Eastern times., 1856-03-13

grew more violent l threatened to expose
him to the lady he was to marry-to tell her
that was his wife. Then he grew angry
he tainted me-he told me that was guilty
of crime-that had committed bigamy, and
that could be imprisoned-he dared me to
do as | had threatened-he said bitter things,
words that stung me to the very soul-words
that he, of all men, should never have uttered
to me. Then, when he had heaped upon me
cruel, cruel epithets, till he could say no more,
the room. Never shall forge, his looks as
he stood there; his dark eyes flashing, his
cheeks flushed, and his tall figure drawn up
to its full height. How my heart yearned for
his love, and instead of that he offered me
gold.
did not speak-I felt no anger-I was or
ly heart-broken, and / looked at him with
stony eyes and outward composure, though my
very heart bled.
| still sat there, till his footsteps died away
in the distance. Then rose-my mind was
made up-I would not be burden to him now
that he no longer loved me. His cruel words
rang in my ears, but even then did not hale
him. Hate him loved him with my whole
soul as do still-as | always shall.
took my child by the hand, and went out
of his huuse-that happy, happy home
When the door closed, it was as if were shut
out of Paradise. | thought of Eve, when she
left Eden behind her but she was not alone,
Adam was still hers, and she went forth hand
in hand with him, with love and hope for com
panions, but walked out of my Eden, hand in
hand only with despair.
! pictured to myself Harry's return 10 our
home. knew that several days would pass
ere he would go there, and Imagined his hor-
ror on seeing it deserted, the money lying
where he had left it-all unaltered, all re-
naming as he had last seen it-only his An
ME missing.
taunts he had heaped upon the wife OF his bos-
om-the mother of his dead boy.
He did repent. looked in the papers, and
among other pathetic appeals. read words
of sorrow, Of love, and of enlreaty.
They touched my heart. He implored me
to return for little r. s sake, and a voice in
my heart urged me TO comply; but as had
nearly resolved to return, saw his marriage
in the paper. The words scorched my brain.
| thought of him amid the wedding festivi-
ties, with crowds of the gay about him, re-
ceiving their congratulations, with his bride
on his arm, and the blush on her cheek, as he
whispered words of endearment 10 her, while
|, his wife in the sight OF God, was forgotten
AN outcast.
! | was maddened-l was reckless. 'Oh,
Heavens!' = she murmured, burying her face
in her hands, Il can say no more. From that
time | was utterly lost. never saw Harry
again, and | sank deeper and deeper, lower
and lower, till here am, wreck of what
was once Annie Murray, vile, vile wretch,
with but one spark of virtue remaining, my
love for my innocent Rosa. For her sake
have endured this wretched lite, that ] would
long since, but for her, have flung away as
worthless. Now | must die have endured
what you can never know'-she shuddered as
she spoke-'but the agony of the thought that
/ | must leave my child amidst all that is vile,
with no hope before her of aught save her
mothers fate-that was worse than all.
That poor creature who led you here, sinful
wretch as she is, felt tor me ; she has been a
mother, and she knew what was mothers
love. She has been very kind to me, and
when | heard, as / chanced to do, that you
were here, she promised TO bring you TO me.
A fiji of coughing here interrupted Annie
Christine raised her quickly, she gasped fol
breath, she turned her eyes wistiully towards
her sleeping child, who lay on the straw neal
her. Christine read her glance.
Dear ANNIE she said, she shall be my
own. ] accept the sacred trust
A CLEAN of JOY sparkled in the mothers
hollow eyes; there was rattling in hel
throat.
OH, bou. oHO iuuiStHCtiy ditlCuidteu, dht
with this invocation her spirit passed to its
Maker.
Christine laid her down softly on the pallet
and with streaming eyes, poured forth prayer
for the repose of her poor friends soul.
She went to the door and called for assist
ance; the woman who had guided her thithei
appeared, and with her aid the little that coult
be done for Annie was performed.
Would to God that slept with her, sait
the woman in hollow voice.
Christmas heart ached for her, and yet shs
involuntarily shrank from her, but she re-
preached herself for the instructive feeling o
disgust. Did not our Lord speak compassion
ately to such as she? She thought of the
touching story of the woman who was sin
ner,' and with kind words and kind looks, sht
addressed the poor wretch before her. Sh,
consulted with her as to the funeral of he
friend she thanked her for her kindness I,
her during her sickness, and requested her L
remain there with the mother and child, dur
ing her own necessary absence TO make ar
raRgements; then pressing her hand, she
slipped into it gold coin of considerable val