Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-03
d.. o. SATURDAY. APRIL 3, 1858.
Well, wewere married and as / heard those

II ftIVeii, WeWefc Hhrrleu anu 40 Hedru lnOSS
innocent lips pronounce the vows to be mine
mine forever heart swelled with rapture
and 1 inwardly swore she should never repen,
that hour / bore her to the home which j had
preparedf forher and there in that simple abode
were passed the only happy days of my life
My hopes were realized I,had love far beyond
my deserts, and lived in a dream of holy and
tranquil bliss. And Ellenl--I know she was
happy. Often, when have taken her hands
andasked, haveyou repented, Ellena she would
fix her earnest, truthful glance on me- and
laughingly reply, "Do yousee contrition in my
\ eyes?" Blessed time How could the fend
find entrance to such paradise? all
AT the time Of our marriage, had just en-.
tered into business and with very small cap.
ital, consequently had great many hard
struggles in meeting my engagements. To
Ellen, never revealed these trials, from mis-.
taken notion, that the dear child could not un-
derstand business matters; and therefore it
would give her needless pain. aaaI q
had note; in bank, which must be taken
up on a certain day. My mind was harrased
fearfully. Should fail in meeting it my Gre
dit would be ruined For several days had
used every exertion; and the evening previous
to the last day Of grace found me without the
necessary amount. #a' cab
was about to close the store for the night
when an old companion Of my bachelor days
entered; and seeing my detection, he jestingly
inquired if were mourning over my lost lib
erty I candidly told him my situation. He
studied for a few moments, during which fin
ished the work of shutting up, then cheerfully
exclaimed, "I think can let you have the
money tomorrow" Weeftt the store together:
and my companion proceeded to tell me that
if would call upon him, at nine the next morn
ing he would lend me the amount was
almost stupefied with the good news; and could
scarcely utter my hearty thanks. "Never mind
about that old fellow, | understand you-.just
step in here" we were at the door of fashion
abe drinking house, "and let's have some
thing" Alasl where was my guardian angel
then2 We entered, and / drank. In five
minutes felt the poison mounting to my brain.
did not become drunk, but that one glass,
unused as was to stimulants of any kind, was
like molten lead in my veins. reached home
with a wild, irritable feeling which could not
control was anxious to recover my COM
posure before should meet Ellen; but her quick
ear detected me, and in moment heard her
light feet bounding down the stairs, was
sitting with my head turned aside; as she en-,
tered, felt provoked; why could she not leave
me alone for moment? She was at my side
in moment. "Come, loiterer," she ex
claimed, taking me mischievously by the ear
the next moment she reeled across the room
Great God Gould it be reality? was mine
the hand that dealt the blow' Oh, the agony
Of that moment; eternity cannot blot out the
horror that filled my soul. %
She did not fall, but, recovering herself, stood
confronting me. Never can forget that look
Her features were as the features Of the dead
but her eyes-those tender eyes, they literally
blazed with scorn. For a moment she remain
ed without uttering word and then 'Unman.
ly coward" broke from her white lips, and
was alone When dared to seek her, she was
in her chamber; and her sobs, every one Of
which seemed to rend her heart strings, were
daggcrs to my heart / implored her forgive,
ness; told her that / knew not what did
that was mad. Her generous nature could moi
bear my distress, and she babe me think of Il
no more, and assured me of her entire forgive
ness .--u. .Hrr.r..
From that night Ellen was never the same
True she stroye TO be as Of old but felt thai
the iron had entered her soul" Never agair
did she spring forward, her innocent counte
nance sparkling with joy, to meet me; but I
feeling Of fearhad fallen on her light heart
That fearful evening was never alluded to
Her proud heart would have shrunk from tn,
pity bcstowd by her friends, and her grief wa,
buried in the silence Of her own heart saw
her fade, slowly but surely, from the earth
No medicine could reach her disease. The
doctors said it was decliue-that she was
predisposed to consumption and even thought
her last breath was spent in blessing me and in
struggling to assure me Of her loye---did / MOI
know that was her murderer. .
am now an old man; yet from that fatal
hour the demon who wrought my ruin has never
visited me; and have lived on tn. days thai
were" and in hope Of meeting my lost Ellen
in a world where the storms Of passion and the
tears Of sorrow are never known.--New Yorl
Sunday Dispatch. ......... ....