Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-20
Calls ano Skttfbes.
rwo LIVES WRECKED.


The one called Not Myself
1T was not written for yonr edifcation,'
answered.
Would to heaven it had been written,
and that had read it twenty wears ago."
he said with an emphasis that startled me.
Then it might have done me good:
might have saved me from a life Of
wretchedness and not me only; but an
other who was dearer than life"
/ knew something Of the mans history.
After living with his wife for nearly
twenty wears. he had separated from her,
and was now divorced. The application
came from him on charge Of infdelity.
THAT story" he continued. ''came to
me like a revelation; but, alas. too late.
As just said. it has done me no good
has only filled my soul with exquisite
pain. see as | never saw before. the
casse of momentary folly that ruined my
whole life. i was not myself That |
knew: but the origin Of that strange hal
lucnation in which acted the poor weak
fool. did not suspect until your story
made it plain. / thank you for others.
whom it may do good but not for myself"
His concluding sentence was spoken
with much bitterness.
"You know my wrctched story" he
said, after little while. at is public
property"
$50 much Of it as is public property
no more" | replied. And that is not
much"
mot much Heaven knows that ~ His
eyes CLEANED, and ! saw him SILVER.
Twenty years of married life that ends in
divorce Is no child's play, my friend, -
lie drew his arm into mine, saying. in
IN n Al. l.
difficulty, Come, | want to talk with
YOU Maybe it will do me good.
lie was a lawyer of considerable ability,
named Austin, and had once been in good
practice at the Philadelphia bar; but Of
late years had neglected his business, and
fallen into bad habits.
went with him to his office
"No child's play, my friend" he said
with less agitation Of manner. repeating
the words spoken n little while before.
He had offered me chair. and then taken
one directly in front of me. And to
think" he added now speaking very
calmly, but oh : so bitterly. THAT all this
wretched life turned on the pivot of
single moment; moment when | was
not myself moment when wine took
the place of reason. Shall tell YOU the
whole story ?"
1T may DO you good. replied.
"Ah so thought when asked you to
come mere. Have You patience To us
ten
po on,
snail make clean breast OF IL.
said ne Maybe u VIII 40 me Sood
maybe it will not.
You know Mrs. Akers ?''
res
do You remember her ~ she was over
twenty years ago
very We'll
"Before her marriage
Yes.
''She was not regarded As either bril-
liant or beautiful; but to me there was
charm ana grace about her that drew me
'rresis'aois I" her sue, was Young
ainpltious man, ana before meeting WIN
MISS ,Iaytoh-a''ei Ward ArS' Akers-hai
iooked 20 marriage rs Il means "i Socii'
ana worldly advancement. y" such al
vancement conld result from an alliance
WIN MISS clayton. Tier family had neither
large wealth nor hign position. 30 NJ
Hfst diu not lhihk oi her rs other man
Pheasant iriehd' tn"ngh every time met
her III company ieit the sphere oil
sweet attraction that steadily grew stron-
suddenly aw"he To the TACT thht I'm
me 'laS'o" was more I" me lhan any
o'ne' ,, Mol''''' n'u ever mt inrn.
M"'iu''hesS' 'ho'.'oh' anu o'h,r hi'a"et
influences SonGn' 10 pun our the IRE "i
rove Wh'eh h'" oee,' hih"ied III my hear''
hut .hiS heavenly hrs cannot oe eStin-
gu,she"' 'nr Is leu WIN "'''ne SUD
s'''iocS' oc''e'e" " '"c"-' A"""
w" e.
H'u'ho' nv ies, p",c 'n" NV INV me-
uesan ~ Seno up ""'' ''Sh, II, INV No"''
!" never p''tneu WIN 'iear ha''F' nor
WIN 'n.ense neat 1t was 'he 'oVe OF my
Se'i u'''S'or'heu ,"'o .nc aPre'r'''" VI
l',. ,oi q oe.'"'''", ni','en- sue was i.ir'
...,. ~ ,''a".' anu '"" ou' y" u"
""i'o'N ocio" A"'ie '''H' 10" W "'i ''a'
Socs 10 ,'aAc up 'iae "onha,''H ",rac-
uo.s' .ha' can n''u III my thoughts no
l:''io oi comparison between thPm. faS
,S 81. va. ~ ", cue A"'" "H w
I,a L,; ,at 's, s.n m"en w. "v '''t"
i.;, hn' - ~, "''r' wy
'''u .o' 9''''.' W. "'.' N'r" ny -"