Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-26


George. You have grown 80 strangel
cruel that words of mine have no iutlu
ence. ] should be only too glad to ris
and perform my usual duties, but l all
fearfully weak; and George. l am SUI
fering for want of nourishment. can
not eat bread
well, if you cannot eat bread, g
without it till you find an appetite tina
will be glad enough to come to it. Yo,
know deuced we'll that have no money
and no way of getting any, 1t took
every cent | had in the world to pay fo,
this room for yonr and that brat's con
venience, and now you are too dainty
to eat bread
Not another word did tho wretched
wife utter, but burying her head in tht
pillow, endeavored to stife all emotion
only too conscious that the least trace
of tears would bring upon her an ava
lanche of contumely and personal vio-
lence, which she desired, for her little
ones sake, to avoid.
The wretch left the house for tho
corner grog-shop, and Agnes tried to
rise and attend to the affairs of the
household but it was no use, aud sink.
ing back on her pillow she attempted to
steady her weak brain. and think for a
few moments commercially and sensibly.
She perfectly realized that something
must be done in short time, and she
must rally and obtain employment; was
conscious that her husband would neyer
more be able to render tho least pecu-
mary assistance, for drunkenness and
the vilest associates were driving him to
crime and exposure.
For moro than week, Agnes knew
that he had been lodging the police !;
for what, she had not the slightest idea,
the quality and magnitude of the crime
she being unable to conjecture. She
had saved one diamond ring, which her
father had given her on her birthday,
having managed to conceal it from her
husband. Now, she must dispose of
that to purchase some food, in order
to gain strength as rapidly as possible,
and with the remainder take her baby
and leave the man she called her hus-
band to his own destruction.
Under pleasant and fascinating OK
terror, George Hardinge had captivated
the fancy of this young and beautiful
woman. Her parents were opposed to
the union. She begged and implored
them to favor his suit in vain. Their
eyes saw through the superficial tex
ture; and, convinced that he was not
suitable companion for their high bred
and sensitive daughter, they refused
him her hand and forbade him the
house, and the result, as we learned
above, was an elopement; and then fol-
lowed, on the part of her father, a refu-
sal to have any connection with son-in-
law or daughter.
George, disappointed in the dover he
expected to obtain with his wife, i'm
resumed his old habits, and
from one downward step to another he
plunged, until they became reduced to
The direst poverty; and then poor Ag-
nes, sick, abused, and painfully bumili.
ated, racked her poor brain to discover
some way by which she could obtain
living for herself and baby.
A kind-hearted neighbor called in to
zee her few moments before the above
conversation, aud to him Agues entrust-
ed the sale of the diamond. From it
'he realized ninety dollars. A small
portion she gave to the woman to cook
md bring to her regularly comfortable
Food, until she gained sufficient strength !
20 seek employment.
Agnes, met q man this morning who
3 very anxious to obtain an infant about
he age of this one,' said the hardened
nan, pointing to the sleeping cherub,
N his return from the usual days ca
ouse, and l invited him here to see |
'urs. I'm going TO ask him up
George, what do you mean My baby! |
'ell MY baby! Oh, God, no"
But the villain was out of the reach of
aud returned in moment, &C.
by tine-looking young man,
nd the two commenced an examination
# the infant.
"Sir, l can not allow my baby to leave
le. Do not think of such a thing" al
lOst shrieked the distracted woman.
"Take no notice of her." said George.
She is, as told you, hopelessly insane,
nd if can find any one ready to do the
ight thing for the baby, shall be glad
o dispose of it,"
"GeOrvpi Danrua E'or III. loyo &c God