The Van Buren press., 1869-11-09

passionate ucmonstfatiou of ioNe ~ NO
than usual, told her he was under the IN
luenco Of wine; but the fact only seemed
to enhance his powers OF fascination
never was he so brilliant, never SO hand
some. Almost could Ruth have laughed
at the sermons preached by temperance
folks, of the harm sure to follow wine
drinking
If the story could end here, the true
story Of Ruth HollY's life, it would be al
most happy one; but, alas! the sunny
slope down which it seemed so easy TO
slide, daily grew darker as the years ;icw
Oh. How they began to tell her the tate
before her, Ruth hardly knew.
| A little flush Of shame came first when
his step was unsteady and his voice was
loud Then a grieved tear or two when
lia was unreasonable. Then, sorrow
that kept her heart aching night and day,
for the man who had frst won inspira-
ton from the glass, now lost it in its
depths; lectures TO be delivered were not
given to the expectant public because
Of the illness of the lecturer"
Ruth knew what the Illness meantand
tried to hide it. Literary work was neg
lected also. Money was lost that might
have easily been won. Debts grew and
credit lesscned the handsome suite OF
rooms was exchanged for one quite shah
by. Ruth's dress become poverty strick-
Ell, her husband was out at the elbows,he
was intoxicated from morning until night,
and yet she clung to him, and in his So
ber moments he loved her as iondiy as
ever. Sometimes the old strength and
the old hope would be aroused with him,
and he would struggle to regain his lost
position; but it was all in vain; gin tri-
umphsd, and i've years from her wedding
day Ruth found herself withsher one re-
naming child (the FIRST had died within
year Of its birth) in the dingiest of
wretched houses, in state bordering on
beggary. s l1 .s5..ts. ~. 7u ...A.g.i,at.
Edward had been more madly intoxi-
Gated that day than ever before; he had
given her blow; and now, as the night
wore on, he muttered and rayed, and call
cd for gin, and cursed her and himself,
until she tremblod with fear. AT last, as
tho clock struck ten. he started to his
feet and staggered out Of tie room, VOW
ing to get drink somewhere, .s..i s.s.,
Poor Ruth stood where he bad left her
for a few moments. The memory of the
past was strong on her that night. On
that day, five years before, they had fed
from her fathers home together. How
tender he was, how loving, how gentle !
How he vowed that she sheuld never re-
gret that day, and how had he kept those
promises He had broken every VOW
he neither cherished nor protected her.
His worldly goods he had given TO the
raveneus demon, drink; his love had be-
come something scarcely worth having
and yet she loved him and clung to him,
She tried to feel cold and hard to him,
but she could not; she strovc to rcmem.
Der the blow he had given her, the oaths
he had uttered, bat she answered herself
as she did so, t" 1t was not he who did it
it was drink" She listened to the un-
certain, reeling footstep in the street be-
low, and burst into tears.
"My poor darling" she whispered, as
she thought some grievous calamity had
smittcn him into thing he was, and he
had not himself put IAN enemy in his
mouth to steal away his BRAIN. unmind-
full of her pleading, unmindful OF her woe
and of her shame. She thought Of him
reeIing holplessly along the street, and
feared that some harm would come to
him; he might injurc himself, or some
one might injure him; he might fall in
some out f-tho-way place, and lie there
undiscovered, and so freeze to death that
bitter night, and in her agony Of terror,
poor Ruth could not restrain herself from
following him
/ Her poor, weakly babe slept; she
wrapped it in blanket and laid it in its
poor cradle. Then she threw her warm
shawl over her head, and .hastened down
the street, busy this Saturday night with
markets. going people ofthepoor classes.
A little way before her reeled the hand
some, broad shouldered figure Of her
husband and she, a lady bred and born,
fastidious, elegant, accomplished, reared
in luxury, heard poor laborcrs' wives
wara their children to beware Of the
drunken fellow" 8 so fa
She heard coarse laughs at his expense
anu uuNeI tHc suduOW VI HSi sha"i Hci
cheek burned hotly; but for all that she
never thought of going back, and leaving
him to himself As soon as she could,
she gained his side, and called to him by
name, Edward Edward -
! He turned and stood unsteadily look
ing at her in bcwildcred way.
{" You p he said; "you ought to be at
home this time efnight." fle
$50 ought VIC both,' said Ruth.
'Come dear" ,.,, ......,. .....I
| lie threw her hand of.
Pm my own master" he said, elm
not tied to any woman's apronstring )"
and, staggering away again, Ruth follow
ing, through the long streets, With every
face turned toward them as they passed,
some laughing, some contemptuous,somc
terrified; out at last upon the wharyes,
and there the besotted man sat down
mora stupcfed by the liquor he had swel-
lowed, in that fresh. cold air.
Ruth was thinly clad--the chill Of the
night which seemed to reach her very
heart She thought Of the babe at home,
and tears coursed down her cheeks
Again and sgain she pleaded with tho
madman at her side. Again and again
she tried to bring to his mind some lin
gering memory Of the past days, when
his love and protection had been hers.
In vain Wild fancies filed his brain
demons, born of the fumes Of strong
drink, held possession Of his senses.
! =