consent to their marriage until George had agreed to
live with him.
"How can you," said he to Louisa, "leave your father's hearth so dreary and desolate as it will be when you go from me ?"
Louisa assured him that she had no wish to quit her dear home, and she knew George would not be so cruel as to take her from him. A few months after their arrival, Louisa and George were united, and their nuptials were celebrated in the most splendid manner. Never before had those halls so resounded with joy and merriment, and none amid that glittering throng was so joyous and happy as Louisa. Methinks I now see her sylph-like form, gliding with grace and elegance through the mazy dance. Happy, light-hearted girl ! little did she imagine that she was wedded to a man destitute of all moral character ! little did she dream of the misery her young heart would soon have to suffer ! What a wise order of Providence, that we are not permitted to look into futurity ! Our most happy moments would be constantly embittered by some reflection of a disagreeable nature.
George and Louisa had not been married a year, before he became heartily tired of a country life ; it was not in accordance with the habits he had formed previous to his marriage. He began to take rides in the city, every day prolonging his stay more and more ; frequently returning after dark, and to the great surprise and deep mortification of his wife, often highly intoxicated. At last he made known his intention of removing to town, and urged as a reason, that it best suited his business ; and Louisa could hear from, and see her father almost every day. But it was more with a view of concealing his irregular conduct, and freeing himself from the immediate observance of his father-in-law. Colonel Sanford had by this time discovered, to his great horror, the habits of his son-in-law, and warmly opposed his leaving his house, thinking that keeping him in the country, with Louisa's affection and devotedness to him, would yet turn him from the errors of his ways ; but all his remonstrance was unavailing, for George persisted in his determination to go. Colonel | Sanford purchased them a house, and furnished it in a beautiful and elegant style. It was with a heavy heart that Louisa quitted her dear paternal home. Poor girl ! she had even now shed many bitter tears of grief, and felt that keen sorrow which none but a confiding and affectionate wife can feel, when she sees her husband, the idol of her heart, him to whom she has plighted vows of eternal love, reeling with intoxication , and growing cold and indifferent to her. Her father saw it all ; her pallid cheek and tearful eyes had not been unobserved ; and how keenly did he feel for his dear child. Leonard, after removing to town, began to devise VOL. I.- 22
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plans to get a larger portion of the property in his possession, and he induced his father-in-law to establish him in the mercantile business. Colonel Sanford fondly hoping that he would have a fondness for business of that nature, and become himself again, readily invested a portion of his property in that way ; but it was not long before it was all squandered. The sums which he had borrowed before his marriage had to be repaid, duns beset him at almost every corner of the streets, and he drank more and more, to the entire neglect of his business. Night after night, he left his devoted wife with no one but the servants. How heart-rending it was, to one of her sensibility, to see her husband sinking every day deeper in vice, and becoming callous to her entreaties. She used every means in her power to induce him to remain at home, but he was deaf to her. The wine cup had more charms for him than his beautiful and affectionate wife. How many a heart has been made desolate and wretched, how much domestic peace and happiness have been forever destroyed by that "demon wine !" Leonard had drunk of this poison until it had eradicated every feeling of refinement and sensibility in his nature. It is an old adage "that when things get to their worst they must mend." Louisa thought her husband could not get any worse, and closely did she hug to her bosom the hope that he would yet reform ; but vain was that hope. Her father was in the fall of 18- elected senator from the county of Richmond, and had now to leave for the seat of government. He visited his daughter, the day previous to his departure, and urged her to accompany him, as he could not bear the thought of leaving her in her present distracted state of mind, and be so long absent from her ; but she would not consent to leave her husband. Leonard was constantly in the habit of staying out all night, but he was absent from his house several days, and his wife knew not where he was, and she dared not send a servant to his various haunts to inquire for him, for it had more than once subjected her to his abuse. Oh ! the agony, the anxiety she felt during these days, imagining every thing horrible to have befallen her husband ; with no one to unbosom her feelings to , for she was too proud and high-minded to tell her sorrows to a mere acquaintance. She had few visitors to relieve the monotony of her dreary life, for as it is the destiny of woman (no matter what her merits or demerits may be) to sink or rise with her husband, her friends were gradually falling off. At length he came home at a late hour of the night, and called to his servant for a light. Louisa heard his footsteps in the hall, that sound that had so often made her heart bound with joy ; she listened, but he approached not her chamber ; he had ascended the stairs, she called to him, but he made no reply ; she followed him , and looking into the room he had entered,
