Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-01-31

'Hc CIV "uu Puipi ever GROWING
mighty names, settled royalty around
him.
Stripped of his fortultous aggran
dizement, perhaps Florbell West would
not have dreamed Of laying her fash
ION welded heart at his feet. But diz-
zy with the whirl of fashionable frivol-
tiles, independent in purse, and abo, e
the suspicion of the crowd, what won
der, if she choose, if she did revel in
the light of his genius, and prided her
self on the bestowal of such tribute as
she, from her high estate, might lavish
unquestioned, unchid
1t is curious fact in the economy
of art, that genius is invariably the vic
tim of temptation Whether it is that
some inherent weakness always accom-
panies stuPendous power, and nature,
in freak of revenge. sows poison seed
along with the genuine grain, that he
who teedeth on on the one shall eat
the other also; but it is a pointed
fact in the annals Of great minds, that
those possessed of the most transcend
ent qualifications have, almost always,
some debasing charac 'eristic, which
levels them with the common herd
pronouncing them leavened with the
grossness of the beast, while intellect
ually touched with spark of the di-
vine instinct.
Carl Preston yidlded himself at
times to the devious dominion of the
wine cup-of,en to the cngroSsing chan
ces of the gaming tabe--haitcred by
the a'tful solicitations of dangerously
gay companions, p iding tn mselye on
their adroitness in securing a lion. 1t
had been rather easy to accompl sh the
feat, when the seized on him before
the overwrousht action Of the brain
had time to subside after the peiform-
ance Of some arduous role for the night.
/ Applause is bewildering, and the as
surance of desert; it benumbs and en-
ervatcs the being, and with the deici-
eus thrill which expended power leaves
rlotou, in the veins, one becomes infn~
itely Indifferent to what may chance
for the next few hours.
Bat ther was time when with Carl
Preston stronger influence had batfied
thos so!icit"u' parasites. The power
Of woman iriunphed, and Carl was
true to the soft conrol of her gentle
and refreshing sw V.
On one for;unat day for himself, he
married girl from the niger ranks of
his own profession. whom he had long
lieved he loved. She was young,
beautiful and unprotected. Not think
ing he could ever wound her BY un-
kindness or neglect, what lover ever
does think that: he said, let us be
married." and the young girl frankly
gave her hand in reply. He knew her
heart was in the right place, and they
dramatique frequently are, the wife still
continuing before the public and in the
great, gossipping posters, as Miss this,
that, ur the other, as the non-commit>
tai attachment is supposed to render
her more attractive to Young Amc lea.
NJ IS Ada Montm1rency was introduc
ed 10 few persons as Mistress Carl Pres
ton, though such was her actual title.
Her husband, consequently, still pass
ing for young bachelor. was more ex-
posed to a plurality of fascinating ap-
peals from the fair sex than was pre-
ciseIy for his welI-being or his young
wife's happiness. Yet his marriage
was doubtless the crowning safety of
his existence. True he thoughtlessly
neglected It's most sacred privileges,
but there were hours when all the
world dwindled TO comparative moth
lngness beside the sweet and beloved
influence of domestic love.
He was the victim of terrible attacks
of palpitation, from some incipient or
ganic affection of the heart and the one
shadow of his life was a morbid fear
of sdden death. His nerves were
weakened by the frequent recurrence
of the seemingly dangerous disease,
which he believed increased by his
professional laboTs, and after all, it
might bo more truthfully aseribcd to
late hours, hot suppers, and strong de-
coctioss of high wines.
Be that as it NAV, the morning after
his visit to Floribell West found him
pale and suffering with one of his con-
stitutional attacks. The spasm past,
left the strong man in condition Of
nervous prostration pitiable to witness
At such moments 1t was the wlfe's pre-
rogative to soothe and console him
None but she could render him the
needfuI care and attention. Sometimes
a slight panr of regret assailed him
He could not but be aware of her un-
firing devotion, her perfect abnegat'on
of self to the caprices of his sick fan
cy, or the whims of his convaiescent
hour.
CHAPTER IL.
Floribel West sat alone in her sump-
tuous boudoir, penning a note, and
over her fair, white shoulder peeping,
), (uncourteous action, allow we might
read:
81 said, do not come to night dear
r Carl, but retract know you will
pardon a lady's caprice. Do come to-
night. FLoRtBELL."
2 She sealed it, directed, and rising
touched the spring OF the bell, to sum
: mon her attendant. A delicate per-