Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-07-08

!
just on the eve Of entering college.
"Young as | was, if ever man fell in love,
did there and then. Poor child she love,
me-and | clouded her life.
"Well, sir, you wait for my story, see
After this. my calls upon Annette were fre
quent. | lost my relish for vulgar dissipa
ton, and preferred her society to that of M
former congenial mates If | drank--and
did-it was secretly. and | always slept i
off, My friends and those of Annette proph
esied a match-you see my father was veal
thy had good expectations. intended f,
study for the law, and was deemed a desira
bic catch
81 believe | worshipped Annette. Sh,
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 college
"For year, had successfully resisted my
old disease | called il a disease do now
Remember | did not let the cursed draught
alone, as should only kept the appetite
In unwholsome subjection. | applied the
knife, but not to the right place, and there
came disgrace and downfall
Zone night the students had frolic
was the foremost reveler. They tempted me
With deyhsh pertlnacity to drink to excess. !
ana so' grew quorrelsome and raised row
In the melee two of the students were injur-
ed' and made so much noise that we were
discovered in our revels The blows that
were given were proved upon me falsely; |
never remembered that | gave them. was
convicted. expelled and published.
The disgrace was overwhelming. tried
TO- XII myself when heard that Annette $
iuends had cast me off forever. A note was
put IN my hands one day, just as | had de-
termined on the means to rid myself Of ex-
istence' 1t read thus
Dear Richard-I am sorry for you; do
not believe all they say, and surely man is
not to be cast OIL for one false step. Come
to Aunt Martha's this afternoon. They have
ioroidden me to receive you at the house, but
wall see you there.
Yours as ecer ANNErTE.
" sir' that made my heart leap into my
throat with Joy and grief She did not know
'nat TINS was far from my hrst false step.
Dear angel she had faith in me and want
ca TO comfort me. Besides, she was young,
mpulsive' loving At three in the afternoon
went to the place she had designated. 1t
was poor PLAIN house, for her Amt was far
from rich, and, as | sat in the little parlor,
Annette came IN and made it all alight
her low Dear Richard was the sweet
est music ever heard. Then as ! 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
oelieVe you wicked, dear Richard, while l
iook on that lace
Iler voice INSPIRED me; her perfect faith
lor tne t'me elevated my manhood. silently
vowed that such thing should never happen
agaln-that would not die, but make my
self worthy OF her
on do not believe all they say of me
then l asked
no DICK; the beautiful eyes were rais-
ca lovingly to mine. NO, Dick and /
"ouldn believe though they had made you
appear guitler than you are. You know,
Dick She added, as if to apologize for, to
soften the apparent reproof, 1t Is very, very
"icNeu TO drink at all.
But ana mot lnJure the students, |
saiu' evasl'ely' Il distinctly saw Hal Burt and
Joe mite strike at them. 1t Is all done
through jealousy
knew II told them so at home, said
annette trlmphantly- sad /, DICK Is smart.
ana tine foremost OF his class, and they hate
MN Tor 1t. lhey will nlure his good name
II they can, but never IN my estimation.
God bless you, my love was all could
say There were tears IN my eyes and prom
'ses IN my heart o. she was beautiful so
good that afternoon. could 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 me dear red lips with my name trembling
upon them.
'Ne parted; to 60 to my disgraced home,
10 meet cold ayerted looks she TO be shell
erred, and petted, aud loved by all who knew
ler. NJ father with incredible exertion, pro-
urea me situation IN the service. 1t was
ne worst thing that could have been done
or me- though as there was soon to be fight
nS' promotlon-li llved-was possible, nay,
'lmost certain But temptation was on that
'essel' on deck and in her cabin. l took
cave OF Annette and went to sea. Once on
he ocean, forgot prudence, love, Annette,
III lhings pure and good IN my devotion to
ne cup There was wine at the table a
'ashing young officer, who took to me, had
upplied himself with champagne and various
liquors. was always, to certain extent,
trunk Our destination was Mexico. There,
or the exhibition OF drunken valor' was