Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-11-11

hands. Night after night, day after
day, he played and lost /; the fates
seemed against him. At length, driv-
en- to desperation, by the taunts Of his
successful opponent, to whom he was
indebted for many thousands, he plung-
ed the assassin's knife into his heart,
as they were both leaving tho saloon
where Vincent had staked and lost his
all.
Rushing through the deserted streets
with the frenzy Of . msdman, Harry
Vincent entered his house, and hurry
ing to his wife's dressing room, where
she was laying aside the costly raiment
she had just worn at . fashionable levee,
he rudely seized her arm, and drawing
the blood-stained dagger from his vest,
he exclaimed vehemently,
"Here, Mabel Vincent, is the proof
Of my love for you! You asked for
proofs, ard have given them. Ihave
perjured my very soul for you. Step
by step, have I gone down-down-
from the respectable and honorable po-
sition once enjoyed I have become
a gambler drunkard-and," he add
ed, in a low, Kissing voice, "a MUIR
DERER !-Mable, the officers Of justice
will soon track my footsteps; they will
arrest me, and I shall offer no resist
ance. l will pay the penalty Of my
crime with the life which is burden to
me, and when all is over,-when your
husband has suffered an ignominious
death, then, Mabel Vincent, do not
say that l never gave you any proof of
my love. At your hand will God re.
quire my soul, for you have been my
destroyer 20
With a loud cry, Mabel sunk faint
ing at his feet,-and just at that mo-
ment she heard cheerful voice exclaim-
ing, "What! darling, have you been
asleep l didn't think it vas SO late :"
and Mabel opened her eyes to gaze
upon the frank and beaming counte-
nance of her husband, and to realize
with grateful heart that she had been
dreaming! They were still the humble
but happy and honorable inmates Of
the cottage the princely mansion, and
all its gilded misery, had faded
into the shadowy tissues of vision.
She looked in vain for the blue silk,
which had been the token Of the first
downward step, and with tears of min
gled penitence and thanksgiving, she
bounded to her husbands side, and
hrowing her arms around his neck,
exclaimed
ooh! Harry, forgive me; I have
been so miserable since you went away;
and have spoke SO unkindly can you
forget it, and love your hayward Ma
bel still 20
Harry sealed the ready pardon with
a kiss, then added in serious tone :.
eyes, Mabel, I do forgive you,
though it grieved me to hear you COM
plain tonight, and to know that all
my labor for our mutual happiness and
prosperity had failed to satisfy you Of
my Affection. But l see how it is-yau
did not really mean what you said; it
was but the passing whim, not the So
Der conviction Of my true-hearted wife.
We will still be happy in our little
home, and by-and-by you shall have
all you wish"
81 have it now" was MabePs earn
est response. "Your love, dear Harry,
is worth more than gold and gems to
me. I would not give it in exchange
| for the wealth of the vide world"
Thus vanished the clouds which
threatened to obscure the peaceful sky
of their married life, and again the
sunshine of Love and Confidence illu-
mined their hearts, while the rainbow
of F aith and Hope spanned their path
way.
Not very long afterwards, Mr.. Vim
cent, having completed a very pro6ta-
bic business transaction, told his wife
that he now thought he could afford
that blue silk she had so much desired.
"No, Harry, not for the world" she
exclaimed, with an involuntary shud-.
der. II could never bear to wear that
dress ~
"very well, I'll not compel you to,
my DEAR" was the reply; "but |
thought you desired it above all things"
ooh, so Ibid, once, but / was shown
the folly Of my vanity and ambition !;
and now l do not wish to dress above
my station, or lavish your hard earned
dollars upon fashionable wardrobe.
Harry's eyes thanked his thoughtful
wife, though he said not word, and
as she had never related her dream to-
him, he was at loss to account for
the sudden change in her feelings.
Very gratifying it was to him, how
ever and the consciousness that his
efforts were appreciated by her nerved
him to fresh exertions. Success attended
his career and the gliding years found
him rapidly advancing in the esteem
of the wise and good, as well as rising
in the scale Of worldly prosperity.
His gentle wife was to him blessing
and aid her love and sympathy were
never withheld, and after they had ex-
changed the home of their early mar
ried life for one more betting their
social rank, and were surrounded by
all the Injuries that wealth could pro-
cure, Mabel Vincent still retained the
childlike simplicity and earnest truth
fulness that first won the love Of her
kind and noble husband.