Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-03
j. do ends .hs. aims, y county, Gods and
lYETTH IIIRs NNESSBE: THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1865.

dppCdA lCuOCAiuA, Ous WAN nv
drive that look of agony from my
mind sAt last told her all, ant
begged her to forgive me. Sh'
only nestled closer to my breast
and spoke these simple words:
'ssHenry, i love you dearly
cannot find within my heart
word of reproach." "aa 4i{ 81. III
sIresolved in future not to grieve
the one who loved me so fondly
Did I keep the resolves? All no
no! I thought my passion fol
gambling had been entirely eradi
Gated, but that one visit awakened
in my bosom the demon that was
sleeping there. l became a con
slant visitor, a constant gambler
Il was Invariably the loser
As my loss wore upon me, my
wife observed the change, and
strove by every possible means tt
make me happy. She supposed
that duties kept me till late In the
evening. She did not suspect the
realicause, or if she did, she kept
the secret buried, in her own bo
som. .tsaga
One evening ] was returning te
my home earlier than usual, when
l heard voices in my own ROOM
/ paused in the hall and listened
ellis duties are seyere!'I hearo
my wife exclaim. cit is inurins
his health! Do you not observe
the paleness of his face-his care
worn look? Till ten o'clock each
night--it is too much" 4y .s5r
Il heard a groan, and then rushed
from the house. That night | was
taken home in a state of lntoSica
ton. / have an indistinct recol
lection of a gentle hand smooth.
ing my brow, and hot tears falling
on my, cheek, but ! heard no WORD
of reproach. When | left home
next morning, the only words she
spoke. were. flisssGg eIl - bps
sssCome home early, Henry"
oh! how much of agony, of ear.
nest appeal of love, were counted
in those few syllables. / | believe
that the angel would have pre-
vailed, and Ishould have returned
to my duty, but / had already
robbed my employer, and fearing
disgrace, ! determined to continue
until I had won sufficient to re-
place the money / had stolen.
That night Isvisited a gamblers
haunt again with a large sum OF
money belonging to my employer
l met a stranger, and at his sollcl-
tation Joined in a game. For a
few moments fortune seemed to
favor me; but at.last at one hazard
Host all. sMaddened, l left the
place, cursing the world and my
self. returned to my home, but
the kind words of my wife were
living Goals upon my heart, and |
spurned her in my drunken fury.
She murmured not, but was silent
patient.
Oh /! how /. longed for the eve
ming of the following day, hoping
to win back the sum which | had
lost. But the evening came, and
l sunk deeper in my guilt and
shame. This continued four nights
longer, during which time | had
lost eight thousand dollars Of my
money. !.
AS l was leaving my place OF
business late one afternoon OF that
day on which ! made my last
pledge, my employer said to me
"Mr. Willard, tomorrow we
will look over the books"
Had a thunderbolt fallen on my
head, the blow could not have
been greater. l staggered from
the store. : What could | do? ]
might rush again to the gambling.
table; but what had I to pledge
Twas penniIess. Evenmy watch
and every valuable article | had
was gone. But with frenzy in my
heart, i hastenedi to my home.
sat beside my wife, she spoke not.
that is, her voice was silent, but
there was sorrow stamped upon
her face. / rose at. last, and ta'
king her hand, exclaimed Z e
:Lanra, don't despise me, curse
me" ] = 11 y ioAs 8
She tried to speak, but faltering
she burst into tears. | was
touched at last, for | still loved
her, and falling on my knees, tolt /:
her all,