The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-08-31

gret, she caused the marriage to be nost-
Poned indefinitely. The natural purity of
her nature reyolted at the idea Of marrying
man who had so far forgot himself. Itmus1
be admitted that the neyer-to- be. (oreotte,
pale face at the wicket gate, seen in the tvi.
light, very much influenced her determ;na.
ton.
Have you and Frank qaarreledi" in
luired her father.
No-that is, not much; but he keeps
too much company, and am airaid---.U
ANNIE did norcomplete the sentence. She
stlli loved the erring young man, and would
not degrade him in her parents ewes.
Harvey, with all loves eloquence, pleaded
hard Tor reversal Of the sentence - nro,
m'sed conformity to her wishes, even TO IA.
king pledge. y ~
Annie, though her heart beat Violently
was unyislding; all she would grant was a
years probation. :,
Why, we may all be dead in that time "
he exclaimed. g Besides, isn't Il better "a
ter :"
Annie had been great reader, so she in.
dignantiy replied, Wild oats, indeed
Aud do you expect me to take for husband
man who has been soiled in all kinds of
m,re. You might as well ask me to live in
house without roof or windows. Harvey.
you are much mistaken if you think | viii
give my hand to man who has not been able
to control himself. And, as to wild oats, /
plainly tell You, Frank, that simple country
girl as am, know that if man has wild
oats before marriage, he is pretty sure 10
have an abundant crop Of them afterwards"
Harvey considered himself i'll used. and
Annie did not see him for week afterwards.
W hen she did, she was gratilied and surpris-
ed at a visible improvement in his anne.r.
ance, and this continued throughout the win.
ter, and, as II to assure her that the chance
was real, no more injurious reports reached
her ears. But this amendment was only ar.
tliiclal, Tor Harvey, proiiting by the evil
coansels OF his companions, pursued his ca
reer OF dissipation away IRON his native place.
lhis hypocrisy, however, only served 10 har,
deh his nature, and to strengthen the awful
habit into which he had fallen. 1t also, by
inspiring in him too much confidence in his
powers Of endurance, brought about its ex-
posure and punishment. -.
am seasoned now, and defy even An
ME TO see there's anything the matter with
me, he sad vain gloriously, as one evening
IN June he called at Annie's fathers house.
and took bis accustomed seat in the parlor.
Annie observed with horror that he was
very much intoxicated, and the me nory of
The pale lace at the wicket gate came over
her with sickening distinctness. Her father.
although short-sighted, noticed sometime
strange IN liaFHey's behaviour, but, had the
latter confined himself to ordinary topics, the
I'D man might not have known the cause.
As the fumes OF the poisonous compounds he
iad swallowed to excess mounted TO his brain.
Harvey became excited, and presently III
sense of discretion vanished in the vain de
sire to communicate what he considered good
news. 5
" Congratulate mem he exclaimed, with
i'iiiculty s'ppressing lliccup, congratu.
ate me stand a chance Of making three
thousand pounds"
=" Clad 10 hearit," said Mr.. Lee. "ThrOnsh
deceased relative, suppose -
4" Deceased fddlestrks" exclaimed Har-
iey. No. Look you here. Annie and 1
IRE to be married next year, SO thought pJ
-isk a hundred or two TO make her more com.
"rtable like, 50 ! tnok Tom Higgins advice.
md laid 'em out on the next July cup. Sure
o wIn-sn TOm says-and although 1 have
pst two 'un, never venture, never win. So
'on see, Annie, shall put three thousand
bounds INTO your apron next month. What
10 You think of that, sweetheart z"
With this roiomontade, Harvey attempied
. draw nearer to Annie. hut she retreated
rhind her fathers chair, saying Frank, 90
oine, pray do
Mr. Lee, now clearly pereeiving The con.
ition OF has intended sun-in. law, seconded
ie request, but Harvey, like a man blinily
i,hing upon lis ruin, took no heed Of The
animation, but began to talk about lis bets
nd harse-racIng, aud other matters connect.
q with the turf. Mr.. Lee at length lost al
silence, and authoritatisely bale him make
he best Of his way home.
4" Home Why this is as much nv home a.
ic farm. isn't it," shouted Harvey Will
runken le,ity.
" Never = exclaimed Mr.. Lee, Thoroughly
isgusted. never shall il be home ior
aud gambler. Leave the rOom.-
ave the house. ] can see nov why my
ise, good Annie put on the wedding. Oh
rank dld not think this Of thee, aud rirht
al am that your father is not living 10 SEQ
1T would have broken his heart. Leave
e hnnsc, ] say, thou degenerate, ungudly
n Of ,irtucls and godly fsther and mo.
err"
Stupcfed at these well.mefited reproachcs,
arvey looked frgm father to daueh,cr re.
'atedly, but as he caught tie stern express
in Of the old mans eve fixed upon him,
perception 81 bis dsgraceful state
ole into liis mind, aud without uttering an.
her word, he staggered from the room, out
tic shop, and into the street. where he
Ounted his horse, and rode maIly away n
e direction Of Liverpool.
Z" Ny dear child said the old man, en-.
acing his daughter, as size threw herself
bbing on his breast, "my dear. dear ebiid,
composed. This IS great deliyefancs,
Cugll paiufnl.'
After soothing Annie ~ well as lie could
warm earSssss aud every endearins pa.