The Van Buren press., 1875-01-26

ne remonstranc ces What right have you
to taunt me with being drunkard and
gambler, when your own sin tainted heart
seducingly tempted me to commit those
acts which caused me to become what
you have called me3 Before met you.
l was decent, happy man. What AN 4
nor The night that ! entered your
house, came into the presence OF beau.
tiful demon who transformed me into
fend Ada Williams, 1t is no wonder
you quiver and turn pale for the loss of
. soul rests on your head. You tempted
me have fallen, oh, my God nerer,
NEVER, NEVER to rise again Yow, aye,
you, are the cause loved you, once, oh,
how fondly. Now, ! abhor, leathe, des-
pise, detest, HATE you. Once your face
was to me all that Was beautiful in the
world; now, it is the very picture OF
hatefulness. The breath Of adders is not
more loathspme to my senses than is the
odiousness sof your person. The ser
pent but kills the body with its sting,
while your bite has poisoned to eternal
death, my soul Once was pure and
free from vice; now how am II Who
has made me thus2 You, YoU, YOU )!
May God make you as miserable, Ada
Williams, as you have made me by your
temptation, Farewell, and may the cur
ses of drunkard and a gambler rest
ponyou"
! rushed from the house into the street
wild with the dreadful excitement of the
scene. ! walked very slowly down the
avenue, in order that / might become
sane before | arrived at Third street
When | got there, entered a saloon
near the corner OF Vine, and in few mo
ncnts no one would have mistaken the
gay and witty Willie Parker for the dis
carded and infurated lover of an hour
before
The next thing heard from Ada vii
lams was that the excitement OF that
nights interview, had thrown her into
the brain feycr. Then regretted the un
kind words had spoken to her, but was
too proud to make any acknowledge
ments.
One evening, just as the last rays Of
the setting sun were printing good
night kiss upon the rosy lips OF departing
day; when the beautiful god Of morning
was tinging the west with the gorgeous
crimson of his dissoving rays; when
evenings shades were spreading mellow.
light upon the mass OF humanity, that
hustled to and fro upon the city's streets
and men and women, weary with the la
hor of tho day, hurriedly wended their
footsteps, illumined by the lovely blush
ings Of the crimsoned west, toward their /
respective homes, pretty girl, oyer
whose head scarce sixteen summers had
come and gone, opened the doors Of the
sh2p. and trippcd quietly up to the coun'
est and unassuming, and this trait in her
character rendered her exceedingly char
ming. She had round, rosy face, q
short, thick set figure, and a profusion
Of brown, curling hair that fell, like
CLEANS Of sunshine adown her neck and
face
The embarrassment which painted it.
self upon her cheek, in decpened flush,
was an unmistakablc evidence to me that
she was a stranger to the pawnbrokers
shop. Her behavior was that OF one
who was about To commit an act against
which her better nature rcbeled. 1t was
sometime before she possessed sufficient
courage to make her wants known. AT
last, with trembling voice, she said
Il wish to pawn ring and she
handed me as splendid specimen Of jew
clry as have ever seen, II was OF hea.
w gold, set with genuine diamond, and
very valuable. was somewhat aston
ished that so plain, and SO poor girl as
she undoubtedly vas should possess so
valuable an article. ! took the ring,
and after looking at it, said:
"How much do you wish to pawn II
for2'
"Tcn dollars" she replied. softly.
DO you know the value Of the ring 2
| asked.
"Yes, sir. But am compelled to !
have ten dollars. hope to be able to
redeem it soon," she replied.
els yours r l asked.
"No, sir. 1t is my mothers. 1t IS her
wedding ring" and tears glistencd in her
eyes S. she spoke.
w w you p"'N Wv" "
Because mother thinks we can easier
spare it than anything else we have. we
are cery poor, sir
"Do you work anywhcre?'
"No, sir. have not been at work Tor
the last month at all. Before that was
at work at the factory oa-------- street.
But mother has .een sick for long time
and have had to stay at home to take
care Of her Our money was all gone.
and We were given twenty.four hours to
pay our rent. Mother had, therefore, to
pawn her wedding ring aud the little
form trcmbled like fragile flower. be-
fore the tempest OF passionate grief that
ragged in her heart.
Now, notwithstanding the fact that !
ras " drunkard and gambler was by
no means devoid of sympathyi and this
innocent girl, speaking to me through
her fearful eyes and trembling voice,
awakened all the noblcr feelings Of my
nature. knew she was good girl and
| determined to help her. turned away
from her to hide the tears that were I'LL.
l. 4 ~ u,t, / turnpI rOnnu