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

| >''''H 80 ''' Joyj Nv tOllcTpu tOWuruS
me, and throwing his trembling arms
about my neck, no kissed mo on my
cheek.
"Many times have felt that kiss sir.
was unworthy Of so pure an ovation
from such holy man, / felt myself
unworthy of that dearangcl's gratitude,
as the sweet Annette camo in q few
moments after, still trembling, still
pale, and with misty blue eyes and gcn.
tie lips, thanked me again and again.
In that house that day | was feastcd
like aprince, There were cousins and
aunts there visiting for tho summer,
and among them | was Il lion.
81 was a good looking fellow, then,
sir, and just on the eve Of entering col
lego,
"Young as | was, if ever man fell in
love, | did there and then. Poor child .
she loved me dcarly-and clouded her
rife.
"Wcll, sir, you wait for my story, |
see. After this, my calls upon Annette
were frequent. | lost my relish for
vulgar dissipation, and preferred her So
ciety to that Of my former formal con-
genial mates. IfI drank--and | did
it was secretly, and | always slept it off
My friends and those of Annette pro-
phesied II match-you see my father
was wcalthy-l had good expectation
and was deemed Il desirable catch.
81 believe I worshippcd Annette
She was scarcely more than child,
but tsNch a glorious, gifted creature. She
was fifteen, | twenty; five years be-
tween us. We were engaged in twelve
months from that time, while going
through college.
"Fora year had successfully resist
cd my old disease. called ita disease
do now. Remember, did not let the
cursed draught alone, as | should.
only kept the appetite in unwhoIcsomc
subjoction. lappIied | the knife, but rot
to the right place, and there came dis
grace and downfall
zone night the students had Il froIic.
| was the foremost rovcllor. They
tempted me with deviiish pertinacity tc
drink to excess did so, grew quar-
rclsomc, and raised row In the me
lee, two Of the students were injured
and made 50 much noiso that we wcr,
discovered in our rcvcls. The blow.
that were given, were proved upon M
falsely. | never remembered that
gave them | was convicted, expelled
and published.
"Tho disgrace was overwhelming.
tried to kill myself when | heard tha
Annetlc's friends had cast ne off forcv
cr. a note was put in my hands on,
day just as | had determined on The
means to rid myself Of existence. i
read thus:
"DEAR RICHARD Il am sorry iol
you; | do not believe ali they say, anc
surc Y man is not to be cast Off rtoron,
false step. Come to my Aunt Martha
this afternoon They have forbidden
me to receive you at tho house, but
will receive You there,
Yours, as ever, ANNETTE
80! sir that made my heart leap in
to my throat with joy and grief Sh
did no. know that this was far from
my first "faIsc step"
Dear angel, she had faith in me, an'
wanted to comfort me Besides, sh
was young, impulsive, loving. At thre
in the afternoon / went to the place >h
had designated. 1t was II poor, plai'
house, for her Aunt Martha was fa
p from rich, and as sat in the little pal
; lor, Annette came in and made it a
, alight.
: "Hcr low dear Richard,' was tn
% sweetest music ever heard Then as
= caught her to my bosom, she prcssc
3, back my hair with her loving linScr
, and said, with Il smile that seemed III
1 gclic:
"Thcy can't make me believe 80
s wicked, dear Richard, while | look o
s that face"
"lIer voice inspired me; her pcrtec
faith for the time elevated my manhood
] silently vowed that such thin
should never happen again. That
would not die, but make myself worth
, other.
"You do not believe all they say
me thcnH ! asked.
"No, Dick" the beautiful eyes We
raised lovingly to mine. "No, Dick,
y wouldn't believe, though they h;
made you appear guilticr than you ar
You know, Dick" she added, rs if
| apologize for, to soften the apparent +
p proof, sit is very, very wicked, to do
= at all"
T. "But | did not injuro tho students
/ said, eyasivcly. 81 distinctly sa
Hal Burt and Joe White strike ut theI
|, 1t is all done through jealousy"
c "Ikncw it; | told them so at home
r said Annette, triumphantly. "Sald
n Dick is smart, and the foremost OF Ii