Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-12-08

lighted, and large parties and midnight revel
ries were utterly distastefu to him. He wa.
occupied at the store only during the day, ant
evening af.er evening lie sat alone, while hi.
wife passed away the hours at some brilliant
, gathering, is ening to words of.fattery, anC
f'igetting her womsnhood and her truth inas
much as SHE forgot to care for the interests oi
nor home and the happiness of the man she
had promised TO love and honor. She had q
= natural fondness for dress; but In her countrs
home, associating with people whose means
were similar to her own, she had never indulp
ed IN any nnwarranted extIavagance, and had
considered herself well dressed in an alapae,
or hesh muslin. But now she had every.
! Thing about her to stimulate and arouse the
ues're Tor hnery, and as the ladies with whom
she associated Wore jewels and f1ne laces, she
naturally coveted the same. and was fretfui and
unhappy If denied them. Gilbert indulged her
IN everything that he could possibly afford: b,r
ms salary was not large, and sadly he realized
that instead Of gaining in property, as he had
hoped TO do, he was falling behind at a fearful
ha a,r ne grew morbid and unhappy, and the
nome that had blos,omed with the flowers nf
love aud peace lost its charm for both of them.
coming home one night abont a year after
theT removal 10 the city, Gilbert went un 10
MS wite's room aud found her before the mir
ror, giving the fnsshing touches TO an elegant
toiiet. She looked very lovely standing there
In her robe OF azure silk, with its oyerdress of
misty lace caught up here and there with silver
grasses But the sight of her beauty excited
no pride in her husbands heart, and with a
Keen pang he thought how once the sound of
his trois steps had brought her to meet him with
welcome kisses and fond WORDS
"Are you going out again tonight, Alice ?''
lie asked, sadly
"fes; this is the evening Of Mrs. HllJreth's
reception, and ! could not think of stayine
away. See isn't my new dress becominypIs sI,e
ui \,
YES Alice, you look very lovely but Won
| used To look belt'r 10 mo ia 4 shilling calico
| ,nai You do tonight In all your finery. Oh.
now hipl y we were In our old home IL seems
I'd me- That we were back there now, lust as we
usea 10 he, should be the happiest man alive
| now can you he so absurd ?" said Alice
almost IN anger. al thought you were getting
over Those foolish notions. You have bar5
out lately more than usual, and | did hope
enjoy yturselC." Wy al"
nave not been out expecting to find enjoy.
l lne.'', only go ont because il Is silent and
lonesome here. | wish you woud stav at
nome sometimes, Alice" he went on, pleading
~, u want your company so much"
pm no. going to be forever tied up at
nome, lor anybody" she retorted, sand if Won
are are lonesome there Is nothing TO hinder Won
IRON IRON going out and enjoying yourself, If you
ony Wouid. GOOD night; Mrs. Clnton's car !
ering up her silken skirts as she ran lightly |
aown the stairs, leaving her husband 10 mass /
MS evening alone, or follow her advice and
seek amusement abroad.
never mad Alice looked more radiantly beau
snui tnsn she did that night, and never had she
a,'.'nn, .eu inore attentlon. 1t may be that her
conscience troubled her, and she was irving to
uroWn It's voice; at least, she was gayer Than
,i, ususi, anu her vivacity and sparkling wit kept
circle. - ~ '"s
late IN the evening as she was sitting in a
.r'in 'oh-Dackei fssy-chair, languidy listening
ia ihg gilf iats iahtsi4ld Buy Il agr uSb& .ls
Drew. Wondering what 1t could mean, Alice
excused herself and following Mrs. Hildrsth,
found little cololed boy who went errands for
them sometimes.
'What is The matter, Theo ?" she asked in
alarm.
"Briiget sent me to form you that Massa
Drew is sick. and she wished you'd come home
mediate" !" said the boy with alacrity.
The hostess ordered servant to bring out
the carriage ; and Alice, without waiting To bid
her Ii lends adieu, hurried Oh her outer wrap
pings, and was soon whirling swiftly away from
the scene of gayeiy.
Gilbert i'll, perhaps dying The thought
struck terror to her heart, and in an agony of
self-reproach she remembered the unknd words
she had spoken 10 him at parting. With whiten-
ing lips she sent up silent prayer 10 heaven
That he would live that she might have space TO
ask his forgiveness and atone for her heartless
conduct. When she reached home, the door
was opened for her by the servant girl, who said,
IN answer tO her Inquiries, That her master was /
better and was sleeping then. He ent OUTSIDE |
said, immediately after mistress, aud came |
home an hour betole, looking very strange, and |
not apgearing in the least like himself. Two !,
men came with him, but when she asked them |
10 go for the doctor, they had remarked that
SIT was noihing-ho would be all right IN the |
morning." But she was frightened, and so
sent for her mistress.
Alice went to the room where her husband
was, and found him lying on sofa, apparently
asleep. Going up to him she laid her hand up
ON his face, and tried to rouse him. lie look
ell up at her with a stupid stare, and, for the
first time in his life answered her harshly and
unkindly. She had not the least suspicion OF
Tia, truth, aud thinking that his mind was wan
dering talked 10 him tenderly and soothingy,
but he answered only with bitter, taupting
words and by-and-by his breath came 10 her,
tainted with the fumes of strong drink Then,
suddenly, the truth flas led to her mind. Her
lsband was drunk Drunk he whose life
had always been model for uprightness and
upon whess purify ste would have staked her
| soul What all ending for her night of plea
sure She was hot Il heaftess woman, and in
| spite Of her Naywarlness she truly loved her
|
self will vanity and excitement, and the desire
Tor admiration and homage had overcome every
| other consideration. Blu. that night as she saw
her husband lying there in his degradation, and
| realiZed that th, was the harvest of her own
sowing, her eyes were completely opened snd
she saw the folly Of her course In It's true light
She never once thought of blaming her husband.
Free from the evil Influences that had held her
III thrall, she was generous and ready to see and
own her fnlts, and shudderngly she admitted
10 herself that her own dsconsAnt and wrong
doing, and that al me had been the cause of her
husbands downfall. B ,ck and forth aero ,s ht +
chamber she paced, sick at heart with the dcs-
tiny she had b. ought upon herself.
From that night Gilmore Drew's course was
downward. There was u set of dsspated fe l.
lows who had been trying to induce him to join
their number, and, once having gotten him un-
der their influence, they did not give him up
Whenever lie appeared IN the street they were
cons antly meeting him anil inviting bin into
, drinking saloons, and holding the tempting cup
To his lips. And he needed them and in few
, short months fell from his high position down
10 the level of common drunkaId. 1t was
Alic IS turn to watch anB wait now, and what
long, lonely vigis she kept. She went no more
| inlo society, and the call of her fashionable
friends were unreturned, and the inv alton sei,t
er de,l ned till in short time they left her 10
herself. She grew wan and hollow eyed, and
J none can know how much of agony and reno
she suff red. Ssill, she never complained, but
! feeling thd ler sufferings were merited, she
grew aiient in her grief and loneliness
Finally, for two whole days Gilbert was all.
sent froni home; then there came to Alice let
i IL II in Ii own handwriting. " ih trembling
| ha Ids she broke the seal and read:
: ALICE u have lett the city, and you will pro
:, badly never see me again. We are beggars
q. and n a house in which we have lived will IN