The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-07-01

''As you now sow, so must you reap"
were the words her father wrote. "T
have no longer daughter, and Ruth
knew that henceforth (for she had been
motherless for years. she had in all the
world only the husband for whom she
had sacrificed fortune and what is worth
far more, the tender protection of o
father.
In those early days Edward did his
best to make amends for all, and she
was so proud OF him and so fond of him
that she soon forgot to grieve.
She heard his name uttered in praise
by all. She knew that he had but to
keep steadily ON, to mount to the proud
est seat in fame's high temple, and for
year she had no fear of his faltering.
| Now and then q feverish something in
his voice and manner, strange light in
his eyes, as.greater flow Of eloquence in
his talk, more passionate demonstra-
ton Of love for her than usual, told that
he was under the influence Of wine, but
the fact only seemed to enhance his power
of fascination. Never was he SO brilliant,
never so handsome. Almost could Ruth
have laughed at the sermons preached
by the temperance folks of the harm sure
to follow wine-drinking.
If the story could end here, the true
story Of Ruth Hollys life, it would be
almost a happy one, but alas, the sunny
slope adown which it seemed so easy to
slide, daily grew darker as the years flew
on. How they began to tell her the fate
| i,aforo bap Rntb har5lv lrpnxV
A little flush of shame came first when
his step was unsteady and his voice too
loud. Then a grieved tear or two when
he was unreasonable. Then sorrow
that kept her heart aching night and
day, for the man who first won inspir-
alton from the glass now lost it in its
depths; lectures to be delivered were not
given to the expectant public because
''of the illness Of the lecturer"
Ruth knew what that illness meant,
and tried to hide it. Literary work was
neglected also. Money was lost that
might have been easily won. Debts
grew and credits lessened, the handsome
suite of rooms was exchanged for one
quite shabby. Ruth's dress became
poverty-stricken, her husband was out
at the elbows and at the toes--he was in.
toxicated from morning until night, and
vet she loved him and clung to him
and in his sober moments he loved
her as fondly as ever. Sometimes
, the old strength and the ole
/ hope would be aroused in hin
and he would struggle to regain his
J lost position, but it was all in vain
, rum triumphed, and in five years from
5 her wedding day Ruth found hersel
; with her ono remaining child, the tirs
+; having died within year of its birth, II
. the dingiest of wretched tenemen
: houses, in a state bordering upon beg
gary.
. Edward had been more madly into1i
! ! Gated than ever before; he had eve
= piyen her blow, and now, as the nlgh
a wore on, he muttered and raved an
y called for brandy, and cursed her an
i himself until she trembled with feai
IS At last, as the clock struck 10, h
IS started to his feet and staggered ou
g Of the room, vowing to get drunk some
70 where.
il Poor Ruth stood where he had left he
h for few moments. The memory OF til
h past was strong on her that night. jus
le at this hour five years before they ha
y fled from her fathers home togethe
= How tender he was, how lovlnt
= how gentlel How he vowed th'
u = she would never regret that night, an
y how had he kept those promises9 /
~ had broken every vow-he neither che
ished nor protected her. His world
ID goods he had given to the rayenous d
of mon. drink. his love had become som
ve thing scarcely worth having, and y
in she loved him and clung to him, u
So tried to feel cold and hard toward hil
90 but she could not; she strove to remel
N. ber the blow he had given her, the oat
er he had uttered, but she answered hers.
IA as she did SO, "It was not him who
it-it was rum" She listened to t
elf uncertain, reeling footsteps in the sire
al below and burst into tears.
"My poor darling" she whispered,
Ter she Thought some Rrievous calamity h
,ey smitten him into the thing he was, q
rt he had not himself put an enemy IN
~ mouth to steal away his brain, unmll
Ich full Of her pleading, unmlndtnl OF
~ ~ woe and Of her shame. She thought
IN him reeling helplessly along the sire
he n and feared that some harm would co
,,I9 ,n9 to him. He might fall in some out
~ IN the-way place and lie there undiscovei
NJ and so freeze to death that bitter mig
ced and in her agony Of terror poor RI
IN could not restrain herself from follow
was him.
Ith. Her poor weakly baby slept;
ong wrapped it in a blanket and lad II
to its poor cradle. Then she threw
er's warm shawl over her head, and haste
per down the street, busy this late Satur'
ised night with market-going people oil
of poorer classes.
nuay t;iI A little way before her reeled
~ handsome. broad-shouldered figure
~ - her husband, and she, lady bred
.oass 5aa born. fastidious, elegant, accomphsl
ne latso reared in luxury, heard poor labo
ilAoo / t1,,s,. nf,sl l1rart7 tl haWar