Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-17
which he never afterwards

Mr.. CASTOR, his sister followed,
leaving Ainwick in full posses
sion of the property, which of
late had dwindled down consid-
erably.
Mansley paid a flying visit to
Ainwick, after which he remov-
ed to France, and became quite
noted as a banker.
About this time war with
Great Britain was imminent.
Ainwick s nature began to be-
tray itself; he became tyranni-
cal, suspicious, and even threat
ened the life of his wife. Poor
Belle bore up with the fortitude
of a martyr; evincing no symp-
toms of dislike, but attempted
to pacify her husband with
kindness and constancy-but to
what purpose we shall presently
see.
Charles Goodwin fell in love
with and married Helen Pey-
ton, a distant neighbor of Ain
wick 's-though not very pref
ty, Helen possessed a sweet and
afable disposition. She became
a blessing to Goodwin, who in
return, could not, as he mag
ined, do enough to please her.
Now the war, contemplated,
burst forth in all it's fury; God
win enlisted a company of ex-
cellent men, and rendered good
service by his superior gunne-
ry, in repelling the English
attack upon the harbor; while
his wife superintendent thefarm,
and furnished him with many
articles of which he was in
need, and which the army could
not supply.
On the other hand, Ainwick
shirked the service of his coun-
try, deserted his wife, and after
converting all the estate into
money, and taking possession
Of Mhat means he could raise,
embarked for Georgia, where
he enrolled a set of desperadoes
of his own stamp, and commit
ted the most atrocious outrages
upon men, women and children.
While his wife, emaciated and
broken hearted, with no visible
means of support came to the
city, and suffered the most ex-
crutiating agonies, bewailing
her past follies /; but, alas, too
late, she saw her imprudence
but could not avert the doom
that awaited her. She managed
to exc out a miserable, linger-
ing death for one week, when
she, like the lily of the valley,
dropped her head and died,
broken hearted and forsaken,
with no sympathising friend to
shed tear of pity. Her remains
were deposited in the cemeter-
err of the city, with scarcely fol-
lower to witness the solemn fu-
neral rites over the poor, unfor-
tunate creature.
In the latter part of the year
Captain Goodwin was ordered to
Georgia to dispense a certain
band Of tories arriving thither
he sought the tory hosts, which
proved to be Ainwick' S, and in
conflict with them, singled
out the leader, who fought with
desperation, but to no purpose,
as Goodwin more than proved q
match for his antagonist. The
conflict was short, and Ainwick
fell mortally wounded. After
killing many of the rebels, and
driving off the remainder, and
securing his, prisoner, he was
informed by the latter his past
history, where he was born, of
what ignoble parents he sprang,
and how, on seeing Belle, he
had resolved to win her and be-
come possessed of Caston's for
tune, which he imagined to be
enormous. While thus relat-
ing his past history, death set
tied upon his brow, and with a
curse upon his lips, he drew his
last breath and expired.
After the cessation of hostili-
ties, Goodwin returned home to
his wife who presented him two
sweet little cherubs, a boy and
a girl-and amid the congratu-
lations of bis friends, he ever
afterwards enjoyed happiness
prosperity.
MORAL. Though the above
may not be correct wee story,
yet it is nevertheless a true pic
ture of life, and is worthy of