Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-06
CHAPTER TIT.

Poor Harry knew but little until next
morning, when having awoke from the !!
drunkenness and stupor Of the previous
night, he found himself in a dark and mar
row dungeon. For few minutes he gaz-
ed about him in wild dismay, thinking that
he was under the influence of some fearful
dream but having with a great effort re-
called his shattered reason, he was able to
realize his fearful position. Oh! what Ian
guage can in any measure describe the deep,
the damning misery that spread its gloom
DER the soul of that poor youth?
He thought of his kind old father-he
thought of that poor, gentle, invalid moth
er: he knew their hopes in this life were
centered in him. He recalled to his mind
what he was yesterday-he knew too we'll,
alas what 1aoa0 he was. And what caused
all this! And the evil spirit" that temp
ted him, whispered in his ear" The de-
mon of the wine-cup. The Broken Pledge"
With his Tie icy sweat tstood fpon that
white, that pallid brow! He called upon
the God, whom he had abused, to smite
him from existence, whilst he groaned
aloud in his agony and cursed from his
soul the bitter bowl that brought upon him
such dark despair-that had toreUer blasted
all his hopes on earth and hereafter-that
made him murderer!
His beloved old President called to see
him and offered him his sympathies. Poor
Harry could not speak-but bowling his
head he groaned whilst his poor heart bled
-bled with bitter grief and shame. The
old man turned away from the cell will
tears streaming down his furrowed cheeks
Yes, the old gray-haired man wept tears o
sorrow, that one so young, so good, so no
ble-with such bright prospects befor
him-should thus have fallen. Perhaps
too, he thought Of that mother at home
that loving, proud old father how woul
they bear the ruin thus wrought upon ther
by what? and something said" The d.
mon of the wine-cup." "THE BROKE
PLEDGE"
Several of his old friends and compar
ions came to see him and sympathise
deeply with poor Harry, but could civ
him no consolation. Blank despair-deat
was written on his every feature!
He requested one of his friends to brir
him a glass of water-and afterwards SON
, paper, pen and ink. These his frier
brought, and something else, too, which Il
. sequel will show. He then, after beggir
: his friends most earnestly to beware of tt
! "wine when it is red," taking him for
, example-desired them all to leave him
= he wished to be alone.
v After composing himself as well as
It was able, he sat down and penned hast
s the following lines:
"My poor dear Mother nay kind 0
Father When these lines shall ha
y reached you, dear parents, your ruined
your lost son will be no more Last mig
!; my mother, (oh God, that 7 had died
u u tore,) the pledge that | gave you was b
~ ken! [ went to wine party, and havi
!, drank deeply, was made drunk, frenzi
u crazy. Oh Heaven, that even this w
u all Prepare yourselves, my parents, fo
III will hasten to tell whilst | feel the C,
=. blood tricklng from my lacerated heart
= - that |, under the influence of liquor
u maniac, murdered-yes, MURDERED a file
~. ~ 'Tis done! May God give you grace
~ bear up under this sore affection, +;
enable You to forget your poor Harry, v
40 will love you while life lasts, and whose
IL test breath will be spent in prayer for
ah I father-my mother.
- ~. HARRY SoMERvILLE.
ey Having sealed and directed this hi
IRE letter, he took from his pocket small
Pl- per package containing fac white P
te- der, and carefully emptfed it into a 9
es, Of water that sat before him having
seq red it several times-for moment
Tor stood with clasped hands muttering SC
the thing between his pale compressed lii
ma IN then eagerly seizing the glass he dra
Die 1t to the bottom.
Ten minutes later found Harry Sol
VII vile lying flat on his back on his duns
CIR foor--his black locks streaming Ger
old noble forehead-his hands tightly ella
we DER his cold white brow-whilst his {
'ws' black eyes had lost their hstre and
re set in-death -
zap Yes, Harry Somerville was dead,