The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-22

toihCis willy buc Olu oOloiVA iVot
l did all that! They were funny then, but
they seem fearfully cruel now. 1 wish !
had never been SO bad. o
| Follow him still. He drinks and swears
and CANDLES. Follow! stop himl Oh, if
had never done these things! But he goes
on to worse yet. His life is all bad. 1t
was my life, my own evil life. II | but
had 1t to live over again.
| But his heart is not all bad. See him
kneel beside that maiden and swear TO live
a better life I! Love has touched his heart,
and love is but another name for God. He
strives hard to conquer himself; he is sue
ceeding slowly. There he sits beside the
woman he loves. Yes, it is Laura and
myself My face is trustful and happy,
but Laura's- is somewhat suspicious. |
hear our words, and am living over again
my last night with her. There, letter
drops on the floor, but l do not think it is
mine, and turn to 20 with "good night"
on my lips. Before l close the door turn
| around, and there is bitter, scornful
smile upon her face. What could that
letter have been? 1t was not mine. Hold!
1t must have been the one / lost and had
forgotten until now. / saw it fall, but
though it dropped from Laura's hand,
ought to have remembered it before. 1t
was from my old friend Jessie King, and
thought had put it on my table.
That must have been, the letter Laura
found; yes, and it accounts for her
subsequent behavior. The letter was but
a line-"Dear Frank, l will wait for you
at, Saturday," Laura must have
supposed Jessie was lover, while she is
really married to my Cousin John.
Saturday ?" When will Saturday
come, wonder? She will not find me
there. And Laura? She will learn, some
day, that Jessie was but my friend. How
remorseful she will be. And mother,
poor mother! what will she do when they
tell her / am never coming to her again.
! All! life, life, you were pleasant and
bright, but if this is death, give me what ]
have. l hear the heavenly music once
more, and my spirit turns to it. How
sweet; how enchantingly sweet. 'Tis
full of rest and perfect peace. A delicious
languor creeps upon my soul, envelops me,
woos me to sleep.
Oh, horrors? What was that? There
it is again Can l be in hell? Millions of
devils are torturing me. They are creep.
ing into my lungs, my heart, my brain !
Now they pierce my every nervel o Qodl
have pity They come in myriads. They
pour hot lead in my veins, they dance
upon me, and their feet are full Of hot
irons that pierce me through and through.
Have pity, Lord, have pity! Oh! they
grow more cruel! Let me out of this
Away from me! By heavens. / will meet
the very prince of devils hand to hand !!
will not be here, bound and tortured.
Unhand me !
] made a glorious fight. II opened
my eyes. ~ $500
/ was not in hell, though the torments
were real. | was lying on the bank of the
river, and men were rubbing me, forcing
air into my lungs, and doing all they could
to call me back to life.
One of them saw my eyelids open. "Hur-
rah ! he's all right" he shouted, and in an.
other however, was at home with loving
friends ministering to me.
"Motherp' cried.
eyes,"
s'Send word to Laura and tell her who
Jessie is" 8 III
s'Jessie ,who?1 c7a eERl - - $
s'Jessie King" 81 1.saa fts
b II will; but keep quiet now.o
Iclosed my eyes, and when next opened
them Laura was sitting beside me. She
kissed me, saying: = -. - ~ s,..
Scan you forgive me, Frank ?''
Yes, 1 could forgive her love.
''How did you know was jealous of
some Jessie ?0 she asked"
IT saw it all, J" I answered, "whenI was
drowned"