The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-04-12

al VINO know her, My father, with in.
credible cxertion, procured me situa-
ton in tho service 1t was the worst
thing that could have been done for me;
though, as there was soon to bc fighting
promolion--if L lived--was possible,
nay, almost certain, But temptation
was on that vessel, ON deck and in her
cabin. ! took leave of Annette and
went to sea, Once on tho ocean, | for
got prudence, love, Annette, all things
pure and good, in my devotion to the
cup. There was wine ut table. A
dashing young officer who "took" to
me had supplied himself with cham
pagnc and various liquors | was al
ways, toa certain extent, drunk, Our
destination was Mexico. There, for
the exhibition Of drunken valor, was
appointed second lieutcnant-beforc Il
had been third All, sir, | lived II cav
life, dare not tell, or even think Of
my eXccsses-they were horrible. Once
again | was promoted, and camc homo
with the honors Of II first lieutcnalitcy
thick upon me- Then | was lionized-
Annotte's friends forgot my weakness,
The glitter Of cpaulcts filled their Wis
ion. They could not see drunkard in
Il uniform. | went to Anncttc's home
rs listed.
"One night / called upon her, | had
been drinking freely, and was not SEN
siblc Of my situation, or | would have
shot myself before | had vcntured in
her presence. She never looked more
beautiful. What said or did that night
never knew distinctly, | remember
her wild look Of atfright--hcr hands,
, pushing mo irantically from hcr--her
sprngng away and my chasing her
her cries Of attright-inalIy her locking
herself in her room, which / made fruit
} less attempts to enter then my leaving
the house with all the doors open, and
then camo blank
"lhe noNt morning dawncd upon me
in the chamber Of friend, As look
ed up with aching BRAN, q noble face
bent over mo--thc face of one who had
been u fellow coilcgian, and who was
} then studying for the ministry,
81 asked itobIy where was.
e "lorace and ! found you PROSTATE
, III tho street, a few rods from here
0 You were utterly hclplcss, We lifted
5 you against your most imprccating
, struggles; you cursed us with every
| breath, we finally brought you here, and
here you have slept till now 1t wants
Il quarter to eleven. closed the blinds
that you might sleep it Off
t 81 did not ask what he meant by it
| was ashamed; too much ashamed tc
, look at hm.
, 81 limited at the affect of southern
fever, but from under my nearly closcc
lids ! saw something like Il snccr on hi
+ face.
Z" lLc sat down by ny bedside, and h
lplcad with me for an hour. For God
sake ho bcsought me to break from thi,
! ruinous habit. lie held up tho very
flamo Of Hell till shuddered. Then h,
spoke Of Annette, and | knew by th,
r trcmor Of his lips, the huskncss of hi
c voice, that he, too, loved my darling
a | had suspected it before, but now wa
certain, and il reused the widest feel
J ings Of jealousy. Madly / boastcd 0
c hcruncou1ucrablc attachment, fool tha
c | was With Il coarse, unsllilful hand
G barred his own heart to his view, till h
II shrunk from me inagony. Then Iaros,
I forgetting all gratitude for his great f;
= vor in bearing me, scnsclcss, disgustin
Il rs | was from the clutches Of the polio
or watchman! saving me the shame
q opening my eyes in Il station-house, an
having my name bruitcd about in til
Il public prints.
> j went TO the dwelling of Annctt,
l. | was ushorcd into side parlor, whcr
she lay upon lounge, her checks IL
colorlcss as the dead, her large eye
= shining fitiuIly and looking AS if the
= had never been closed in sleep
/ As bcntovcr her, she said softly
please don't come SO near me, MI
= lsington; am ILL.,
:, Il started at that as if had bee
: shot. Mr.. lslington.
% l repeated my own name, looking 1
her with Il wonderful glance,
'Oh,ifI could believe it was not yot
: but some other she said, sighing in
= weary way, and shutting her eye
tightly, though not so as to proven
the tears that would oozc through.
~ what can you mean" l asked; an
:, my look Of extreme incredulity mus
have astonishcd her.
- 20, Richard, Richard, you don't know
90 what you said last night she crcC
- convulsively, passonatcly. You dom
you can't know what you did. {
- Richard, the very recollection craze
I me. Don't, don't come near me; indeed
10 can't bear it. The recolledtion-ol
-. Terrible. terrible!