The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-03

cold and glittering, as an iceberg in the
sunshine.
Meanwhile, there was some speculation
among the inhabitants Of the goodly city,
| where dwelt our friends, as to the sudden
change in the life of the Vincents. Some
shook their heads wisely and declared it bo.
ded no good they used to think Harry Vim.
cent prudent business man, and one well,
to-do in the world, but he was getting to be
a sad spendthrift, and could not long main.
tain such an extravagant style. Others hint
ed plainly about his ill-gotten gains, and
neglected business until at last, the dread.
full conviction was forced upon Mabel's mind
that her husband, whom she believed the
very soul of honor, had sunk to the level Of
a common gambler Nor was the kindred
vice of intemperance long in making of him
another victim. Night after night would he
enter his dwelling, with blood-shot eye, and
flushed countenance, telling too plainly o.
the midnight revel. And poor Mabel would
weep bitterly over the ruin of his noble man
hood. Expostulation and entreaty were alike
In vain. Her own hand had given the first
impulse, and now she had no power to stay
the course ofevents which were fast hurryine
to destruction all that had been dearest te
her.
But the crisis came Debts of honor
which he had not the means to cancel accu.
mulated on Mr. Vincent's hands. Night af
ter night, day after day, he played and lost
the fates seemed against him. At length
driven to desperation, by the taunts of his
successful opponent, to whom he was indebt
ed for many thousands, he plunged the as.
sassin's knife into his heart, as they were
both leaving the saloon where Vincent had
staken and lost his all.
Rushing through the deserted streets with
the frenzy ola mailman, Harry Vincent en-.
tered his house, and hurrying to his wife's
dressing room, where she was laying aside
the costly garment she had just worn at a
fashionable levee, he rudely seized her arm
and drawing the blood-stained digger from
his coat, he exclaimed vahemently-
"Here, Mabel Vincent, is the proof of my
love for you! You asked for proofs, and
have given them. I have perjured my very
soul for you. Step by step, have gone
down-down-from the respectable and hon.
orable position | once enjoyed have be.
a II I
| ed, in low, kissing voice, "a MURDERER =
Mabel, the officers ofjustice will soon track
my footsteps they will arrest me, and |
shall offer no resistance. will paw the pen.
| atty of my crime with the life which is 2
burden to me, and when all is over,-when
| your husband has suffered an ignominous
death, then, Mabel Vincent, do not say that
| never gave any proofs of my love. AT
your hands will God require my soul, for
you have been my destroyery'
With a loud cry, Mabel sunk fainting AT
his feet,-and just at that moment she heard
cheerful voice exclaiming, "What darling,
have you been asleep? | didn't think it was
so late y and Mabel opened her eyes to gaze
upon the frank and beaming countcnance OF
her husband, and to realize with greatful
heart that she had been dreaming! They
were still the humble but happy AMI honor.
able inmates of the cottage; the princely
mansion, and all its gildea 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 mingled penitence and
thanksgiving, she bounded to her husbands S
side, and throwing her arms around his neck,
exclaimed
"Oh Harry, forgive me; have been so
miserable since you went away and spoke
so unkindly can you forget it, and love
your wayward Mabel still ~
t Harry sealed the ready pardon with a kiss,
then added in serious tone:
eyes, Mabel, do forgive you, though it
grieved me to hear you complain tonight,
and to know that all my labor for our mu-
tual happiness and prosperity rad failed to
satisfy you ofmy affection. But see how
it is-you did not really near what you said,
it was but passing .whin, not the sober
conviction of my true-hearted wife We
will still he happy in our little home, and
bye-apd-bye you shall have all you wish"
81 have now," was Mabel's earnest re.
sponse. "Your love, dear Harry, is worth
more than gold and gems to me. l would
not give it in exchange for the wealth of the
wide world"
Thus vanished the clouds which threatened
to obscure the peaceful sky of their married
life, and again the sunshine of Love and
Confidence illumlned their hearts, while the
rainbow of Faith and Hope spanned their
pathway.
Not very long afterwards, Mr.. Vincent,
having completed very profitable business
transaction, told his wife that now he thought
he could afford that blue silk she had so much
desired
"No, Harry, not for the world" she ex-
claimed, with an involuntary shudder. 81
could never bear to wear that dress ~
"Very well, I'll not compel you to, my
1aar vaS tho roplu lSb,,t tho,,oh& 49,, L.,