The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-11-12


hands one day just as I had determined 90 th
means to rid myself of existence 1t read thus
Dear Richard II am sorry for you ; l d.
not believe MI they say, and surely man i
not to be cast of for one false step. Come t.
aunt MartLa's this afternoon. They have for
bdden me to receive you at the house. but
will see YOU there.
Yours, as erer, ANNETTE
90 sir, that made my heart Lap into my
throat with joy and grief. She did not know
that this was far from my first false step
Dear angel, she had faith in and waniel
TO comfort me. Besides, she was young, impnl
siye, loving. Al three 10 the afternoon | wen
to the place she had designated. II was poor
plain house, for her aunt Mlrtha was far from
rich, and, as / sat ia the little parlor, Annette
came IN aud made all light.
'Hrr low dear Richard!' was the sweetest
music | ever heard Then as | caught her tc
my bosom, she pressed back my hair with her
loving f0gers, and said with smile ;hat SEE
med angelic, They can't make me- think you
wicked, dear Richard, while | look on that
f4cp'
Her voice inspired HE her perfect faith,
for time, elevated my manhood. silently
vowed that such thing should never happen
ayain-that | you'd not de, bat make myself
worthy Of her.
You do not believe all they say OF me-, them
| asked.
No, Dick : the beautiful eyes were raised
lovingly 10 mine. no, Dick, aud | wouldn't
believe though they had made you appear guilt
er than you are. You know, Dick, she added,
as if to apologize or, to soften the apparent re-
proof, i, is very, rery wicked 10 drink at all,
But did not injurr the Students, | said,
evasiveIy Il distinctly saw Hal Burt and Joe
White strike at them; | am sure did not touch
them. 1t is all done through jealousy
i knew it ; ! told them SO at home said
Anneltr, triumphaotly. 'Sald /, Dick is smart ,
aud the foremost of his class, and they hate him
for it. They will injure his good name ii they
Gao, but never in my pstimaton.'
God bless you, my love- was all could say.
There were tears in MY eyes and promises in my
heart o she was 50 beautiful 50 good, that
afternoon ! | can the dear eyes that / have
made She'd many bitter tears, looking up at
'ne now with that same soft, loving, pleading,
t With ra1;'iaa nv iaat franonf ttts sor red in'
.Wr parted. TO 20 to my ds9raced home
to meet cold, avprled looks she to be shelter
rd, pptted aad loved by all " no knew her
My father, with incredible eXeriion, procured
me a situation in the service. Ii was the worst
thing that could have been done for me, though
as there was SOON 10 be fighting, pEomotiou-ii
| Iivcd-was possible, nay, almost certain
Bot temptation was on that vessel, on deck and
in her cabin. | took leave Of Annette and
went to sea. Once on the ocean, | forgot pru-
dence, love, Annette, all things pure and good,
in my devotion TO the cup. There was wine
at tab-. dashing young officer who 'took'
to me supplied himself with champagne and
various lJqnors. was always, 10 certain eX-
tent, drunk. Our destination was Mexico
There, for The exhibition Of drunken valor,
was appointed second Observation-Disclosures, hal
been third. Ah sir, | lived gay life.
dare not tell, nor even think OF my rxcesses-
they were horrible. Once again vas promoted
aud came home with the donors of first liruteh-
ancy thick upon me. Then | was lionzsd.-
Annette's friends forgot my weakness. The gilt
ter OF my rpauIeteS filled their vision They
could not see the drunkard in a uniform.
went to Arnette'S home as listed.
One night called upon her. ! had been drin.
king freely, and was not sensible OF my silua-
tIoU, or l would have shot myself before
tad venturrd in her presence She never
looked more beautiful. What said or did ha
night never knew distinctly. | remember hei
wild look Of aGright--hrr hands, pushing IN,
fantically from her-her springing away an,
my chasing her-her cries OF atifight-f finally
her locking herself in her ROOM which ! mad
! iruiless attempts 10 enter, then MY leaving tn,
house with all the doors open, and then come
a BLANK
'The next morning dawned upon me in lh
! chamber OF a friend. As | looked np with a
ching brain, noble face bent over me-tht
face OF one who had been fellow coIlegian
and who was then studyIng for the ministry.
i asked ftebly, "hrre ] was.
Horace and found you PROSTATE in H.
street, few rods from here. You were utter
! Iy helpless. We lifted you against your mos
/ mprecaing struggles you cursed US will
! every breath, bot we finally brought you here
and here you have slept Till now. II wants
| quarter OF eleven. closed the blinds that yol
might sleep it off,
q did not ask what he meant by it. | wa
! ashamed too much ashamed to look at him.
i hinted at the effects of southern fever
/ but from under my nearly closed lids | saw
| something like sneer on his face.
He sat down by my bedside, and he plea
/ with me for an hour For Gods sake he be
/ sought me TO break from this ruinous habit
He held up the very flames of he'll till shudder
ed. Then he spoke OF Annette, and knew b
the tremoT OF his lips, The huskiness OF his voice
that he, too, loved my darling. had suspec
ted II before, bot now | was certain, and
reused the widest feelings of jealousy. Mad
| boasted OF her unconquerable attachment
fool that | was With coarse, unskillu han
! ! barred his own heart TO lis view till he shran
4 from me in agony. Then [ arose-iorgelting a
gratitude for his great favor in bearing mt
senselrss, disgusting as was, from the clutch
| es OF The police or Walchman, saving me Ii