St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-02-10

| was indignant at this confession.
lie saw it and continued
Do not blame me, sir, YOU have
not had my trial. have fallen from
a high place. Eighteen months ago,
| was lieutenant in the navy, sir"
" Is it possible | was startled,
shocked.
Yes, sir, possible reality, sir"
His lip quivered little as he added
-" have brother in the pulpit, sir;
n fine preacher, man loved and re-
spected. How do you suppose he
feels ? have rich brother in New
York. They have both tried their
best to save me.
was ruined in my youth. There
Is large oil-storc on the corner Of
NJ. and l.. streets. You have doubt
less seen it. Before his death my fa-
ther carried on that business. | went
there regularly after it was closed for
the day, stealing from my home, often
from my bed for the purpose, to ca
rouse with three young fellows of my
own age We told stories we drank
wine together till midnight, then with
the false key had made, would steal
into my home and sleep off the effects
of my carouse. | began that, sir,
when l was but ten years of age. Do
you wonder | was drunkard? ? OF
those boys, | alone am living. One
of them shot himself, another was
drowned, drunk, and the third was
hung for murder only two months ago.
The fourth you see is not much better
off )" he added with a sickly smile.
MY habits began to be known at
last to my parents. 1t came near Kill
ling them. Before ! was eighteen
had been brought home drunk nearly
a score of times. Sir, fought with
my habit, but it mastered me. The
ficnd had me by the throat.
Strange to say, once when I was
in liquor, performed daring feat.
| caught runaway horse and by
sheer strength succeeded in arresting
his mad course. Would that some
power could have held me so. | was
much applaudcd for my heroism. But
better than all the praise | heard, were
the sweet smiles upon the white face
of the girl | had saved from a horri-
bic death. She was driving alone in
the city as had been her wont for
many months. | claimed the privi-
lege of driving her home, as she was
most thoroughly frightened You
smile sir, but the exertion, her CRATE
ful thanks, my own impulses of graft
tudc had sobcrcd me. | sprang into
the vehicle and in short time we
stopped at her fathers door. She in
vited me in. thought l would at
least describe the accident and make
some apology for my unexpected ap-
pearance.
Il told the story Of the narrow es-
cape to an old man whose brows and
hair were whitened with the frosts of
eighty winters. 1t was the aged
grandfather Childish in his Joy, he
tottcred towards me, and throwing
his trembling arms about my neck, he
kissed me on my cheek.
Many times have felt that kiss,
sir. | was unworthy of so pure an
ovation from such holy man. | felt
myself unworthy of that dear angels
gratitude, as the sweet Annette came
in a few moments after, still trembling,
still pale, and with her misty blue
eyes and gentle lips thanked me again
and again. In that house, that day,
| was feasted like a prince. There
were cousins and aunts there visiting
for the summer, and among them |
was lion.
Twas a good looking fellow then,
sir, and just on the eve of entering
college.
Young as | was, if ever man fell in
love did there and then. Poor child |!
SO she loved me-and | clouded her
life.
Well, sir, you wait for my story,
see. After this my calls upon An
nettc were frequent. lost my relish
for vulgar dissipation, and preferred
her society to that of my former con-
genial mates. If | drank-and | did
it was secretly, and | always slept
it off. My friends and those of An
nette's prophesied match-you see
my father was wealthy-I had good
expectations, intended to study for the
law, and was deemed what is called
desirable catch.
| believe l worshipcd Annette. She
was scarcely more than a child, but
such glorious gifted creature. She
was fifteen, twenty four years be-
tween us. We were engaged in twelve
month from that time, while l was GO
ing through college.
For year l had successfully re-
sisted my old disease. l called it
disease l do now. Remember l did
not let the cursed draught alone, as |
should. / only kept the appetite in
unwholesome subsection. applied
the knife, but not to the right place,
and there came disgrace and down
fall.
One night the students had frolic.
| was the foremost reveler. They
tempted me with dcvilish pertinacity
to drink to excess. l did so grew
quarrelsome and raised a row. In the
melee two of the students were in
jurcd, and | made So much noise that
we were discovered in our revels The
blows that We're given were proved
upon me falsely; never remembered
that gave them. l was convicted,
expelled and published.
The disgrace was overwhelming.
| tried to kill myself when | heard
that Annettc's friends had cast Inc of
forever. A note was put in my hands
one day just as | had determined on
the means to rid myself of existence.
1t read thus =
DEAR RICHARD Il am sorry for you;