Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-05-03
Selected Tales.
THE LOVE AND THE PLEDGE.
4 temperance Sketch for the Unmarried.
BY GEO. E. MONTGOMERY.

BY GEO. Z. MONTGOMERY.
A young gentleman and fair girl
wcre seated in thoughtful and embar-
raised silence, in fine house in Chest
nut street, studying the fire that glowed
uncomfortable quiet in the CRATE. At
length the lady said, in low and hur-
RED voice, while her eye was steadily
turned away from her companion, af-
ter curative glance.
James, Rave considered your pre-
po:als long and seriouly since saw
YOU; for my happiness as well
as yours depended upon the decision.
and am obliged to sayI cannot accept
them
Cannot, Anna! Do you doubt my
love, dearest? Surely you do not
NO James, do not doubt your love.
nor do | deny that my own feelings
plead against the decision ] am con-
strained, by my sense of duty,to make
Your feelings plead for me! Why,
how then, can you reject my hand?
Am not worthy Of your love, of your
esteem? Why do you dispise mel'
4 do not dcspise you, James we
still may be friends
Then you love another; for surely
you would not grant your friendship
to one who was unworthy of you?
Tell me the truth; be candid, do you
love anothcrr
i do not.
Then why this determination? What
Is the reason Of your conduct? You
tell me that ycur feelings must be re-
pressed to enable you 10 fulfil this res
cIuton. Ofwhat have been guilty
Cannot prevail upon you to change
your opinion? If have done any
thing to offend, you, let me know it,
James you cannot alter my deter
mnatiop; and you only cause me pain
and excite yourself by arguing against
it,
But will you tell me why you have
come 10 this concluson?'
DO YOU ask me, James. would
only offend you, without doing the
slightest good.
Il will not, indeed; it will not, how
ever unjust or unklnd, | will not re-
proach you even with look
james! she answered, after mo.
mcnt's silence. and the voice was sad,
and seemed half smothered by sob
James, you are too fond of winc.'
Fond Of wine? Is this your rca-
son! When have | ever used wine 10
excess! What harm have | done BY
drinking a few glasses of wine?' he re-
Piled angriIy. Who ever saw me in
ioxiCated?
You have been SO, James,
lie hcsitatcd, and then continued
But that was by accident; and many
whom the world esteem, use wine
more freely than | do. / never injur-
ed any one by drinking
James. you have injured others by
your example. You have afflicted your
mother and sister, and you would en-
bitter the life Of wife by chance in
toxication. James, | am not unrca-
sonable in this refusal; it IS the best for
Us both. Look at your sister Alicia
When she was married, she knew that
Mr.. Hcrrick used wine, but she feared
not the consequences. Now look at
her. All their comforts, every means
Of subsistence, have been lost by the
habits Of her husband, and she is hour
y afflicted by the evil example he sets
her children. Yes, BY the lesson he
gives them in vice, You have seen
his little boy intoxicated by his father, to
give pain to his wife and her family.
Upon whose bounty he was living
But | never use wine as he did; and
Will promise never to use it to excess
James, dare not marry any man
mat uses any kind Of intoxicating
drink
:" ell, persevere in your unreasson-
aoie determination, but | will not be
''oleet to your capricious government.
James retired with the angry de-