The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-04-23

Cos WITH MS TWO companions, while those
he cast on me bore rather the character
OF animosity than cordiality. Under these
circumstances | considered it due to myself
as well as 10 my hosts TO rise and bid them
good night. This sudden move of mine
produced an instantaneous change in the
manner of Long -nosed Bill, who pressed me
TO stay with more than his former hospitali.
", while at the wink from him, Sauabby
placed himself between me and the door.
and, with boisterous but good humorel re.
proaeh on my breach of good-fellowship, re.
fused to let me pass All this, however.
would have had small effect in inducing me
10 remain after the change in Bills man
ners towards me; but just then tue woman
also Joined her entrcaties 10 his. In so ding
she used tone and gesture which at once
arrested me. They were such as recalled
vlvIdly the tone and gesture which a Young
giri had unconsciously assumed some years
before when | was parting from her in an.
ger. All, Emily! potent indeed WAS the
charm of thy pleading over my offended
aud recusaht spirit. Hard indeed would
II have been TO turn from those eyes-to
repel that offered embrace. Years had
passed, Emily, since had seen thee-many
feelings and many memories had crowded
IN between-but The voice and look Of n
stranger recalling thine, showed that even
the faint and distant echo of thy powerful
spell could still enchain me. | need scarce.
ly say | resumed my seat.
Long nosed Bill now became more
agreeable and hospilable even than at first.
relating passages in his career still more
marvellous, and passing the wine with in.
creased rapidity, insisting at each round Of
the bottle ON filling my glass himself and
calling out pleasantly, mo heeltaps," before
doing so. For time this amused me; and
| was also interested in watching little
bv. play carried on by Bills companions
The woman was no doubt united to him in
bonds more or less halowed, and Bill. with
the watchfuI prudence which his counle
nance betokened, seemed perpe,uallv on
his guard to prevent the slightest f,miIiati.
ty between her and Squabby Nothwith-
standing all his vigilance, observed, how.
ever, that, whenever his attention WAS dis.
tracted by the friendly office of filling nv
glass, or whenever he grew so interested in
any OF his narratives as TO relax his watch.
iulness for a moment, the woman, stealthily
passing her hand behind him, clasped that
OF Squabby extended TO meet it. To a phi.
iosopher and student Of human nature this
slight incident was amply sufficient TO re-
veal tale OF passiou-a tale which it
saddened me TO read. saw in nong.nosed
Bill an instance of the insuiiiciency of the
most astute and powerful intellect TO res.
train The erratic propensilies of the female
lt..r, 81,
Iavished perchance his whole heart, staked
his whole faith, on the woman beside him
while she, like the base Jud;ean, throwing
this pearl away richer than all her tribe
bestowed in secret her love upon one con.
Spicuously Bits inferior in every respect
except that his personal appearance was
rather less revolving. Miserable mistake.
accursed error! yet one to which the feni.
nine nature is peculiarly liable. The re-.
membrance OF such an error, of which | was
myself the victim, is still rs dagger to
my heart For thee, Augusta! for thee my
nights were nights OF seeplessness-
days, days of revere; to thee gave the
thoughts of my philosophic soul And
how dldst thou. reqniie mel With un.
doubling faith and unuung constancy! No.
On the night OF that ever memorable ball
"a ball which still haunls my remem.
brance as il peopled with spectre. and de.
mons-there fitted before thine inconstant
eye that gaudy figure, rich indeed in
scarlet and embroidery and clauking spurs,
but poor, beyond all measure of poverty. in
that phiosophic refinement which con>ti.
tmtes true wealth. From that moment
was forgotten, and since then permanent
shadow has settled on my soul.
This train Of thought naturally made me
melancholy; and my spirits were further
depressed by a cause which | vii now
state. At this period had resolved gradu
ally to wean myself from my opium, and.
after terrible struggles and enormous suffer
ings, had succeeded in limiting myself to a
pint and half of laudanun per diem
Now, on this particular day | had taken
only pint, for The following reason: the
druggist with whom generally dealt, had
sent me batch of l44 dozen, IN which my
experienced palate at once detected adulte.
ration had therefore returned it, retain.
ing only a bottle for the days consumption
With this bottle in my hand had gone
down to the kitchen to speak to my cook
maid, when family Of beggars made their
appearance mt the door, consisting Of a
father, mother, and two children. The
plalnuve tones in which they entrested
charity went to my heart. Ye godsl said
|, here are people hungry, cold, miserable,
craving moIseI offood, while hold ia my
hand this bottle, the key of the seventh
heaven. Am justified in Withholding the
celestial Danacea Shall | not say 1rink