Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-12

iSAe fiCdoaub uOuSe, anu IOOk dphr.
ments in small two-story house in Second
street, east of the Bowery; the second floor
we had. L had exhausted nearly all my mo-
ney, and after paying the three hundred to
fernictous B., and giving a quarters rent in
advance, found that had but one hundred
dollars left in the world. I dared not sit
doWn 10 the composition Of book, because L
would be penniless before I could possibly
com mplete IL, although my reputation was al
dred per volume reputation. 30 I became a
reporter upon one Of the daily journals, and
gave up literature for a time.
But Pernicious Z. Smith got me erneIIea
from that too. was poor-he was wealthy.
and hated me- euJ'
Down, down sank, until one room bsld
my wife, my children and myself Day after
day, through wearisome and broken hearted
hours, | sought employment Eating nothing
living down town upon chance invitations 10
glass Of beer, extended by some old literary
friend nearly as poor as /. Only once met
Smith, who came up to me and offered me a
dollar. struck him feebly in the face, and
was at once seized and dragged before a mag
istrate, and there remembered him declin-
ing to prosecute me, and that tainted with
mingled rage and pride.
When would 20 home, my wife would SEQ
from my excitement-perhaps produced from
a single drink, or my weak, nervous system
she would see my excitement, and suggest the
proprIety OF industry at home, for the sun
port OF my children, as preferable to a loose,
careless life among dissolute companions,
wasting that money that should have spent
tor bread! who had not gained ten cents in
days perhaps,
By-and-by, she grew cold and unIoyins to
me; ceased even to upbraid me only looked
az me now and then, with an icy sneer She
went out good deal, and no longer asked me
TO come back early, when started for down
town In the morning.
One evening at dusk. as came home,
saw her open the window and lean out from
IL. crouched in an alley-way and saw a
man walk by, and stop beneath the window
L saw white note futter down in the area.
aad heard the window close. L saw the man
20 down into the area and emerge again, with
the note in his hand. He passed the alley
way, and saw his face; il was Pernicious
b Smith did not kill him; but / walked
the streets all night, and did not 90 to the
room where my children lived until the morn
ing:
The woman who had thrown the note from
the window said to me as L entered
You are bringing your habits TO perfec.
ton You have frolics now that last till morn
ing, perceive"
did not answer her only kissed nv chill
dren, and soon afterwards went out But L
watched her for a week, and at last saw
that she was about TO leave her children.
All our Jewelry and silver, all our nice fur
niture and articles Of luxury had long since
been sold; the only thing possessed was a
pair OF handsome duelling pistols which had
belonged to my father. These were always
loaded and lay upon the poor chimney-piece.
came home and found the door open and
the room vacant, and wondered if were too
late: Some singular present. mt feeling told
me L was not Indeed, at the moment of the
thought, heard a woman's step, and, taxing
pistol, cooked it and crouched down in the
space between the bed and the ragged sofa.
Soon she came In with a candle, and sat
down with her back to me at a table wherein
were writing materials. She drew a letter
from her bosom, red il, and then began 10
write. No serpent ever moved so noiseIessly
as L, as glided behind her chair, and over
her shoulder read the passionate words which
she wrote down there to nv enemy. An bonr
after should leave in the morning, he waste
come for her, and she would fly with him.
She stopped forward to sign her name and
then, just under the rich dark knot of hair AZ
the back Of the bead-that head which I for
years had Graded in my loving arms, upon
my loyal heart; that head which I had held
in illness, which had brushed its lustrous tres
ses over my face and neck so often; under the
knot Of hair upon that head-I placed the
mouth Of the pistol and fired.
AT the same moment, warm, soft lips were
pressed upon mine, a voice sweeter than music,
said
' You lazy fellow, get up and 20 and dress;
our guests will be here in few moments
And there stood my darling wife laughing
at me.
Florence :" suffered, and the clasn with
which L caught her to my heart was more con-
vulsively and passionately forced than that
which bound her to my throbbing bosom on
our bridal night.
After while she slapped me gently with
her little solf, white hand, and said
i" You horrid dreamer, will have to 90 and
dress myself over again. L believe it was all
that toddy!'