Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-29
Somehow | have always felt

SUCH q class OF human beings,
as those who are forever flying
from object to object, in search
of a victim for their vanity -
that of trifing with the atfec-
lions of a pure, young heart.
Richard WIS getting an ex-
tensive practice, although mad :
ly fond Of dissipation; wine, and
cards had grown to be a vice,
he could not abandon; and if
his heart had ever known there
was a reality in love, it mad
grown cold. in his wild flight
Of folly; and in one Of his reck-
less moods he dropped her a
hurried note, which read as fol-
lows
Ny old friend Lottie will for
give me for saying that the
love which | plighted her
years ago, was only the infa-
tuation of youthful folly-for
although she be one of nature S
sweetest flowers, yet my ambi-
tious heart Graves one OF higher
birth, and more congenial
mind, to make a happy man
of RICHARD RAYMAN.
Like a true woman, there
was no hesitancy in releasing
him from the engagement, and
a single note suficed to assure
him, she wished him then and
forever to forget her; but from
that very day, he seemed to
work against her happiness in
a kind OF wholesale style.
A year had gone by, since
the notes had passed-Henry
Clynton, "a cousin of Richard)
had failed a victim to the win
ming smiles ofLottie, but know
ing the impetuosity of his cou-
sin S nature, he went to him ,
and asked, if he, Richard, had
given up oil claims, and left
the field open for a new lover:
for only by his consent, would
he offer Ter the hand that
would prc,.i)y lead her to the
altar; and with a full assur-
ance that he would never stand
in his way--there was another
offer, and acceptance IN course
Of time.
Henry Clynton was just the
opposite of his cousin Richard.
His noble mind could not have
been surpassed by any-the
very soul Of honor was in all
his actions-firmness was a
watchword, and truth the pride
of q manly heart, lighted up
his whole character. 1t nature
had ever given him a cross
spirit, education had refined
it. The father and mother were
proud of such ason and socie-
ty welcomed him as one of the
brightest ornaments of his sex.
ottie had almost lost sight
Of Richard, and in contemplate
ing the sterling worth Of such
a heart as she then held, Won
deled how she had ever been
so blinded in affairs of love-or
had ever seen anything in man
to admire before; but Rayman
incurred the everlasting dis
pleasure of Dr.. Glenwood, by
writing the insulting note to
his sister, which had caused him
to give her the imperious in
junction, never to notice him
by word, OF look, in the future,
and which she had vigorously
obeyed, until they were thrown
together in a crowd, and she
SLIGHTLY returned his saluta-
ton ; and then, with a most
intrepid air, which wine in
creased to presumption, he
stepped up and offered his hand,
which was sternly repulsed by
Dr.. Glenwood, giving him a
severe blow in the face, which
was returned with heavy force,
and a volley Of abuse.
When the human mind stoops
to debasement, and wanders in
the paths of impiety, its pro-
gress to misery, although grad
ual, is too fatally inevitable.
The smallest crimes, by becom
ing habitual, increase in time,
to the crimson tints of atrocity
then conscience thou most in
cessant, and circulating tor
turer, thou never failing mont
tor, tbs then thine admonitions
wound with remorse the breast
of conscious vice.
From that day Lottie felt that
hers was a doomed life-the
very air she breathed, seemed