Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-18

II want to come in and see my hus
band" was the besecching reply.
Who is your husband ?" inquired til,
other, in the same ~ungracious tone.
Major Ryan,, she responded " Fol
Gods sake let ne see him.
Il do not know of any such man" sale
the cruel voice.
"Oh! do not say So" she implored
=" because | have seen him enter this dool
every night during the past week."
1t is FALSE" cried the voice in more
cultural and angry accents than ever
+" 1t is false, and if you do not leave here
instantly, | will set the dogs on you.-
Here, Tigerl"
An ominous and savage growl wa,
heard from within, and a great hairy
head protruded itself through the half
opened door. The wretehed woman re
treated in alarm, and the shutter was
slammed to and bolted. She stopped
however, at her former station by the
lamp post, and yielded to another con
~vulsion of grief more awful to behold
than the first. Indeed, she was so over
powered by her despairing thoughts tina
she did not notice the advance of a mar
up the street until he paused within three
feet OF where she stood, and addressed
her in tones of politeness, not unmixee
with gentle commiseration.
You appear to be in distress" sale
the stranger ; Ca | do anything fol
your"
She started suddenly, and endeavoreC
to scan his countenance, but the gloon
was too intense, and the light of tht
lamp too faint to allow any satisfactory
examination. However, as the voice was
not only kind, but very respectful, sht
answered in accents the most mournfu
ever heard, Oh, sir, | am miserable be
yond human endurance, and yet no one
can aid me-"
You should not give way to such &
responding idea," he urged, in a still
more compassionate name i" we Cal
always assist one anesher web our ad
vice andy sympathy, if notAFag Amore.
Tell me, what is the subject of your
grief"
She reflected a moment, and the thought
occurred to her that, perhaps, if she re
vealed the true cause of her sorrow, the
other might by some means procure hel
admittance into the house from which
she had been driven away, and this de
cided her to make the disclosure.
cit will doubtless appear unseemly,'
she began, " to tell a stranger such pri
vate matters, as it certainly does look
immodest for a solitary woman to be in
the street after midnight. In truth, ]
am nearly maddened with misfortunes o.
the past and future. | ain married, and
an the mother of three little children
and one who is no more. Myself and
husband each inherited much wealth, anG
for years enjoyed all the happiness which
riches and affection can confer, unit
within the last few weeks, when he con
tracted an unconquerable and mysterious
passion for the gaming table, and his own
property-farms, houses, lots, slaves, mo
ney, everylhing-melted away like snow
beneath a warm sun. Then he persuaded
me that he had reformed, and under the
pretext of an intention to 10Y to another
state, induced me to sell out and turn al
| owned from my poor father into cash
and that has been following the rest, un
Til tonight, when he has taken our only
remaining means into yonder hell, where
it will all be swallowed up before morn
ing, unless | can gain admission, and
prevent it, As she said this, she pointed
at the old frame house.
What is the name Of your husband
inquired the stranger.
Major Ryan," she answered dc
you know him 2"
Il know him very well by sight, but
have never made his acquaintance by any
personal introduction" was the reply.
Gould you not manage to procure me
an entrance into that gambling den q
she asked in earnest entreaty.
Il fear that is impossible" was the
candid reply.
Then my children are beggars," she
bitterly shrleked in her despair. my
children, oh my unfortunate children
Would to Coo that we were all in the
same grave with your little sister p
So heart rending was her tone, so fear
full was the agony Of her attitude as she
uUWCN uoWu UPou HCE hu6CS III SpeCCu-
less prayer on the frozen ground, that
even the stranger could not withhold his
tears, and after celebrating in silence a
minute or more, he came to a benevolent
yet recklessly bold conclusion.
Il cannot gain for you admission into
that ouse," he said, " but | can do what
is better-I can enter myself, and save
him from the fangS Of the wild beasts
within, or perish III the attempt !.
In the name Of pity, d. she cried,
rising to ner feet, : and | and my dear
ones wilt bless you forever"
Il will" he rejoined, " but on n con.
dition-tuat you Immediately return
home out Of this violent tempest, and
stay there patiently until | bring your
husband, even if that shoaid not be Til
morning"
- consent" she exclaimed, in eager
and almost joyous tones. II will start
this instant, and may God.prosper you in
your holy enterprise" And as she spoke