St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-02-10
PRICE, TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUNI
NUMBER 6,

false step. Come to Aunt Martha's
this afternoon. They have forbidden
me to receive you at the house, but !
will sec you there.
Yours as ercr,
ANNETTE.
o! 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 step
Dear angel, she had faith in me and
wanted to comfort me. Besides, she
was young, impulsive, loving. At
three in the afternoon | went to tho
place she had designated. 1t was q
poor, plain house, for her Aunt Martha
was far from rich, and, as sat in the
little dark parlor, Annette came in
and made it all alight.
Her low dear Richard !" was tho
sweetest music ever heard. Then
as caught her to my bosom, sho
pressed back my hair with her loving
fingers, and said with smile that
seemed angelic" they can't make
me think you wicked, dear Dick, while
| look on that face
Her voice inspired me her perfect
faith, for the time, elevated my man.
hood. ] silently vowed that such a
thing should never happen again
that would not die but make myself
worthy of her
You do not believe all they say Of
me then ?" | asked.
"No, Dick - the beautiful eyes
were raised lovingly. to mine. "No.
Dick, and | wouldn't believe though
they had made you appear guilticp
than you are You know Dick" she
added as if to apologize for, to soften
the apparent reproof, :" it is very, rery
wicked to drink at ALL"
but did not injure the Students
I said cvasively. l distinctly saw
Hal, Burt and Joe White strike ut
them am sure did not touch them,
1t is all done through jealousy"
81 knew it | told them so at
home - said Annette, triumphantly,
"Said /, Dick is smart and the fore,
most of his class, and they hate him
for it. They will injure his good name
if they can, but "erer in my estima'
ton"
"God bless you, my love !" was all
could say. There were tears in my
eyes and promises in my heart OF
she was so beautiful so good, that
afternoon | can see the dear eyes
that have made shed many bitter
tears, looking up at me now with that
same soft, loving, pleading yet trust
ing glance. l can see the dear rcd
lips with my name trembling upon
them.
Wepart,d. Ito go to my disgraced
home to III ect cold, averted looks, sho
to be sheltered and petted and loved
by all who knew her. My father,
with incredible exertion, procured mo
a situation in the service. 1t was tho
worst thing that could have been done
for me, though as there was soon to
be fighting, promoton-if l lived
was possible, nay, almost certain.
But temptation was on that vessels
deck and in her cabin. ! took leave
Of Annette and went to sea. Once
on the ocean, forgot prudence, love.
Annette, all things pure and good. in
my devotion to the cup. There was
wine at table. A dashing young Of
ticer who "took :" to me had supplied
himself with champaign aud various
liquors. | was always to certain
extent, drunk. Our destination was
Mexico. There for the exhibition of
drunken valor, | was appointed second
licutenant-bcfore | had been third,
All !! sir. | lived q gay life. daro
not tell, nor even think Of my eXcesses
they were horrible. Once again |
was promoted and came home with
the honors of a first leutenancy thick
upon me Then | was lionized. An
nette's friends forgot my weakness.
The glitter of my cpaulettes filled
their vision. They could not see the
drunkard in uniform. Invent to An,
nette's home as listed.
One night called upon her. had
been drinking freely and was not sen.
sible of my situation, or would have
shot myself before l had ventured in
her presence. She never looked moro
beautiful What | said or did that
night never knew distinctly. Ire.
member her wild look of affright-her
hands, pushing me franticalIy from
hcr-her springing away and my
chasing her-her cries Of alright.
finally her locking herself in her room
which l made fruitless attempts to
enter, then my leaving the house with
all the doors open-ana then comes q
blank.
The next morning dawned upon me
in the chamber Of friend. As !
looked up with aching brain, a noble
face bent over me-the face of one
who had been a fellow collegian, and
who was studying then for the minis.
| try.
l asked feebly where l was.
Horace and found you PROSTATE
in the street few rods from here.
You were utterly helpless. We lifted
you against your most imprecating
struggles ; you cursed us with every
breath. but we finally brought you
here, and here you have slept till now.
1t wants quarter to eleven. closed
the blinds that you might sleep it Off
did not ask what he meant by it,
| was ashamed /; too much ashamed
to look at him.
limited at the effects Of southern
fever, but from under my nearly closed
lids saw something like a sneer on
his face.
He sat down by my bedside and he
plead with me for an hour For Gods
sake he bcsought me to break from
this runous habit. He held up the
very flames of hell, till | shuddercd.
Then he spoke of Annette, and ] knew
by the trcmor of his lips, the huski
ness of his voice that he, too, loved
my darling. had suspected it be-
fore, but now | was certain, and it
reused the widest feelings of jealousy.
Madly | boasted of her unconquera.
bic attachment fool that | was.
With coarse, unskilful hand barred
his own heart to his view till he shrank