Not Charles Romaine with the blurred and bloated countenance, the staggering gait, the confused and vacant eye; but Charles Romaine as a young, handsome and talented lawyer, the pride of our village, the hope of his father and the joy of his mother; before whom the future was opening full of rich and rare promises.

Need I tell you that when he sought my hand in preference to all the other girls in our village, that I gave him what I never can give to another, the first, deep love of my girlish heart.

For nearly a whole year I wore his betrothal ring upon my finger, when I saw to my utter anguish and dismay that he was fast becoming a drunkard.

Oh! Mr.
Clifford if I could have saved him I would have taken blood from every vein and strength from every nerve.

We met frequently at entertainments.
I noticed time after time, the effects of the wine he had imbibed, upon his manner and conversation.