The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-03-18

LeClUal VI bAo pa1tj JOu VIII AHV" |AA1
your father was once a wild and wick
Cd man2"
always, al,7ay5 love you, aud hold
you 10 sacred remembrance" whispered
bis child reverently.
'Tt will make mo sad, Nellie, to
tell you all. I will not speak Of the
first part Of your mothers life, but Of the
time I FIRST met her, and Of our wed o.
dod life. Oh, my child, there is some
thing touching in the memory that she
was once all minel that above all 9th
ers she loved me best--suferod for me
mosu
"The frst time I ever saw hor, she
came to me to get her portrait painted.
There it hangs, and you know how
beautiful she was. She was an Or
phan; and the loneliness Of her situa-
ton touched my heart don't know
how it was, but We soon understood
each other; our souls met in union;
and had scarcely finished her pic
ture, before she was my chosen wife, 1
her chosen husband.
zone evening when I visited her, I
saw she was troubled. 1 asked the
cause. A deep flush came to her
cheek, and her voice tromblod, as she
replied,
az hear, Charles, you often drink
wine.
Surprise and indignation sprang up
in my heart at onoei but I told her the
truth.
"'Yes, Ianswered, Il sometimes drink
wine. 1t makes my hand steady, and
execute my paintings with greater case
under its influence
"'YOu took none, when you painted
mine, CharlesP
None, 1 replied,
And yet you say and others also,
that it is the most perfect likeness you
have ever painted
4 told her lave gave me power
love gave mo inspiration, when 1 paint.
ed the beauties of her form and face
But will you not, she said, will
you not give up this drinking, for ny
sake9
"I suppose if I do not, 1 answered
haughtily, i shall bo discarded from
your presence?'
"She came nearer to me, and laid hei
hand upon my arm. Never did I know
till that hour, how dearly she loved me
Her eyes were lifted to my face, and hot
voice was tremulous.
al love you, she said. 4 cauno
give you up, am alone in the world
and / am yours--only yours.
Her submission to me, and her tender
ness, touched my proud heart; and
stopped aud kissed her, saying, yes, Ma
ny, you are only mine. Stlll her eye
were fixed upon mine, pleading, knew
for something more. My pride wa
great; but the voiceless, eloquent plead
Ing of her eyes was greater still; and
yielded.
"'I will never drink any more,
saidi and with the kiss gave her I di
make such a resolve, but I knew nc
with what power my habit held me.
owe were married, I took her to m
home, Nellie, aud she was ever a livin
reproof to me, though she never ono
spoke unkindly, The only reproach sh
ever gave me was tho pitiml glance o
her lustrous black eyes, dimmed wit
tears, as she turned them towards m,
~ grew petulant and dissatisfied; fc
met with much disappointment as a
artist. Her portrait is the nearest {
perfection that I ever attained. 1 tol
her one evening that nothing would eve
take It from me. no, I said, 4 wi
never give it up. If ever do, you ma
know that the last spark Of love aud hu
manity has gone out from my bosomr
" 4 may always know then, she re
piled, 'that while you still keep it, 70
still love me7'
"'Always-alwaysr I answered.
"We we're very happy, Nellie, for tn
first few months after our marriage. Hc
head used often to rest here, whor
yours is resting now, My hair wa
black then, and her soft hand would Of
ten wander through it lovingly. Yet
still drank and oh, she used to plea
with me so earnestly, her eyes speakin
more than her tongue ever uttered.
"Many time, in those days, befor
the destroyer had left its deep traces o
my brow, she would fondly try to ozcit
my ambition;-toll me that 1 was gifte
and worthy to rank among the prouder
Of the land; and then she would add, be
seeOhingly, for my sake, dear husband
don't drink any morer