The Van Buren press., 1874-12-08

w bVVu Out fuVIRtuEy ipNCs I'll
said, touching her ripe lips to bis brow
"getting our things for the Belvider,
I've got you an exquisite vest and iii
etc, and ] wish, do wish you could SC
my dress /! bought 1t already made
Paris affair, you know, silk tissue an,
rose buds, and knots of Paris green. Oh
it is too lovely! Carrie Dubant's won
compare with it at all And Madam
R said that must-I positiyel,
musl--have an emerald set to match it
light emerald, yon know, to suit my com
piexion. And, darling" touching be
lips to his brow again, ~ was sure yo,
wouldn't mind, and l got these "--un
closing a'casket and flashing blaze o
sea-grsen splendor before the youag hus
bands eyes--"at real bargain too
Amt they exqnisits9 And the Who'll,
bill, for dress and every thing. is onl,
five hundred dollars! Now, haven't
been an economical little wife ?"
Bruce Dunbar almost reeled where h,
stood. Five hundred dollars, and h,
with scarcely FIVE hundred pennies at hil
command! But he uttered no word O
reproach. He kissed the pretty fac.
looking up to him, and then called a cal
and drove home, with his happy VIII.
chattering beside him.
They went to the ball at Belvidere
Place, and Berenice Dunbar took the
palm for beauty, in her shimmering
robes, with her fresh cheeks and red gold
curls and childish manners. Her hus.
band followed her lead, forgetful Of
every thing but the Joy oflhs moment
The Beautiful Blue Danube" had
ended, and they were in the refrcshmcnt
room.
"Come, Bruce, let's have glass to
your beautiful brides health and happi.
ness" said an old friend. meeting him
for the first time since his marriage.
The young man shook his head, and
was on the point Of uttering polite re.
fusal, but his wife pinched his arm. 80
Bruce, don't, she whispered; "it's so
o,dfashioned and saintish, Why don't
you drink like other men p
Bruce Dunbar's checks flushed. 1t had
cost him great struggle to give up his
social glass, but he had conquered for
his wfe's sake. Aud this was his re.
ward lie seized the glass and drained
it at draught. The glowing liquor ran
like fire through his veins, arousing all
his old thirst, all his old craving for
strong drink. Before the great ball ut
Belvidere was over his cheeks glowed
and his eyes flashed, and his step was a
trhc unsteady; but pretty Bcrcnicc did
not mind-all the gentlemen in her set
drank champagne.
,,sTw9 weeks after the hsli Berenice
minutes more, and the young vile was
dreadfully impatient She had n new
dress and tickets for Nilsson. Why did
not Bruce Gomez But the dinner.hour
passed and the twilight fell with dismal
rain, and still he did not come.
Bercnice went up to her chamber and
sat down in her little rocking chair be
fore the fire, and there she sat for hours
bewailing her fate. On the bed lay her
lovely new dress 1t was cruel IN Bruce
to treat her so. She cried till her eyes
we're red and swollen, and at last, in or
der to beguile the dreadful hours. she
picked up the evening paper.
There it was in great, glaring capitals
the failure Of the firm Of Dunbar h
Chase. Her husband was bankrupt A
sharp cry escaped her lips as the terrible
truth flashed upon her. And where was
he? Why didn't he come homer
Midnight came--a black and stormy
midnight-and still the young wife sat
there watching, and waiting
At last there came an unsteady step on
the porch below. She hurried to the
window and threw it up.
Bruce, 10 that you p
A thick, unnatural voice answered her,
"Yes, it's what's left O. mo Berry, let
me in the police are after me "
Berenice flew down and opened the
door. An officer mounted the steps as
she did so, and laid his hand heavily on
Bruce Dvnbars shoulder.
Mr.. Dunbar, you are my prisoner T"
"Hc's my husband! !" shrieked Bere
nice "What are you arresting him
for?"
"For murder.
She looked down at Bruce, standing
in doggcd silence, and by the light Of the
hall lamp saw that his hands were red
with blood, and with one awful cry she
fell white and senscless on her own
threshold
She awokc to consciousness In her old
home, and from her mothers lips she
heard the terrible story. Her husband
had failed, and in order to drown hi'
trouble had drank deeply. In gam
bling house, where he was trying to re
trieve his losses, he had got into brawl
and had given his adversary inorta
wound upon the temple.
"And it is all my fault, not his,
walled the poor young wife; "all mine
! lurcd him to bis ruin. "
The morning before the trial littl'
slip of paper was found beneath the win
dow Of the chamber in which Berenic'
Law i'll unto death. II ran thus:
"Good bye, Berry! ! won't stay herr
and disgrace you I've managed to es
cape from prison, and I'm going g--Heav
en- knows where! Forget me, and b'
happy. BRUCE
Five years afterward q pale, sweet facct
woman sat in the cottage that had once
been Bruce Dunbar's home, with = it'll
child playing at her fest--a very diiieren
woman from the frivolous Berenice o
days gone BY, yet we know her by he
pear. fair checks and red-gold hair Sor
row and suffering had done their work