ELLEN TRAVERSE.

"Look not upon the wine when it is red."

young bridegroom, while his fine dark eyes beamed with affection on the fair being by his side, as he led her up the marble steps of a handsome house. "This is our own home, Ellen; how happy we shall be; for to be with you is happiness in itself."

The gentle bride raised her eyes, suffused with tears, to the speaker's face, and while the pearly drops trembled over their delicate lids, she murmured softly, “With the blessing of God, we will be happy, dear Edward."

The young man seemed confused for a moment, then taking her hand in his, pressed it to his heart, replying, "You are so good, so full of holy thoughts, Ellen, that I sometimes wish you less good, that the contrast to myself might not be so striking."

to meet them with a light laugh, as if he wished to shake off the serious feeling of the moment before, and taking the hand of one of the ladies, exclaim

Miss Emma Fountaine, and gentlemen, the 'Beautiful Emma,') we wait your august presence before we proceed to that formidable drawing-room, where Mrs. Ellen Traverse will be installed 'Mistress of Ceremonies,' and we want you to lend her the light of your countenance to go through the terrible ordeal."

The carriage was at the door. The young wife, who had worn her marriage-ring but three days, now stood before her mirror, arraying her simple, yet tasteful dress. The glass reflected a delicate, girlish figure, attired in snowy muslin of gossamer lightness. A simple orange wreath encircled the rich braid of hair at the back of her head; while beneath its delicate blossoms fell the bridal veil, its light folds mingling with the magnificent auburn tresses that swept her snowy neck. One single Ellen had no time for reply, for at the moment jewel, a gift from her husband, nestled amid the a carriage rattled up to the door ;-the steps were folds of lace on her bosom, and completed her ex- let down with a flourish, and a party of ladies and quisitely simple toilet. The sweet young face gentlemen sprang gaily out. Mr. Traverse turned was in perfect keeping with this pure style of dress, bearing on every feature traces of that gentleness and earnest thoughtfulness that won every heart who knew her. Ellen Fisher was a single-hearted, ed, "Well, Queen of Beauty, (whom ladies call generous being, whose unselfish nature would make any sacrifice for others. Unobtrusive and quiet, yet like a ministering angel, did she seek out the poor and afflicted, and when she could do no more, would pour balm into the suffering heart, by her gentle sympathy and soothing words. And all rejoiced, yet thought it strange, when the haughty Edward Traverse wooed the lovely and modest Ellen "I do not think your newly-acquired dignity sets Fisher. Those who knew him best, wondered well on you, Ellen," returned the sprightly Miss least; for Traverse was a passionate worshipper Fountaine; "you look much more like Ellen Fisher of the beautiful-the physically, morally and men- this evening, with that languishing look out of those tally beautiful! His eye was first caught by the blue eyes, and that simple white dress, than Mrs. rare beauty of her face and form, then he delighted Edward Traverse, mistress of this stately mansion, to trace, through the soft light of her loving eyes, ay! and of its stately lord, too, if he does not look the loveliness that dwelt in her pure spirit; and he out for his own rights," and taking the arm of her well knew how to draw out the rich treasures of escort, she entered the drawing-room, followed by her cultivated mind, by the eloquent language of Edward Traverse and his timid, though beautiful his own. He loved her-what marvel? All who wife.

knew her did the same. He loved as men love a rare The drawing-rooms were superb. Light flashed jewel in a precious casket; while she, with the trust- in brilliant circles from the chandeliers, and lent ing faith of a woman's heart, gave her life and her additional lustre to the bright eyes that sparkled happiness to his keeping, and worshipped the Su- beneath them. And young, clear voices trilled in preme Source from whom the blessing came. And song; and silvery laughter floated through the as she gave him her hand that he might lead her rooms, and the light jest and witty repartee played to his own home, where he had invited his friends a brilliant battledore from lip to lip. And amid all to meet her, there went with it a full swelling of this mingling of sounds and flitting of forms, the the heart towards Heaven, that she was permitted servants bore the heavy waiters, and the sparkling to possess that dear hand, so capable, as she thought, wine circulated freely, and many a rosy lip touched of leading her through the mazes of life. How the rim of the glass and tempted the young adoften is the heart deceived in its fondest hopes! mirer of its beauty to drain the dregs. Oh! WoThese two young beings looked down a vista, where man! in your hours of thoughtlessness and mirth, all was light and sunshine and joy. Gay hopes how little do you reck of the influence you exert flitted on angels' wings before them, and they saw on the other sex! Oh! could you but read the not the cloud that gathered slowly over their bright fearful record against you, you would find the veriperspective and darkened it with its gloomy sha- fication of the proverb, "c'est le premier pas qui dow. coute;" and you doubtless could remember many a "And this is our home, Ellen," exclaimed the young man of bright promise, who could date his

VOL. XIII-4

downward course from the first cup offered by the lowed by wine and cards at night; and Ellen tried fair hand of the one he loved. Ellen's unsophis- all her little womanly manœuvres to keep him at ticated little heart sank within her as she saw her home. She could not find courage enough to husband, whom she had thought so faultless, pass breathe to him her fears, that he was fast travelling the wine freely and merrily, pressing his friends to the road to ruin, yet she would seek, with a winning join him, and challenging them by toasts. In her grace, peculiar to herself, to make his evenings so father's house wine was used only for the sick. pleasant that he could not leave her, and sometimes She had been taught that there was danger in the she succeeded, for who could resist those pleading draught, and now she felt as if suspended over the eyes and that sweet voice, so flute-like in its tones brink of an abyss with him she loved best on earth. of persuasion. And unconsciously her countenance assumed an Six years had passed since Ellen Fisher gave expression of profound sadness; her usually beam- her trusting heart to Edward Traverse, and how ing eyes were concealed by the lids that drooped had she been requited? Not by harshness or illheavily over them, and her lips quivered with the treatment. Oh, no! for there was too much manfeelings that oppressed her. She was lonely amid this gay and joyous throng, for she had few friends among the devotees of fashion who crowded the rooms and her thoughts went back to her childhood's home, where she had so often, at this hour, heard the sweet voices of her sisters singing their evening hymn, and then, in imagination, she knelt with them around their family altar, while her aged father solemnly implored the blessing of God in their behalf. But here, she felt that there would be no prayer, no remembrance of the God of her father; and for the first time since her betrothal, Ellen felt unhappy.

:

liness in his soul, and too much of tender affection for the gentle being whom he had sworn to love and cherish, ever to forget for a single moment what was due to her. But he knew not the pang that rent her heart, as day by day she saw the light of intellect fade from his eye, and witnessed the ravages of intemperance on his handsome form. But more than all, she grieved to see the soul that God had created in his own holy image, gradually becoming enslaved to this most debasing appetite. She mourned that he had fallen from his high estate; she shed bitter tears of grief over her darling boy, and breathed her soul out in prayers for The hours passed away: the festive throng with- the reformation of this beloved being. But days drew; the lights went out-the flowers withered; passed on, and months, and years, and the strong and the unclouded sun looked in next morning on a man bowed beneath the yoke of the monster. His sickening scene of confusion and discomfort. Poor business no longer conducted by the clear head and Ellen her feelings were in perfect accordance calculating mind, became embarrassed: creditors with the state of the house. She had been awa- pressed him closely; notes poured in for payment, kened from a bright dream of perfect bliss, by the and troubles thickened around him. He became rude grasp of anxious care and though she had gloomy and morose to all but his gentle wife,―to seen nothing in her husband that one less pure- her he was ever kind, and his heart often smote hearted than herself would have condemned, yet him when he saw her beauty fading beneath the coming events, casting their shadows before, filled sorrow that oppressed her. He knew he was breakher with fearful presentiments. Let us see how ing her heart, yet no murmur or reproof ever came they were realized. Spring came and found Ed- from her lips; he knew that she was sinking to her ward Traverse the same devoted, affectionate hus-grave, and he felt like her murderer; and often band, lavishing his wealth to contribute to the hap- when she laid her soft hand in his, and raised her piness of his beloved Ellen; yet rather fonder of beseeching eyes to him, while she earnestly plead gay company than young married men are wont to with him to abandon his present course-often, be. The long summer days dragged heavily after, often, had he sworn to reform, to dash the poisoned and so oppressed him with heat and languor, that chalice from his lips, and be again what she had he was fain to support his sinking powers with good believed him to be when he first won the conold Sherry or racy Port. Autumn followed, and fidence of her young, loving heart. But he was he found it so pleasant to spend the evening with too strongly bound thus easily to free himself. Let his young friends at their clubs: he was so fond of not him who lightly yields to temptation, flatter oysters, and though Ellen knew he loved her bet- himself that he can retrace his steps. The downter than every thing else in the world, yet she could ward road is an easy one, but he who seeks to renot expect him to mope at home with her every turn, step by step, to the high place he has lost, evening, and besides, she had always been accus- only falls back, Sisyphus-like, with increased vetomed to retiring early, and therefore he could be locity. One bold, one daring leap alone, will place no company for her if he staid at home. So that him above danger and sure refuge is only in by the time winter had covered earth's nakedness taking it. In vain had Ellen sought his confiwith her glittering mantle of snow, he hardly dence. She had not failed to mark that things deemed it worth while to attempt an excuse for were going wrong, and he little knew how gladly sleigh-riding and skating parties, invariably fol- ' she would have relinquished all claim to this splen

his powers. He now saw that this gentle being,

did mansion to bring him peace of mind. A man by the gaspings of poor Ellen, who struggled for may fancy he has concealed his troubles from the breath. And what were the thoughts wildly rushworld, but he little knows a woman's heart, who ing through the brain of the guilty man. Conthinks to hide his own from her. Her all-absorb- science carried him back to the time of their maring love can easily read the tracings of care on the riage, when she had so gently reproved his prebeloved brow, painful thought in the averted eye, sumptuous assertion that they would be happy by and the gnawings of a troubled conscience in the gently reminding him that there could be no true compressed lips. For several days she remarked happiness without the blessing of God. He felt that at dinner her husband seemed abstracted and that there had been no blessing with him, that he unusually thoughtful, and when he returned at night, had cast it recklessly from him, and had rushed this mood had given way to one of feverish impa-headlong to the precipice over which he now hung. tience, and he was evidently much under the influ- And she had saved him, saved him from himself, ence of liquor. One evening he returned in this saved him from that act of moral suicide, in which, excited state, and after sitting a few moments in by one fell blow, he would have sunk himself and the parlor with her sisters, who were visiting her, those that were dear to him forever-saved him took up a lamp, and with an unsteady step, pro- from an awful sin in the sight of God. Oh! that ceeded to his chamber. She softly followed him, he had told her before! Oh! that she had known anxious to share his troubles, yet half afraid to so- his troubles, how would she have comforted, advised, licit his confidence, and when she reached the and supported him! He now saw what he might chamber-door, sat down irresolutely in the shadow have seen before had not his senses been stupified of her infant's cradle, uncertain whether to throw by the intoxicating draughts, that, day after day, herself on his bosom and give vent to her anxious maddened his brain. and, night after night, palsied feelings, or to retire and leave him to himself. Meanwhile, Traverse seated himself at his wri-whom he had loved for her very weakness, (for that ting-desk, and drawing forth a pocket-book, be- made her draw more closely and confidingly to gan to examine its contents; and it was painful to him,) was one to grow strong as stern adversity watch his changing countenance as he turned over met her. Like the sapling that bends its slender leaf after leaf. At last he drew one paper out stem and droops its leaves as the fierce blast sweeps from the rest, and laying it on the desk before him, by, yet rises unbroken in its beauty as soon as the began, evidently, to copy some part of it on a blank storm is hushed, so did Ellen Traverse, in the first sheet before him. His face was flushed as much burst of her grief, bow her head and weep bitterly,― from excitement of feeling, as from the liquor he had yet she wept not long,―her anxious heart was full drank. Again he opened his pocket-book and took of busy plans. And now did the repentant husfrom it another paper, as it seemed, but partially band that, which had he done months before, would, Ellen's fears could stand it no longer, have saved him many a pang and her many a for as his pen passed rapidly over its surface, the heart-ache. He opened his heart to her fully and burning flush that had suffused his face gave place to freely; he told her of his difficulties and straits; a fearful paleness, and his hand shook like an aspen he told her of reverses; told her how he had been leaf. She rose tremblingly, and stood unobserved pressed in business, and the strong temptation he behind his chair. The paper was a check on an had to the commission of this act. And while he extensive house in the city for $1,000, filled out by confessed that intemperance was the cause of his her husband's hand. Oh! the horror, the fear, the downfall, acknowledged that he had not strength to madness of that moment to the poor, suffering break his chain. Then spoke his gentle wife in the Ellen. Terrible phantoms flitted before her eyes, pious language she had used when they first entered yet, by a tremendous effort, she controlled herself, that house. "My dear husband, with the blessing and as he affixed the forged signature to the paper, of God, we will be happy yet, oh! how I thank she laid her hand upon his arm. He started, Him!" she exclaimed, while her beautiful eyes, dropped the pen, and, looking up, met the terrorstricken gaze of his wife. Like statues stood they thus for one miserable moment; one moment, that seemed to have the wretchedness of years concentrated in its short space; terror and anguish flashing back from eye to eye. And then the husband, the guilty, conscience-stricken man, buried his death-like face in his hands, and his form shook with the violence of his emotions. She knelt beside him, laid her head upon his knee and wept such bitter tears of sorrow as we only weep for others would give him health and dearer than ourselves. Not a word was spoken day pay them all he owed. for several moments; the deep silence, broken only world he was an honorable

written out.

swimming in tears, were raised to Heaven," that he has permitted me to be the humble means of saving you from this dreadful sin and the disgrace that would have followed. Thank God! Edward, that you are saved, and in His strength free yourself from the thraldom you are in."

The next morning Edward Traverse called a meeting of his creditors, laid open his books for their inspection, gave up all his property into their hands, and, before them all, swore that if God strength, he would one

And in the sight of the man, for none could

As saying,—“bring your gifts to this one shrine:"Our future is performance! Worlds are placed But that her brow's clear will soon banished