Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-08-13

propensity loF uTluk. lC was q
mania with her, a kind of disease
that nothing could cure. Stephen
had stern will and strong deter
miEation III carrying out any pur-
pose he uneertook. He set him.
self to reclaim his wife, and for
years exhausted every means to
break her of her fearful habit, but
without success. AT last his homo
had become place of torment to
him, and he himself got reserved,
and low, and miserable. Matters
had been like this for long time af-
ter his marriage, and his wife was
drinking herself to death, in spite of
every thing and every body, when
Stephen Willfield, wearied with his
lot, came down to Aldford, for a lit
tic change, on a summer visit, the
first he had paid since he settled in
London. He came. across Marion
Leo.
"He had left her a girl; he found
her in the perfect beauty Of ripe wo-
manhood. I am not surprised hc was
fascinated by her. No one would be
who has only looked upon her face.
In short, he fell in love with her,
madly, desperately. Marion, pleased
with her her power over him, affected
to laugh at his passion, tannting him
with its uselcssncss and aimlcssncss..
and the ties that Bound him elsewh ere
yet receiving his attentions, and draw
ing him on her wilcs, till she had
reused all tho mans nature into burn
ing excitement. Until, at last, he
pour into her ear all his wild fond
ness for her, and bcsought her to fly
with him-anywherc away from the
curse of his unhappy home. How
Marion laughed in her cold, aggravn-
ting way! She asked if he thought
her fool, that she Should bo willing
to share the fortunes ST a poor man.
She told him he must te mad think
of it-that she intended for herself
something very much better than he
would ever be able to offer. Mad he
must have been, for. nothing dauntcd
him-not her taunts, nor her smiles,
nor her rebuffs. They all drew him
one.
"'How if get rich, Marion-rich-
er than ever. you could DESIRE he
said eagerly. Say Marion, would
you come with me then?'
ut might have been, I cannot tell,
that, tired of his earncstness, and
satisfied with the fame she had
aroused in bis hoart, Marion was glad
of an easy way of terminating an ac-
quaintance that was getting irksome.
1t might have been, say, but I be-
lieve it was cold blackness Of heart,
without palliation or excuse, that led
her to say Yes He make her swear
it solemnly, and left her.
."Stephen Willfield returned to Lon.
don an altered man. with one stern,
sole purpose before him, that shut out
all others for this world and the next,
He would get rich.
"Thcre are two roads to riches
There ID an uphill road that is long
and toilsome, and whereon many
faint by the way. There is q down
ward and nearer road, that is swif,
and easy, with ruin at its end. By
ways there to both roads--which
meet. Stephen stifed the. cries o.
conscience with Marion's name, and
steeled his heart against right for her
as he would barter his soul for tn.
false sake, and set his face to 90 tht
vuickest road--to make haste to b.
rich.
ut was months before the opportu
n'ty came-but the DEVILS workmel
are scldow out of work long togethe
for want of tools--and it came a
last.
"Mr. Jackson, the stockbroker will
whom Stephen Will field was employ
ed, received a commission to purchas
el6,O00 worth of Russian bonds for
client in the country. 1t so happen
ed this commission came came by lei
ter during the absence of Mr.. JACK
; son. Stephen, being trusted confder
italy to manage all matters for hi
Eemployer, made out the contract note
for the purchase. and, on forwardin
them to the client, in due course 4
eeived a, check for the amount, whicl
being paya' le to order and, crosset
not be paid into bank till Mr.. tJacl
. . ms return. Meantime Stephen ha
! purchased the bonds. for account
: ahd, being negotiable by bearer, ba
Immediately gone again on Change
|, disposed Of them for money throue
+ another broker, and kept tie proceed
. Mr.. Jarkson returned that day, an
l fonnd entries in an the books df si
|, purchase in due forIn, snd q mem