, 1859-03-04

gratitude, as the sweet Annette came in 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
aunts there visiting for the summer, and among
them l was a lion. .a.. :
al was good looking fellow then, sir, and
just on the eve Of entering college. .-.-..
"Young as Twas, il ever man fell in love, I did
there and then. poor child she loved me-
and clouded her life. #r..r
"Well, sir, you wait for my story, sec. After
this, my calls upon Annette were frequent. l
lost my relish for vulgar dissipation and preferred
her society to that Of my former congenial mates.
II drank-and did-it was secretly, and
always slept it of My friends and those Of
Annette pro?hesied a match-you see my
father was wealthy-I had good expectation, in
tended to study for the law, and was deemed
desirable catch. r.-G
81 believe | worshipped Annette. She was
scarcely more than child, but such glorious,
gifted creature. She was fifteen, twenty; five
years between us. We were engaged in twelve
months from that time, while going through col
lege. .,l--- ...r.. f..'-.-s. ..-. -.
"For year, had successfully resisted my old
disease. called it q disease; do now. Re-
member did not let the cursed draught alone,
as should Ionly kept the appetite in unwhole-
some subsection. applied the knife, but not to
the right place, and there came disgrace and
downfall
"Onc night the students had frolic. I was
the foremost rcveler. They tempted me with
dcvilish pertinacity to drink TO excess. did so,
grew quarrelsome and raised . row. In the
melee two Of the students were injured, and
made so much noise that VIC were discovered in
our revels The blows that were given were
proved upon me falsely; never remembered
that gave them. Twas convicted, expelled and
published.
The disgrace was overwhelming; tried to kill
myself when heard that Annette's friends had
cast me off forever. A note was put in my hands
ono day just as had determined on the means
to rid myself Of existence. It read thus:
"DEGR RIcHARD-l ain sorry for you; do
not believe all they say, and surely q man is not
to be cast off for one false step. Come to Aunt
Martha's this afternoon. They have forbidden
me to receive you at the house, but | will see
you there OF a l 90 ga Dt =
"Yours, as ersr, la a AxxEETE."
"0l sir, that made my heart leap into my
throat with joy and grief She did not know that
this was far from my first false steT.
"Dear angel, she had faith in me and wanted
to comfort me- Bcsidvs, she was young, mpul-
sive, loving. AT three in the afternoon went to
the place she had designated. It was poor,
plain house, for her Aunt Martha was far IRON
rich, and, as sat in the little parlor, Annette
came in and made it all alight y gsHrT
"Hcr low dear Richardr was the sweetest
music | ever heard. Then as l caught her to
my bosom, she pressed back my hair with her
loving fingers, and said with smile that seemed
angelic, 'They can't make me believe you wick
ed, dear Richard, while look on that iaccp
"Her voice inspired me; her perfect faith for
the time elevated my manhood. 1silently vowed
al. has
that would not die, but to make myself worthy
Of her. sal Il
"YOu do not believe all they say Of me, thcnr
"No, Dick" the beautiful eyes were raised
lovingly to mine. "No, Dick, and wouldn't be-
leve, though they had made you appear guiltier
than you arc. You know, Dick" she added,
Us il 70 apologize for, to soften the apparent re-
proof, IL is very, very wicked to drink at all"
"But did not injurc the students" said
evaSively. NJ distinctly saw ual Burt and Joe
White strike at them. 1t is all done through
jealousy" s r.-.r
81 knew il; / told them so at home" said
Annette, triumphantly. "Said !, Dick is smart,
and the foremost Of his class, and they hate him
for il They will injure his good name il they
can, but never in my estimation"
"God bless you, my love-" was all could say.
There were tears in my eyes and promises In my
hcartl o! she was 50 beautiful so good that
afternoonl can see the dear eyes that have
made shed many bitter tears, looking up at me
now with that same soft loving, pleading, yet
trusting glance. / can see the dear red lips with
my name trembling upon them.
ave parted. I to go to my disgraced home
to meet cold, averted looks; she to be she tered
and pettcd and loved BY ali who knew her. My
father, with incredible exertion, procured me q
situation in the service Il WAS the worst thing
that could have been done for me, though as theie
was soon to be fighting, promotion--f lived
was possible, nay almost certain. But iempta-
ton was on that vessel, on deck and in her cabin
took leave Of Annette and went to sea- Once
on the ocean, I forgot prudence, love, Annette,
all things pure and good, in my devotion to the
cup There was wine at table. A dashng
young officer who "toOk TO me had supplied
himself with champa me and various liquors II
was always, to q certain extent drunk. Our
destination was Mexico. There, for the exhi.
bitiOn Of drunken valor, was appointed second
lieutenant-before had been third. All sir,
l lived gay life. dare not tell, nor even think
Of my excesses-they were horrible. Once
again was promoted, and came home with the
honors Of q first lieutenancy thick upon me.
Then was lionized. Annettes friends forgot
my weakness. The glitter Of my epaulettes filled
their vision. They could not see the drunkard
in uniform. went to Annette's home as !
listed.
"0ne night called upon her. I had been
drinking freely, and was not sensible Of my sit.
uatiOn, or would have shot myself before had
ventured in her presence. She never looked
more beautiful What said or did that night
never knew distinctly. lrenember her wild
look Of afright-hsr hands, pushing INC franti
cally from her-her springing away and my
chasing hcr-her cries Of afHght-hnally her