Newspapers / North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro, … / March 5, 1863, edition 1 / Page 1
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1 -V-y., .e-iJ.V'i-6 A:-! i .'if rt. 1 -i 'li V ' ' i ' ; -J- " .- . 1 " ' v" " " rlr'l" ' 1 s Ad will last beyond thrntght. f . ; . !; Thought lifreeK. 1 : ; .V ' "Free As air men's tboogbta ihoali be,"" SO English' Alfred aid I ) V. So did preftok the nurtyr'd dead In the land la times of old, " , Where truth bravely yet is told. ELSIE RAYMOND: BY VIRflnfIA T. TOWNSEND. Wait a moment graridmtv I just want to ru outand say good-bye to Dakay and the sweet face, net in'a frime ' work of' bridal hiV flowers, looked a moment through he open door and then vanuhed, befVrre' the Iddy, in her' qualcer statin nd whito mul in caV. could reply. J ; ?n Whit, isut ! Etsie hero The; questioner -.wava yfantf, arid Vioble Iobklogrman; and4 thee I m Mmethiriff oecttllirl attractive In the' smil- iiifi hf htidarkicxpress5Teve3,'ai they swept the room with a a!nglc glnc; arid Ihen lighted on iu old lady. --1 - She'i just run ontAlden," to bid DaMf pood bje Ton know it wouldn't do to go off without ein her old narae anyhow. ETrything! pacK td Wtitru--'A" 'f -;:'' ' "Ves. and the earriape is waitinj? ;,r and as the yoking man apoke, a tid of pleeful ladghtcr roll i 'J up to tliHr earn f rowi theeonipaiiybehw stairs. The old 'laJ J 'did not mind it. She catne close la the newly tnade tiofcband," and laid her hand on hi shoulder Alden fhe aaid, very earnestly, now the hour haa come for our parti o, I can think of mahy things I want to say la you, and I ought t.i hare done this before But it'a too lato now. 0, Alder, you will be very tender of roy darling won't you ? i Yon 'will never forget how ahe has Keen watched and cared far, (it luay be too much ,) ;i:tHow he has never known a 'harsh word in the home fruni whence yoa are taking hcrT.' .- nt. -1 .1 l.l.'a vaiaa op rt1nr)inr iilnit to lie uiu iau; .ivivv i""""- aadneas, nnd her cye were fullol tears ; but nru mitl a they were, she saw the look of beautiful tenderness that flashed in tho youtij: man's ex pteaive features." x ' "T. t .'''X 44 Ihi not fear to Iros meIrs Wilfianr,he said, solemnly, taltinR bith hr hands n h . " Her happiness shall bet he aim of my life. The love that has watched over, the tenderness that rlhoml from thd verv ahadbw cviLihaliJ-increased a hundred fold in the home to which I take ner;" ana naa youncaro thoc eloquent tones, and seen the look which ao coiupaniad thorn, you Iwould have predicted a -joyous wedded life forKlsie Jtaymond. " I do believe yoi, Alden, my boy ' answered the old lady, fervently. Bat sometimes you may find KImo a little impatient, or- self-willed. X I don't like to say it, for the heart's always in the rijjhC place only you know how quick and impul sive she is, and ahe don't bear contradiction, for I 'anoso ahe is a iDoilcd child." " Wio'a a spoiled child V askedja voice so sweet it would hate iiinueu your J " v.. i . - . . i . . . ... r- -j. Hi . 4' iWAilo)Q Tlkzl vM ,V-1 obedieit liUle wife In ilia .world, and never doVl Vcr.?na?" burstlag inWXfiood'opaasibnate J guest i i i If j Tb'smUi ic ictaJLTa a t?r"4j-r f i tninsr i6vb8V. I lutra'l as loos as t'hve" " 1 tears. If money had made ant difference: you d I indU lrL.:2i-.: .f.l.AMA4-k.. -i i 1 .1 ;llf h'nt 'bsht mntn't wur' 'AftAn AntWno." I riSTU told inn hefora thin latA dflT! and it's I Hamlll ' f- fiaoyaataa thabrathkCIIeAvaa,viCfKw I answered the young husband,- stroking the curb because you Trant to mortify- trie now j before the I jodl . ' npi4 aa thegleanfag levlef '' -id " ' ,: . I that fell oi of thathttle tmt.; 4" Buteoare, Elsie, world that you, are so, stingy this mormsg i I tesuvai. 1 : n-vi i ,: wa ahan't b In limn fnethA nTa. Ra rwd bve I wish I; waa back a train in idt old home. , with enced a heart like a sudden outbreak of harp music, and the graceful figure tne.giri-Driao sprang juw mo iwm. Uubens ouprht to have seen her at that moment. With her .blue, sparkling eyes,' the half blnsh gathered into her soft pheeks, and the arch smile fcrQakinvef sheriipsaslrning-sunshine breaks into the heart of. mountain' roses, she was just the vision of outward, joyous earth loveliness that ,his sonl would have delighted iff. Iler white hat with its loppings of lacq ribbon, and her rich travelincr dress, narmonfted with the rare English creatniness of hei complexion, and altogether ahe looked. to the loving eyes that now rested on her, so bright, and sparkling, and happy, that they forgot everything but her beauty , " " Grandma's been saying bad things about me," said the bride, with i. pretty pout, that any jonng husband would have thought worth a dot n kisses:-" " ".y ' y''":.l 'iNow Aldcn, don't you let W 'frighten you one bit, for I'm going t? be just the most loving, to your grand mother quick." . '4 1 " I'll be a good girl, indeed I will' whiapered the trcmbUng hps, as they drew up to tbe grant mothcr'a; and the smiling' face was dim Ux 'tears. " ; '- , lt I- f'God bless you, Elsie, my child I" ' : .;. And1 her husband hurried her away. . , Elsie Raymond's future must tell the story of her past. . Both her parents lay under the sprfog grass before she had learned to know them, and h she went to her Grandmother's heart and home. There, only sunshine layover her life. f The ten der, indulgent grandmother forgot there must come an hour wben the clouds would rise, and the greit life-storms descend upon the flower thai 'grew up in suchubeauty at her hearthstonei3 t Elsie had neof those fine. rich, impulsive naJ tares, that; eepecUUy require-judicious training.' This ahe bad never received fr(otuhergrando:other, arid the lder current of self-will and pride, in her nature had gained depth and. forcewhichlff' her early girlhood, only revealed themselves in her impatience of mild reproof, or contradiction. . Bn,t usuajly she was bo lovingso gentle, so transparent and, as I said, her future must tell heir rast.'4 " : ! - v 4 ' v ) l C ' , r ' Two years had gone swiftly, happily by. Mr. and Irs.. 'Raymond sat at their breakfast table that morning. Tbe room with its appliances of taste and. luxury, was one of those rare home gems, that only an artist can appreciate. But the little wife, behind the silver coffee urn, in her fawn colored morning gown, with its tas sels of blue silk, was after all the crowning beau ty of the sweet home scene. - ' " Alden,". said Mrs. Raymond, as 6he passed his second cup of coffee, "won't you J (1st put down that paper,' and listen to mo one moment. You know that party you promised mc, almost a year ago. Weil, I've decided to have it next week. It's just tho'season for it now, and we'll make a grand effort to make it pass off well." If Mrs. Raymond-had at that moment looked narrowly at her husband's face, , she would have seen it growpale at the mention of the party. "'I'm sorry, Elsie," he commenced, moving restlessly in his chair. ... '. Now, don't, interrupted the little Wife, quick ly, "don't Alden, say tno word against the party, Ibrl've quite set my heart on having it.JLtold the Campbell's, and the AVildmand's about it, more than two weeks ago, so I should die with shame to postpone it." . v " You shouldnhavo jnentioned Jt.tO-tbem Withdut'consulting me first." Mr. Raymond's tones were cold and severo for the first time, but his wife would have forgiven them, had she guessed the anguish that lay nt his heart As it was her face flushed with.anger. " Really," she answered. " I was not, until this morning, aware L was responsible to you, Mr. Raymond, for the subjects Praight choose to se lect i for conversation with my acquaintances. Once for all, what, is the rcasooy.ou refuse me this Darty ?' " ' . " ido not refuse it Elsie, I only ask you tode- " And I must and will have ' it next veek or never. I cannot see whv vou .wish me to bost pone it, unless it is because you know the delay will greatly annoy mc. "The young man's pale face flushed with the pain her words LadtQCcasioned htm . " Elsie, anq his voice was quieter and stejner than: before, "you cannotmove me by- these ac cusations because you know as well as I do, there is no trutn in tnem. ,1 navo so ae Heavy pay ments to make this week, and tnat alone was the reason of my requesting " you to defer this matter. All I have to say is, you will be quite as likely to accomplish your wishes by presenting them in a less dictatorial manner.' - ; It was, very unfortunate for Mr. Raymond that he added to this explanation that last remark ; for now tnat pe assigned a motive for the delay,, his wife's heart had begun to soften toward him, but that last speech hardened it again. " I dont- believe: a word of what you re sayinff, Alden Raymond," she answered, pushing back erandina and dear old !Daisy,' who would naver have spoxen 10 me ine narsn, cruei woraa.yoa have iust done. I Wish I was back there again j und that I' had never-left it, and that I had never jpeen you, Alden Raymond ". . . j f ; - , . And springing from her seat, the lady burst out of the room, and her husband made' no "effort to detain her. He-ohly leaned " his head on his hand, and groaned deeply. It was the last drop in his cup of bjtternesj. r J' , ! ; 'An hour later the young merchantwas walk ing up and down his counting room, with jccstless stepj and haggard face. ' There had come a sadden revolution in the mercantile wdrld and his house.-was one of the first to feel it.. " There is no chance to sail clear of this, that I see,", murdered the young mon as he struck his forehead. "A few weeks, and we must all sink. I shall te a ruined man, and El sie his face 1 worked ' fearfully Jamoment,: and - then -. be resumed : l There is no -way to raise the money, !vnle$s " ;he stared anx iously all about him, as though he felt the terrible secret which lay behind that " unless," might bave,rcvealed iteelf though it had never crossed his lips : and for the first time in his life; his face wore a look of cowardice and euut. Yes; I could get Jtljo," he said leaning his head on his hands? " andlf our affairs should happen to take a favorable turo, I could repay the note bejore anjDoay was tne wiser j ana ii not," and his Yoice grew hoarse, " the river or a pistol shot could settle it all. v Esio's little property's all swallo-ved up, too. (jod knows I meant to secure it, and were she to Jjnow this .she'd bate ice worse than ever, ,nd maybe, 1 can win back one of the old Jove smiles to her sweet lips if" he did not finish the sentence. "Elsie, you can give out the invitations for vour ? party next week. There is the money "which will defray the expenses," and Mr. Ray mond placed a note for a thousand dollar? in the lap of his wife. ' It was dinner time, and Elsie had had all the morning to reflect on her conduct at breakfast, and bitterly had the young wife reproached herself for the unkind words styj had spoken. Butrher will was unsubdued still, and when the footsteps of her husband rang through the halj the old pride came back, to her rosy lip, and she thought to herself Alden shall speak first." And he did: and that generous deed of his -ovetcame-at-once-aH the-prideandrself-wilhof the really loving wife. - , ' She sonns: "up quickly, and wound her white arms around her husband's neck, while tears of remorse and tenderness swept down her faefc. ".Oh, Alden she said, forgive me,. forgive me for the cruel words I have said this morning. 1 have been sorry for them. I do love you better than all the world beside, and I would not leave you for a thousand grandmothers. Say just once to mc " Elsie, I forgive you," and I shall be so happy. : - - r r ' :y:" "r " ' He drew his bright hed3,booni,jand TrToTnA(l"r(Jnwn Wissps on her sweet brow, asne a had bestowed CponU"cir;&autiial kdtVss : iowt ine nadrJnadvErxcntiy' JieaTa .wayor j. who was pronounced the . most artinuc I in" thi9 city, call her the te bjosspp 'of te ' J)Ul mese leasani ojcamjogij eipen rude interrtntion. ' r .'. ! : Two- rough,-looking, men entered the'f.-parior and inquired if Mr. jtayrobnd "was lb; -. "No," answered his Vife, surprised end BtaY' tied. ; " lie w.etit to the . 'store, tfis 'inonrf said, Elsie, once and forever I forgive you, but I have been very weak, and I have suffered much this morning. Let me lay my head in your lap, and see if 1 shttl. not feel better, while you talk -Aiid -Elsie sat 'therea' I6"ngin1e,r running little dimpled fingers through the .thick brown curls'of her husband, and laying her cool lip, every few moments to his fevered forehead, chat ting to him In her sweet, humming-bird style, of he "party, and what a delightful affair it1 would be, dreaming little of the darkness, and sin, and shame, that was drawing closer and closer to their threshold ! - ; ' 7 '.' .' ' '-" ' It was lat in the morning after the party. It had been, as (the young wife predicted, V a brilliant affair."- ' ; ..; . And r.ow she walked. through the elegant con fusion of her parlors, and thought what glances of admiration had followed her during the even ing, and how proud Alden would be when she recounted tohim the compliments which the light of her souPwaslmM " to prison, to theaWoitfs, to death) Alden 1" , V .V And then he took her in his arms, and while -his heart was wrung with deeper agony for her , than for himself, he told her all. 7 U ,. I -v And Elsie learned, for thejirstitinie of the-- her 7 threatened collapse in her husband's- business, and of the utter impossibility of . his meeting the expenses of. their party without-he whispered incr.f'J One of thenp replied with ignificarit look j around the rooms, that, he was not there tUy had jnst came from his store. ' ; V'V ' I have not seen him.' since," was' Mrs.' Ray mond's loconio rejoinder ; and after :c6nterriog together a moment" Ihe'two'inen left, the fopn? The lady sank down upon a sofa, arid covered her face with her hands'. ' They were policemen,' she could not disguise from hertelf thia fact,' and s a : vague, , terrible fear took possesslriniof .her sonl..,. (. 7;'',2 f v; ';',;. .-',-f - i A fewXmomentsnatef and her husband .ffecd before her, wild , pale, haggard. .. ' ; ; . y Elsie," be asked ' hurriedly " trave'tLere been two" pojicemen here, afiei me !'' ' r ? rr I " Yes, and I told them you were at the store; " Oh, Alden " . ; ; ' ; ' . She 1 could not finish 1 the sentence ' fof he 1 ' rushed from her out into the hall, and up -stairs like a madman. ' , ; - . --Elsie's heart died within her, and it was only by v -grasping the cushions of the sofa, she prevented herself from' sinking to the floor.' Shejfeared,- she knew not What, but the next Tcoment,.the woman's heart of Elsie Raymond awoke within her. Alden, her husband, was. suffering) it'might be he was in disgrace arid Ehanre, and who should ; stand by him, end where shouM he find bomfort and strength, but in her? v -V ; She sprang up, and though., her limbs shook like a reed beneath her, and her face would .not be whiter when it lay uuder the coffin plates, she went straight into the hall and up the Jong stairs to his room. '. . , '." ; . . (l The door was not locked and she opened it without knocking. What a scene for the blue ' eyes of Elsie Raymond 1 Her husband stood in the center of :he room with a pistol pointed at ? his heart. One minute more and she had been too late. .""'V' '" "" ' ":v ' With one loud shriek she rushed to' bis side, with one blow with her small white hand she : struck the heavy pistol tojhe floor,- and with, as x wild, sad cry springing from, her palev lips, , " Saved," saved, Alden,' she wound her : arms about him. ' ' ';T The desperate rnan put her away. I s 1 " Saved," he cried hoarsely, "saVed to ruin, degradation, to worse than death. Leave .me lilMe,"and jet me'do lh"dedriow.,' But she came back for she would not be . put away. '. .. '"S. .- i f 1 . " No, no " she enswered, and' her paleA face sbone almost like an angel's,with its beautiful wife tenderness, did yon think your E'sie would leave" you now, when your arms have sheltered bflr SO long? Did you think she. would not follow you through suffering and shame, true and loving td ' the end ?" V", - ,...,.: " But not to prison Elsie, not to prison 1" . His head dropped as he said it. ' , ' " Yes," he answered drawing closer, nd the - the words " he had forged o note:or two fho sand dollars " He hoped to pay it, and so elude . discovery, but matters, grew worse, and he ctfuld not raise the money., . v :-:. V And h was for me you did it, Alden j be-. cause I spoke those cruel words I Oh I God help ' " mel I am to blame, not you 1" cried the : heart- t broken wife; 1- . " - y-h But before the husband could .answec.her she had sprang from her 6eat, and a great hope had dawned into. her face; " ' ' ' ?' Alden," she cried, it was I that ruined, it is I that will save you.' I am going' to that man . , fSe FourOk Page.
North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro, N.C.)
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March 5, 1863, edition 1
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