Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-06-18
RUINED BY THE DEMON.

Mary Morgan was pretty girl, and
she never looked half as pretty as hen
she stood by the side OF Wm. Long,
the orange flowers clustering amid tho
riuglets ot ber hair and beautiful and
costly veil OF lace shading her features.
/ Yes, Mary Morgan was a pretty bride,
and many fair maiden envied her the
position she had gained by her marriage,
| for Wm. Long was wealthy man and
remarkably fine looking.
Willie took his bride to home Of
luxury; aud for many months lived most
happily together; but the Demon OF In
temperance, ever ON the alert tor VIC
Tins singled out this young man upon
whom TO practice his fascinations.
Night after night William tarricd
over the wine bottle and beside the
card.table; week after week he saw hun
dreds of dollars swept from his posses
sion, aud still he yielded to the wiles of
the Tempter. lie drahk deeperto drown
the voice of conscience; but two years
from the day he brought Mary Morgan,
happy bride, 20 his princely home, de-
prived her of the comforts with which
they had been surrounded, and in their
place provided small aud poorly fur
nished apartments, and treated her and
their only child with neglect and un-
kindness.
His fortune had all been spent at tho
gambling table and fashionable tavern.
He could no longer lind welcome in
the halls OF dissipation, VIII n he parted
with his fortune. When the bird has
been stripped OF its plumaye, it must
seek some other quarters. VIM. Long
sank lower and lower in crime and III
fanny.
One evening he returned to his mis-
cradle rooms, apparently perfectly sober'
and Mary indulgei the fond hope that
he was about TO reform, and said
"You will not go out again; TO night,
William, will you 7"
81 must; / have an engagement"
80, William, do remain with me.
You cannot imagine how lonely ieel
when you are away all night. l have
such terrible thoughts
"Terrible thoughts ] wonder what
woman don't have terrible thoughts ]
But hever mind, Mary, this afternoon |
won FIVE hundred dollars. Tonight |
shall, perhaps treble it, and may in
short time; regain my fortune; and then
shall reform aud become better man;
and we will again live in style and
show people that some folks are as good
~ others
"Oh, William, do not think Of it. l
don't want you TO live in style; if you
would only leave of drinking, we would
by happy-oh, so happy
"Nonsenscl Now, Mary, don't begin
a temperance lecture, tor will not hear
it. Goodnight" aud in another mo
ment he was gone.
All night Mary sat lonely, waiting
her husbands return. Hour alter hour
took its fight-onc, two, three o'clock
came, and still she sat there sewing and
weeping. At length William rushed
into the room. His hat of, his eyes
glaring wildly.
"Good Heavens, what is the matteif
"Matterf o, nothing; only I've killed
the wretch who dared 10 call me a
thief I've killed him and they are after
me now. IIarkl They are coming up
s,airsl Oh, do you heart I'm mur
derer-ha! ha! ha! he shrieked in Wild
and terrible manner
Three police officers entered the room
and before Mary could comprehend tho
scene, they seized her husband aud
dragged him away. A moment she
stood gazing after them, then with one
wild shrek OF despair, shc sank scns,-
less upon the floor.
William Long was tried and convict
ed of murder; but ere the day set for his
execution arrived, he was found dead In
his cell-Ee had committed suicide.
Mary il an inmate Of Lunatic Asylum,
her child in the Home OF the FrieDdless.