The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-05-05

IN the bearing OF ner nuSDanu; per-
haps one less accustomed to his man
ner would not have noticed it; but she
noted that the tones of his voice were
louder, and more hurried and abrupt
than his won't and that his manner
was more familiar; not that he was
rude, but he had lost that dignity
which always characterized him..
Ada knew but too we'll how to ac.
count for this change, for she was well
aware that wine had passed freely and
frequently among the guests, and that
to this might be attributed the change
in her husbands manner. 1t was,
therefore, with deep anxiety that she
saw the red liquid again being passed
among the guests, for she felt con-
vinced that one draught more added
to what he had already drank, would
place her husband on a level with
what he termed a drunkard. She
watched him narrowly, and resolved
that she would make an effort to save
him from what he considered u terri
Bile fate. 1t was a moment of intense
suffering to poor Ada, as her blodlcss
cheeks and trembling limbs testified.
When she saw him stretch forth his
hand to take the proilercd glass, she
seemed suddenly to regain her
strength, and flew like lightning speed
toward him. She reached his side
Just as he was raising the clear crys-
taI-like gobcts to his lips, to drain it
of its contents; and, placing her hand
gently but firmly upon his upliited
arm, she exclaimed, in clear, thrilling
tones
Colbert, my husband, iorbear!
drain not the poisonous draught"
Slowly the upraised hand descended,
and he looked scurchingly ly in her face,
as if to read her meaning. For
moment gazed upon her, and then u
dark irown gathered upon his brow,
and again he raised the goblet to his
| lips; and then poor Ada, iorgettul Of
everything but her own intense ankle
ty and suffering, in an agonscd voice,
exclaimed
"Oh, Gilbert, for my sake drink not
the. maddening potion! Oh, beware!
, beware"
Again did Gilbert Wards hand de-
scend, and hei allowed Ada to take
the goblet from him. Stepping back
u few PAGES, she seized Il glass Of wa
ter that stood on richly carved table;
she gaxcd with burning eye upon It's
contents, then raised the goblet con-
tanning the sparkling wine, and gaZed
wildly upon it, while her cheeks
blanched to a deathIy palor, and her
bosom hcaved with intense emotion.
she exclaimed, in clear ringing tones;
"Behoid what see within this flow
ing liquid! | see for you Gilbert, sor-
row, shame, dishonor, misery, despair
yea, death. see that face, now
bearing the impress Of health and
peace, burning and scorchcd with
the great heat of this poison, and scar
ed and dlstigurcd by the traces Of de-
| bauchery and contracted disease! |
see your firm step becoming weak
and tottering! | hear your rich voice
growing hollow and unnatural--your
flashing eye becoming dim and lus-
trelcss--your intellect becoming I'M
paired, and your mind cntecblcd and
weak! | see your home growing desc
late and neglected.; your friends all
lorsaking you, and you travelling
down to II paupcr's grave, uncared for
and unwrpl! | see for myself suffer
ing, want, misery and dispair! see
nv brightest hopes crushed, my fond.
est wishes blighted, and my poor heart
torn and lacerated, and all this is the
work of my husband!
"On the other hand" said she, raj
sing the vessel containing the clear,
cold water, Il see peace, prosperity,
honor rcnown, joy, hope, friends and
long lie. and all for you ii you 50 VIII
it! And will you, oh, Gllbcrt.--th
hecdlessly rush on to ruin, and reient-
lessly torture your loving, suffering
wife, until she sinks into a prema-
turc grave!
Choose" she exclaimed, wildly, ex.
tending her hand toward him. choose
this moment, oh, my husband, between
uinc and ,Cdtcr--choosc between hap
piness and misery both here and
hereafter! Oh, choose between life
and death; extinguish the last spark
of joy and life within my bosom, or
bid me live and be happy"
With bloodless lips and heaving bo,
som, Gilbert Ward, fully sobered by
the events of the last few moments
stretched forth his trembling hani