South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-05


plans into execution, happiness will vanish
! from our Preside, and ruin, financial and
J perhaps moral will be the result
Time passed on, and one day Bertram
was called away to attend to some urgent
business. Stella had said nothing more
concerning the new furniture since their
discussion of the matter, and he fondly
hoped she had abandoned the idea. lie
was gone three weeks, and when he return
ed home new and costly furniture through
out the whole house greeted his vision 1t
was death-blow to his hopes, and be sank
into chair moaning.
Stella, you have ruined me Without
this extra expense, l could have met the
! demands of my creditors; but now all will
be swallowed up in the gulf of financial
ruin. L know exactly how my accounts
stand, aud l know what this extravaganza
will cost
lie sat staring listlcssly out of the win
dow, sort of apathy having fallen over
/ him.
'Berta dear, you are borrowing trouble
You are looking at the dark side now; but
como into the drawing room, and l will
play your favorito songs on our now piano.
fears to vanish. Come she said, taking
his hand
Tho dark side = he said gloomiIy.-
Yes, Stella, for there is no bright side
for me to contemplate now, and you will
soon feel the cost of this vain extravaganza
eating into your soul
IIo arose aud hurried from the house
He returned at rightfall carcworn and
haggard. A month later his worst fears
were realized. Everything went to salts
fly the demands Of his creditors for when
it became known that he was so deeply in
solvent. no one would aid him. He rush.
ell wildly into the street, where lie met a
friend CD who took his arm, saying, Come,
Chester, don't despair. Why you are
white as ghost. Come into restaurant
with me- and VIC will talk the matter over.
Almost ere he was aware of it, Bertram
was seated in gay saloon, raising the IA
tai cup to his lips. Two hours later he
entered his late happy home in beastly
state of intoxication. His wife was seat
cd at The piano, aud she glanced up at him
as he staggered into the room with blood
shot eyes, his usually neat toilet sadly dis
arranged, his beautiful auburn hair dishcv
eled, and his hat resting upon ono side of
his head.
My Cod Bortram, my husband, is
this really your eho cried piteously.
Don't bothcr-I'm deuccd sleepy he
replied, and Immediately threw himself up
on the floor and sank into drunken sleep.
Stella sank upon her knees behind b i'm,
her white face stricken with horror as the
terrible truth burst upon her. go my God
why did he drink that fatal poison? My poor
husband, my dear, noble husband has ii
nancial ruin ovcrtaken him, and the cause
of II? o, | would give half my life to
undo this terrible work. At what fear
full cost | have gratiiied a cursed desire TO
shine in the first circles. What an awful
change the poisoned bowl has made in
him. Q, BGrta I}crta = She went and
wrung her hands frantically, but tears
awaited her naught. There he lay, her
once proud and happy husband, victim
Of the demon Iltempcranco. She placed
pillow beneath his head and bathcd his
parchcl face, aud smoothcd his dishcvcled
hair back from his white forehead lie
bad never seemed 50 dear to her before, q
when she saw him in the bloom Of man.
hood drifting on toward ruin, and she ca
ressed and kissed him passionately.
ooh my dear, wrongcd husband, would
that / had died ere brought this calamity
upon you. q, God save him from the curse
of intcmperancc, the liend that eats up The
soul Four long ald weary hours she sat
beside him, trying to st,nc the cries Of an.
guish and remorsc that surged up from her
bleeding heart At length Beriram awoke
and gazod up into the white face. His
eyes, usually 30 beautifully blue. wore a
dull, stupid light, aud when the memory
of the events Of the day dawncd upon his
mind, he said Stella. my wife, look at
me What was | a month ago and what
am | to-day? / will not roproach you.
only you must reap ns you have sown.
lie arose and hurried from the house. She
tried to call him back, but sobs Of anguish
checked her uttorancc, and she tainted away
Quarter Of an hour later servant came in
to light the gns, and found her lying on
the floor, cold md white. Rcstoratives
were applied and she soon revived.
Three months passed away. In mis-.
cradle quarter Of tho city, in a cold dismal
room, IN which no ray Of cheer or comfort
shouc, Stella Chester lowered over the dv-.
ing cm0ers OF fire, watching, waiting, Us.
tcniug ior the return Of her husband. In
the dreary weeks that had passed since
the financial crisis came upon them, She
bad managed to keep soul and body toroth.
cr by sewing. In all those weeks Bcriram
had scarcely drawn a sober breath. Tho
maclslrom Of temptation seemed to be hur
rying BIN to ruin. Being cntanglcd IN Sa-
tan's snare be had not the moral strength