it. Blu
in all my wrong doings still cherish m,
love for thee aud our child, and it pain
me to think you doubted it, and that pal
is increased by the reflection that l hay
given you cause to doubt it.
Il have marked your unhappiness fl
many weeks replied Mrs. Lavernc, an
feared that it was | that caused it.
No, no, interrupted Mr.. Laverne, eal
nestly, aud that you may no longer ha
Dor that thought / will reveal to you Il
true cause of my trouble, though it is wit
a shame that wrings my heart to do it
/ owe more money than l can pay. NJ
debts in Charleston have accumulated, at
/ have squandered the proceeds of my sal
until am broke For myself care nc
but for YOU and our little Marion--
Tears rushed into his eyes, his heart ro
into his throat, and he could speak no fu
ther.
Mrs. Lavcrpe, instead of being owe
whclmed, felt relief that even gave hi
iov and she eonsoled and encouraged b
until he felt like a new being. He hj
long known that his wife must, at sor
time. know the true state of his affair
but he had determined to keep it from b
as long as possible, thinking thereby
save her much grief aud vexation.
weighed heavily upon his mind, and NJ
that he had got it off and saw the effect
had upon her-so different from what
had anticipated-he felt relief equ
perhaps, to hers.
An hours conversation ensued, but
reveal it is none Of our business. At t
end Of that time Mr.. Lavcrne took his
and left to 90 to his store He bad be
there but little while before the shel
entered and levied on his books and I
contents Of his store. MIR. Laverne del
cred every thing to him and gave him p
session Immediately.
Turned out of his own store, with
dear reader, do you suppose be went! v
Il 10 his wife, to hear her words OF ch
and comfortl Did he turn from his ca
aud trials to seek consolation in the bos
Of bis family, and to enjoy in the dom
tic circle that peace and rePose denied
him elsewhereH
Alas for human nature Alas
the frailty Of man He sought cure
his troubles in their cause. Again he fo'
his way to the - Hotel, and into
underground respcctability,' Of it. FL
erick Drayton and he again drank to
acquaintance and then seated themse
for a game 'for amusement, Soon
tic was placed upon the table between th