Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-07-24
1ome, now, be good man and relieve our Gu:

81 am glad that am at liberty to do so. and
| know that you will both be astonished at nv
revelation, and feel sorry that you ever imputed
selfish or wiltul motives to Mrs. Leighton for her
conduct" replied Mr.. Barry. "You probably
remember, Ellen, when you first mentioned this
subject to me that / told you Alice Leighton
was good and true woman; meant it from
the bottom Of my heart, for /, alone, as the con,
fdentisl friend Of her husband, understood her
seemingly inconsistent behavior. Drunkenness
is hereditary in Leighton's family. Not the
drinking in public places and at all times. which
leads to brawling and scandal The Leightons
have always had too much pride for that. When
they felt the fatal thirst coming upon them, they
would shut themselves up and indulge it until
satisfied. Only to their wretched households
was this soul destroying habit known. By the
world the Leightons were only spoken of as an
eccentric family.
"Atwood inherited this unhappy propensity,
and often, both at college and elsewhere. have
sat up all night, at his earnest request to pre-
vent prying eyes from seeing him in his degra-
ded state. He saw and loved Alice Merton. and
for long time he determined to live a lonely
and unloved life rather than (lhite the destiny
Of the sweet girl with his. But be accidentally
discovered that shs loved him, and hoping, that
with his good angel in her form ever by his
side, he could subdue the demon within, he mar
ried her.
"And for season be did succeed in doing so.
and Alice was perfectly happy. Alas! at a
party, which they both attended, a friend. un-
knowing his weakness, pressed champagne upon
him. The taste of liquor aroused the slumber-
ing thirst within him, and leaving immediately
for home he sent out for brandy, and then shut
ting himself up closely in his room he drank
himself into state of stupefaction. A few
days later ne went forth as usual, and his plea
OF indlsposltlon aroused no suspicion among bis
acquaintances.
Alice, at that time, had very quick tenn
per, but to her credit be it spoken, as her hus.
band has since told me, never did she give him
q cross or unkind word. During his periodical
attacks, Ut may SO term them,) no one attend
ed him save his devoted wife, who was anxious
as he could be to hide the mortifying secret
from the public. She lost all relish for society.
for she dreaded to hear the blasting whisper
atwood Leighton is drunkard' She saw that
the pernicious habit was exerting debasing in
fluence upon her talented, high-minded husband
and looking down the vista of future years
and viewing with prophetic eye the depth oi
degradation to which he must eventually fall
should he continue his present course, her heart
misgave her, and she felt that her burden was
heavier than she could bear.
| "One day, when on the stool of repentance
after night of drinking, Atwood exclaimed. sl
do believe that if I was out of the way of temp
tation, and at the same time actively employed
for few years, could conquer this direfu
habit, which seems to be fast enslaving me body
and SOUL 1t was then that Alice formed res
olution, which she soon put into practice, viz
to induce her husband to sell out in town, anG
devote himself to his planting interest This
admirable and wise judging woman gave up the
society in which she took so much pleasure, anl
which she was so well fitted to adorn, and set
tied herself contentedly in the prairies. where
during the winter months, she scarcely saw {
white face except her husbands, and even ir
summer her visitors were few and far between.
For eight years she never spent night from
under her own roof. She entered into all hel
husbands plans, went with him into the fields
herself, accompanied him whenever he was O
bliged to come to town, and, without seeming
| to do SO, exercised an unceasing and tender
watchfulness over him. Faithfully and unre
mittingly did she devote herself to the task O
Strengthening and fostering all the good il
Leighton's naturally noble nature, and as b,
himself humbly and reverently expressed it
Thanks be to God, she succeededp
"Yes, her labor of love, her angels mission
met with its fitting reward. Atwood Leighton
is now not only gentleman but a Christian
and no consideration, l am confident, will eve
induce him to place the poisoned cup to BIZ
Hips. And now, ladies, do you not think that
vas right in defending such woman9'
''Indeed, indeed you were!" cried both Mrs
Cameron and Mrs. Barry with emotion, Will.
the latter continued, Sand I judged her 81
barshly-this self-sacrifcing, angelic woman i
Never again will pass Judgment upon any hu
man being without due acquaintance with tht
circumstances; for, as some one truly says
| there is skeleton in every closet