Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-09-21

Before the spring opened, was Ho-
race Seymour wife, rich, cour'ed, en-
idol in society, leading fashions dIcls!ing
amusemens, plunged inexlucabIy into
The vortex Of fashionable folly. Mrs. Sey-
mour's jewels, her equipsges, her house,
parties, dress, beauty, concerts, were al
quoted pre.eminenl 10 taste and selection
and strangers were admitted as visitors
upon only the most iunexceptonable proof
Of position and wealth. My aunt and
cousins helped 10 spoil me and was
heartily and only fashionable woman.
The first glImmer Of reason that began
10 break through their dazzling blaze Of
pleasure came TO my Heart through its
worshpped idol. Ny husband, my go-
rious. bright husband, whose talent was
nv pride, whose love my heaven. was
slowly but surely ireading the lurng pa.h
that leads 10 a druukard's misery. Win
no pursuit TO employ his time, no aim in
life to steady his course. living only for
The present, indoleni, couried, and care
less, he was to often led INTO drinking
deeply, reellng to his home a early morn
ing 10 wake ne by maudIIn talk and
loalhsome caresses. What was TO check
him Where The vine cup was wreath
ed with its most tempting flowers, was
not my song the goyest! Where tie
friends who lured 20 vice were most lTe-
quenhy collected. was not my form en-.
circIed by their arms in dance When
my own table groared under ils burden
OF choice delcac.es, did not my hand Of
fer the glIler,rg, poison.iIed chalice ,
How could cheek him Two years,
Two long years Of hollow gayety encIrclng
sick dread, and then was widow F!
Horace was killed sJddenIy by railway
accident but not before | had tasted the
full bitterness q drunkard's wife may
leeI.
mourned him with passionate grief
All his faults were forgotten as | Tslned
kisses upon the beautiful face marbled by
death. lie had been my worshiPPed
hero, and my despair for his loss was as
wild and ungoverned as every other i'm
pulse Of my life. My mother came TO
me from lar.olf Lester, and in my first
wild sorrow led me home. My dream
was over
But oh the agony Of the awakening
The despair over wasted talent, lost
hours never 10 be recalled, broken VOWS
never 10 be renewed | had wealth un
limited, and by Profuse, injisrrmlnale
charity tried TO buy my ransom to peace;
but conscience would not be sil,ed; the
heart yesrned for some further anchor to
rest upon.
Gently my father won me back from
both my mad happiness and despair.
While his remedies sulIed my feversh
pulse and sooIheJ my heated brain, his
words Of loving comfort and tender coun.
sci woke my heart TO The true conirtlon
and repentance that PreceGe peace. In
long hours of converse | saw oil my fol.
ly, and then, too, learned the sin of my
broken lroIhpIIghI. lie could tell me of
tbe agony ny faIblessness had caused
noble, loving heart; the torture of sus.
pense, the pain of seeing my failing love
in my letters, The final grief of seyering
the tie uhch had torn my image from
Rolands heart In those dsys Of suffer.
ing and prayer learned the value Of The
nature had 81 ghred, Ionged with a sick,
yearning bitterness for my wasted youth,
my opportunity once thrown so careIessly
aside, TO become lhe loved and loving
wife OF noble, true man.
Summers and winters glided away,
finding me still in my chIdhood's home,
striving 10 find Gods worS, and bring to
it wiling hands and hearts. My wealth
was but charge, of which slrove to lay
up q good account; my time was talent
spent for useful labor, and humby and
penitenrly | offered expIanon for ny sin.
Five years had passed since Rolsno's last
letter had broken the felers Of youth from
nv life and riveled the chains Of folly,
when one evening | sat in the freight
dreaming over my past There was
shadow fell upon me, and then-"Your
father said | might seek you y fell upon
my ears.
Roland my Roland come back 10 me!
was fairt With pleasure, that was hal!
pain Could he ever love me agaInl He
must despise me And, as this thought
followed the Others, bent my head on
my hands. and sobbed bitter tears Of pen
ilence. But no words Of reproach greet.
eG me. Loving, tender accents soolhed
my grief, words of such affection as bad
derned lost 10 me forever, fell softly up
on my heart, and in the dancing freight
| renewed The promise Of ny girlhood.
We were married very soon, and
was again taken 10 my city home. WHIST
cared TO find that my Roland had won
fame and wealth IN bic years OF freedom
he loved me, gave me his honor for my
shield, his noble truth Tor nv refuge, bis
steady judgment for my guide and when
again ny house became the resort of
gay crowd, he mingled wisdom with
pleasure, tempered gsyety with instruc.
lion. and tearing away the gloss and gilt
Ter from social life, taught me its value
and usefulness when made means, not
an end of life.
RI ,t,ltfy rl