Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-04

Iron 1naHOuS MaSaZlne.l
THE RED MOROCCO SHOES.
ny JOHN ROSS DIX.
coNoLUDED.
One cold and dreary Novemner morning
in the. early part Of the month, Harry Lang
ley. his wife and their three children sat in
an almost freless room, around meagrely
furnished breakfast table. Wan and pale
was poor Edith. and the children looked
sickly and thin. AS for Harry, he sat in
sullcn silence, his feet on the fender, short
black pipe in his mouth, and his hands thrust
desperately and deeply into his empty peck
cts. A bloated face and bloodshot eyo plain
| " enough told oflast nights carouse: but
there was no peritence, no modification now
AS if glorying in his shame, spite Of the re-
monstrances ofhis wife, he only moved from
his chair to reach a gin-bottle from a cup
board. And it was but moment after he
had swallowed his third dram, that the door
was abruptly opened, and two men made
their appearance.
There was little necessity for them to an
nouncc the object Of their visit. Edith knew
we'll enough what it was Their rent had
been long in arrears, spite Of all she could
do to prevent it. and the landlord had fire.
quent!y threatened and ejectment. The cri.
sis was now come. and even Harry was stag
gered by the rude announcement that his
goods we're seized. and that he and his fam
lily must leave the cottage within twenty
foir hours
Early the next morning the wretched and
DOW homeless family quilted the cottage.
With logged look and sallen silence, hay-
ing. a 5undle slung over his shoulder on a
stick, strobe on Harry Langley. His wife
followed, with a baby in her arms (they had
three children by this time. little Ellen
walking beside her, and third hanging on
to her gown. AZ Edith passed through the
garden gate, Ellen stepped back suddenly,
and ran to one Of the flower beds to pluck a
last blossom from that still beloved spot
Bring me one too, Ellen" she said, and
turned slowly away.
'Look here. mother" said Ellen, when
| she overt,ok her. holding up at the same
time pair Of old red morocco shes. II
found these where they must have been
thrown yesterday when the officers were
clearing out the things. Aud how curious
to End them after they had been lost SO long
! and you know it's my birthday to day, too;
but shall have no present now"
Edith stopped and kissed her little ones
cheek AT that moment the past came more
wildly than ever before her. and well she
remembered that night when Harry brought
home those shoes. and the state in which he
presented himself. An awful leap into the
dark had taken place since then, and scarce
" could She for moment realize that the
heavy-browed, moody. almost savage man
wEo hoarsely called to her to "Comc on. r
could ever have been the gentle. generous,
and frank husband Of her youth. Taking
the shoes from the child, she was about to
thrust them, she scarcely knew whv, into
aer pocket. when her uncle, who had lust
heard oftheir ejectment, hastily rode up aud
accosted her:
Aud so, Edith. in spite of the offer |
have made you Of a home for you and your
children, you still persist in following that
,caundrel who has ruined you! Once more
will you return with me 2"
He is my husband. | promised to take
him for better or FIR worse, and NAV re-
claim him yet. Ii. is in that hope, forlorn
one, know, that still cling to him. I'm
Gle. dear uncle, am fully sensible Of your
kindness, but cannot leave him, even III
his degradation
Then leave me little Nellie. you know
she has always been my little favorite.
Nellie, wont you come and live with uncle?''
80, no, no! cannot part with her, she
is my only comfort now; don't rob me of the
only being on earth that sympathizes with
mel" And as she spoke she read in the lit
tie girls eyes an assurance that she would
not leave her side.
Farmer vowles thrust purse in his
niece's hands
.:rhere, there. don't let your husband
know you have that" he said, keep it for
an emergency. You'll be sure to want it
and and give me that old pair Of shoes in
exchange: they II remind me Of Nellie, when
she-God knows where And the old
man, choking down sob, slowly and sadly
rode away, not once daring to look behind
him, after the ruined family
On a miserable. dizzling. foggy evening,
Harry Langley, his wife. little Ellen, and
the baby in its mothers arms. entered the
great metropolis Neither Of them had ever
before been there, and more terrible fee
ling of loneliness and despair than they had
ever before experienced, now came over
their hearts How they would have mana
ged to travel 50 far had it not been for the
timely aid afforded by Farmer Vowlcs,
Edith could not tell. As yet, she had con-
cealed her treasure from her husband; but
she thought that he began to suspect the
truth. for immediately on their reaching a
London gin palace. be roughly demanded a
chilling 0: her, and disappeared with it be-