Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-24

and tried to hide it. Literary work |
was neglected also. Money was lost
that might have been easily won.
Debts grew and credit lessened; the
handsome suite OF rooms were ex-
changed for one quite shabby. Ruth's
dress became poverty stricken;her hus-
band was out at elbows; he was intox-
icated from morning until night, and
vet she chung to him, and in sober mo-
ments he loved her as fondly as ever.
Sometimes the old strength and the old
hope would be aroused in him, and he
would struggle to gain his lost posi-
ton, but It was all in vain; gin trl-
umphed, and ave years from her wed
ding day Ruth found herself with one
remaining child (the first had died
within year of its birth) in the dingi-
est of wretched houses, in state bor-
dering on beggary.
Edward had been more madly In
toxicated that day than ever before; he
had given her u blow, and now, as the
night wore on, he muttered and raved,
and called for gin, and cursed her and
himself, until she trembled with fear.
At last, as the clock struck ten, he
started to his feet, and staggered out of
the room, vowing to get drunk some
where. .,r- ts.ttstf -.
Poor Ruth stood where he had left
her for few moments. The memory
of the past was strong that night. On
that day, five years before, they had
fed from her fathers home together.
How tender he was, how loving, how
gentle! How he had vowed that she
should never regret that day, and how
had be kept those promises? he had
broken every vow-he neither cherish
ed nor projected her. His worldly
goods he had given to the ravenous
demon. drink; his love had become 9
Something scarcely worth having; and
vet she loved .him and clung to him.
She tried to feel cold and hard to him,
but she could not; she strove to re-
member the blow he had given her, the
oaths he had uttered, but she answer
Ell herself as she did sO-'It was not he
who did tit was drink She listen
ed to the uncertain, reeling fOot-step in
the street below, and burst into tears.
MY poor darling!' she whispered as,
she thought some grievous calamity
had smitten him into the thing he was,
and he had not himself put an enemy
into his mouth to steal away his brains
-unmindful of her pleading, rnmind-
full OF her woe and shame. She thought
of him reeling helplessly along the
street, and feared that some harm
would come to him. He might injure
himself, or some one might injure him
He might fall in some out OF the wsy
place, and lie there undiscovered, and
so freeze to death that bitter highland
| in her agony of terror, poor Ruth could
not restrain herself from following him
Her pOOr. weakly babe slept; she
wrapped it in q blanket and laid 1t its
poor cradle. Then she threw her warm
shawl over he head and hastened
down the street, busy this Saturday
night with msrket-going people of the
poorer classes.
A little way before her reeled the
handsome, broad-shouldered figure o
her husband; and she, lady bred ano
born, fastidious, elegant, accomplished
reared in luxury, heard poor laborers
wives warn their children to beware o.
that drunken fellow
She heard coarse laughs at his ex
pense, and under the shadow of hel
shawl her cheek burnt hotly; but fol
all that she never thought of going
back and leaving him to himself. A
coon as she could, she gained his seio
and called to him by name, Edward
Edwardl'
He turned, unsteadily looked at her
in bewildered way.
you? he said. 'You ought to be al
home at this time OF night
so ought we both,' said Ruth
Come, DEAR
| He threw her hand off,
Pm my own MASTER he said; Pm
not tied to any wOman's apron strings!
and staggered away again. Ruth fol
lowing through the street, with every
face turned toward them 90 they pass
ed-some laughing, some contemptu
GUS, some terrified; out at last upon the
wbaryes, and there the besotted man
sat down more stupefied by the liquor
he had swallowed, in the fresh, cold
air.
Ruth was thinly clad, the chill OF the
night wind seemed to reach her very
heart. She thought of the babe al
home, and tears cOursed down hel
cheeks. Again and again she pleaded
with the mad man at her side. Again
and again she tried to bring to hi
mind some lingering memory OF the
past days when his love and protection
had been hers. In vain; wild fancle:
filed his brain, demons born of the
fumes of strong drink, held possession
of his senses. Sometimes he thrust heI
l from him; sometimes he gave her
maudlin embrace, and babe her bring
i him more liquor; but 60 home he woulC
4 not.
4 The hum of the great city died out a
last; all was still with the strange still
ness of city at night. The frosty star
ltWinkled overhead. Now and then s
boat passed up the river, with meas
/ ured beat and thrOb. Once, q rough
looking fellow sauntered past them OF
the wharf; but though he flung her al
insolent word, and yet more insolen
laugh, and went away singing ye
more insolently, he did not approach
\ them. So bepumbed had Ruth grown
so cold to the very heart was she, tina
the power of motion had almost desert
ed her, when at last, as the church
clock not far away tolled the heur o
four, the degraded man staggered t
his feet and reeled homeward. Sh'
followed feebly; only by clinging to th'
ballustrade could she mount th'
wretched stairs. /. was bitter cole
within as without, but she was glad t
/ find herself at last under shelter. He
babe still slumbered, and she did no
awaken it. Her frozen bosom coult
have only chilled the little creature
There were few bits Of broken woet
lin a corner; and with these she made
} FIRE, and crouched over it, striving t
, gain little warmth, while her hus
band slum bered heavily upon the be-
in the corner, to which he staggere'
, on his entrance.
J Thus an hour passed by, and Rutl
J also fell asleep. The silence, the pleas
, ant warmth at her feet, the fancy tina
all her troable was over for the night
!, ir.IIad her II, nleasant dreams ErnD