The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-10

'aiueu 'ue al Vi lIerUcft Lynn world
! ly goods in the household way. a
little cradle stood, neatly made up, in
the corner, but the innocent face that
had once pressed the snowy pillow, had
long rested on a colder bed.
Every article was neat and clean, and
even this poor place might have been a
Paradise, but that the fond Intemper-
ance was its presiding aud evil genius.
Annie sat for long time plunged in
silent rcverie. She was thinking, as
she often did, of earlier, happier days
The wreath was twined again in her
shining locks the broidered slipper en-.
closed her little foot /; the soft bridal
veil fell from her round. white shoul-
ders the rich folds of satin hung wavy
and glistening over her graceful form,
She was loving and loved again, a peer
less young wife, beautiful creation.
She arose softly, and still musing
trippcd lighter than was her wont to-
wards the old-fashioned secretary, and
opening little drawer, took from thence
several packages of letters, and little
well-worn manuscript book. Then she
drew the tiny stand closer, trimmed the
light, and with more than one sigh pro-
ceedee to arrange the papers. As she
,peruseh them, sometimes eagerly, some
times with a far away look, tears stood
in her soft blue eyes. More thon once,
she read aloud, and the written words
fingered lovingly on her pale lips. At
that moment, unknown to her, dark
face was pecping in at her through the
window. Its eyes glittered, and the
massy black locks laid heavily on the
pane. The paramount expression SEEM
ed that of rage, and dark soowl made
the high brow almost fendish.
1t was the faco of poor, degraded
Lynn. At an unusually early hour, he
had returned on that evening, just
enough Influenced by wine to feel the
full force of his besetting passion
Steathily he turned the lock of the
door, and with the utmost circumspcc-
ton, treading like cat, he entered the
room unobserved by his wife. She still
read on, sometimes smiling, sometimes
weeping, and presently putting the let
ters aside, she lifted the little book
slowly opened its pages, and thus read
lie loves me, oh how tendorly !
how truly! How often he has said to-
day that he has staked all his hopes of
earthly happiness on mo ! And l too
dare whisper it ? love him. Perhaps
it is wrong. 1t may be sinful thus to
dwell upon the dear words he has said
to repeat them till they seem holy
but oh have been so littlc-loVed'I
the words came chokingly.
The unseen eyes behind her glared
savagcly; the form shook, the hands
were clenchcd, the features rigid
There stood Lynn, the incarnation of
diabolical rage, as, bending forward, his
breast laboring, his breath suppressed,
he listened, as he thought, to the fear
tul proof of his own disgrace. The fair
reader for a moment pressed her hand
tightly over her forehead, and then re-
sumed her reading.
Il told him | would gladly leave all
for him He knows how hard is my
lot. lie has seen the tyranny of which
| am HELPLESS victim. I'VE have
talked off by tho hour. He offers me
and every luxury that heart can
wish what moro can | desire And
then my poor, foolish heart pleads for
him-oh | shall be so happy
With an awful denunciation tho book
was hurled from her hand. A terrific
crash followed. Annie sprang with one
wild shrek to her feet. Her husband
stood, a maniac for the moment, foam.
ng at the mouth-his eyes like blazing
Goals. A toilet table laid upon the
loor, its mirror broken in a thousand
pieces For full five moments did the
,hafed tiger essay to speak but the con-
'ulsive tremor Of his livid lips denied
iim utterancc. His wife covered, but
,efore an Instant before his wrath, then
lrawing up her slender form proudly as
IN insultod queen, she waited for him
o break the silence.