Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-04-10
EMzLx ASHTON,
OR, THE REW6RD OF FIDELITY.
BY FRANK LESLIE
CHAPTER I.

liam, will you!" pleaded the young
Fife, resting her hand on his chair, as
The stopped to kiss the noble brow OF
her husband"
"And why not o-night, my dear :"
aid he, tenderly pressing her hand.
so, because Pm so lonely when you
hre absent-the time seems so long;
then you were going to read THE
World before the Flood this even
ing don't you remember? have be-
come quite interested in your Javan,
and am anxious to learn more of him."
"Ah! but 1 leave you to enjoy ia
van's society alone; will not that COM
pensate for my absence ="
"No, indeed, William, it requires
your voice to render it more llfe-like,
and explanations to make it more IN
teresting."
."And will not tomorrow night an
swer as we'll. -
]" Certainly, for Javan, but and
her blue eyes moistened, " it's your So
ciety would seek"
s" But, my dear, have made an en-
gagement with"
I" With Emily, TO love, CHERISH"
"Not obey her," said he, smiling.
go, no, she does not wish that"
"But really, Emily dear, | have
made promise which I must fulfil. :"
GA bad promise is better broken
than kept, you know" said Emily.
eyes, I remember the adage, but
you know William Ashton's word is sa-
cred-once given, always kept. y
There was deeper meaning in his looks
than his words expressed. Emily was
silent, for she knew he had ever been
kind and true to her, and she was I'M
willing to cause him pain by opposing
his wishes.
81 must 90 tonight, Emily, dear
est, but tomorrow evening shall be
yours" and he rose from the table. =,
"You will not be absent loPs' VIII
you?" said she, laying her b-'no OIL his
arm.
"Not very pLAsaut evening to
Won and Jayan "@aid he, with smile
As tha,l6or closed on his retreating
form Emily bent over the cradle Of
he Sleeping babe, smoothed his pillow,
tucked his little blanket, parted his soft
hair. and commenced singing a lullaby
Presently she rose, and taking book
from the shelf, seated herself to read.
But evidently her thoughts wandered,
for her hand rested Hstlessly on the
leaves, and her eyes were fitting among
the glowing Goals. She was thinking
of the past, the days Of sunny child
hood, when she roved, careless and
happy, over tie hills and valleys Of her
fathers broad homelands Of youth
whose threshold she had hardly crossed,
and the cup Of friendship and love,
whose soul-refreshing draughts she had
quafed in ecstacy. She thought Of
the winning smile and lovs-llt eye, the
manly form and noble heart that wooed
and won her hayward love and as she
unused, fancied her loved one some~
what changed.
It might be all fancy, yet her suspi-
cions were excited, and she could but
compare the past with the present -
Certainly her society had less charm
than formerly; she thought-she fear
cd he loved the club room, and his cay
companions better than the quiet of
home. Nor could sac fail to note his
flushed cheek. restless eye, and occa-
sional strangs aa;tl ser, and the convic-
ton Fastened on her heart that at times
his Ups were polluted, his brain excl
| ted by the wine cup.
Yet it could not be possible, thought
she--her husband, whose heart was too
noble to stoop 50 low! No, she would
Danish the thought forever. And she
again bent her eyes upon the open vol
ulne.
The little sleeper grew res less En-
lily turned him in his cradle, an lsooth-
Ell him by her singing.
She glanced at the time piece on the
mantle It's hands were folded on the
midnight hour. A thrill Of terrified
horror ran through her frame. He
had never staid out so late before.
Nervously she went to the window,
and parting the curtains, peered into
tho cherries night. The dim rays Of
the moon were struggling feebly to
penetrate the fog, and ever and anon,
thin rain clouds drifted before it, sped
BY sustv winds, which betokened All
approaching storm. She returned to
her seat with anxious forebodings.
"Why does he stay so late? Oh,
where can he be?'' thought she, as a
few rain drops battered on the window
pane.
Just thea low, muttering thunder,
before unnoJlced, reaoi,od her ear. As
it grew nearer and clearer, and the ram
fell faster, she again sought the win
dow. 1t was now falling in torrents,
and vivid fash revealed the figure of
man struggling through the ftful TEN
pest. A feeling Of pleasure cheercd
her aching heart.
''He is coming" said she, "what
could have kept him SO late %
At that moment the outerdoor opened
and some one entered. But were those
footsteps Williams T? He slowly cross
ed the hall, and CROPPED his way up the
stairs.
Emily opened the door-hcr husband
entered, and staggering towards the So
fa, threw himslf upon it, and closed
his eyes in slumber.
All her fears were indeed confirmed:
she started back in horror!
."Oh, God !! is it possible !" she ex-
ol.;,ooJ tl,., ,u,l,o 80, l,,.....