Year: 1873

He was sitting ata small table on
which burned 4 single lamp, gazing
at y large seal ring, whereon vas
engraved l quaint old coat-ot-
arms. The face Of Wesley How
ard was pale and haggard, while
from his swollen and bloodshot
eyes, there came such a look OF
unuttcrable sorrow, as might have
forced an impulse of sympathy
from his most implacable foe.
Presently he picked up the bauble,
and holding it before his eyes,
looked on it earnestly, as his
thoughts few swiftly backward to
years when he was happy man.
It was her gift. Then came a long
suppressed sigh, followed BY tear
50 hot, that it seemei to scorch
his cheek, as it rolled downward
and was lost even as the happiness
he was recalling.


Poor fellow, he had drunk TO
the dregs a deeper and moro Bit
ter draugi.. than should have been
his portion. He was just eight
and twenty years Of age, Of me-
dunn stature, with coal black eyes,
hair strcaked with gray, and dark
eyes whose brightness was now
becoming dim. Wesley Howard
visited many strange countries.
He had roamed through Europe,
and had recorded many an in
teresting story. He had plunged
into burning Africa, and told the
world something Of the hidden
mysteries Of that benightcd land.
He had visited the country Of the
Aztccs and the islands Of the sea.
Twice he had becn shipwrecked,
thrice he had been lost in wilds
where nothing but sand and sky
met his gaze. Then he came back
to his own country and settling
down for . quiet life, married
Julia May.


Wesley Howard had attributes
exceedingly sensitive, and the
worst fault in it. was the quick
ness with which he took otfense
but his heart ut the bottom was
good. His temper was hot, and
in his anger scathing and Bit
ter expressions would fall from
his lips. TO his credit, be it said,
oflatc years Lc had striven to sub.
due these blots Of character, and
he really thought be had made
great progress. But, alas these
dreadful passions had only been
slumbcring, when he imagined his
heart swept and garnered and the
evil spirit departed. His anger
was always very brief, however.
Allow him to remain quiet for G
moments, until reason reasserted
her supremacy, and he would
come to you with the meekness of
child. and crave your forgiveness
for the bitter, bad words he
had launched on your head.


For his manifold irregularities
of temper none could feel o more
genuine sorrow than did nc, and
it was no figure Of speech to say
the greater portion of his days
were spent in SHINING and re-
pcnting. Now add to this char
ac,er an unreasonable jealousy, and
YOU can understand how he could
upbraid the woman ne loved when
he witnessed her receiving the at
tentions Of other men. But thon
how many millions Of husbands
share the same unhappy sem
timent with gre ater or less
cause. Wesley Howard had some
justification for his acts. All !!
ihere is q bitter woe that thought
less wives bring to honest, loyal
hearts, that blight and scar the
true, deep love they bear. This
it is that fills the Morgue with the
CHASTITY bodies they fish out of
the rivers, and discover in barred
chambers, with pistol balls in
their brains. The poor suicide
| was insane. Oh,mantle ofcharity,


how false the impulse which
prompts such verdict over the


mon who only alter hard but