Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-23

them hurrylng before the others. reele,
into the room where the party we're wait
ing. 1t was Philip. But what a sigh
for bride He had stupid g,in OF
his face, and hiccuped and stammered ii
his attempt to speak trying. however
to look grave and sober but breakin,
out at times in drinking chorus, il
which he was joined by his companion
who had staggered in after him. "Com
ducky,' he managed to say at last t,
Mary, while he held by her chair to saw
himself from falling: come, ducky
amt you ready" But the shock t.
her feelings was too great; the poor cir
had tainted. The millel's anger nov
broke out :; "Philip." he exclaimed
how dare you show yourself in tina
state of with you man; you ar.
drunk :" and with the assistance of tht
clerk, he pushed the bcsotted young mar
out of the house. Philip was to giddy
to offer any resistance. His compan
ions bore him off with a jovial song. ant
in a few minutes drove off as rapidly a.
! they had come.
Here was disappointment The
whole village was in the state of con-
stcrnatlon. Who could have thought
it Still even those who had been in
the secret of Philips misdoings had too
much respect for Mary to say they
Thought how it would be. Poor girl
she who, a short hour before, had oeen
50 happy in the prospect of her mar
rlagc, and received the congratulations
of her friends When she recovered
from her swoon, the rector. who had
heard OF what had happened while
waiting at the ch4rch came in aud en-
levored to soothe her with the con-
solatlons most likely to be effcctual a.
such trying moment. But the bright
sky, the green fields, the bees and flow
crs. every thing seemed at once to loose
its charms for her The miller in his
honest Indignation as inst the author OF
so much anguish, insisted that sha
should 80 and stay with his wife and
daughters for IA day or two, until, as Re
said. they say the upshot.
Mary native good sense. assisted BY
the generous sympathy OF friends, enabled
her III some d gree to overcome the
shock to her feelings. The sun was
jus; dropping behind the low hills in
the west, on the evening of the second
day after the unhappy occurrence, as she
lett the miller 5 hospltable dwelling and
the meadows on her way home
,,,,1a Nt-i,in,r 70, h. -.
chncd the otter made one of the young
girls TO accompany her. The path was
onc along which she had often walked
leaning on Philips arm, and the thought
Of this raised a stron- conflict of emo
tioa in her mind. Cruel had been his
conduct towards her. she felt that to do
as her friends advised and reason prompt
cd-break off the acquaintance, would
be an effort almost too painful for her to
bear.
Occupied with these reflections, she
had sat some time in the deepening twl-
light of her little room. when a low
knock came at the outer door, it opened
at her reply aud Philip entercd-but
how different from the blithe- looking
Philip Of former days.
Her first impulse was to advance and
meet him, but on q second thought she
sat still, while her lover approached
with hesitating steps, as though con-
scious of deserving no better reception.
For some moments neither spoke. At
last, unable to bear the young man
ming gled look of regret and self reproach,
Mary SAID in low tonc-"Oh, Philip ="
Mary" he replied, II must have
been mad to insult you with my pres
cnce at such time. How you must
hate me -
: Hate you no, Philip. I love you
too well for that. If it broke my heart
| could not hate you; would pray and
pity you
Generous girl' he exclaimed, at
to take her hand, which she
drew back, ''you will then forgive me =
Can you forgive yourself, Philip? Can
we ever be the same to one another as
we have been p
why not You surely won't cast me
off for u trolc We had brcn drinking
your neaith, and unfortunately took
little too much. But there was no
great harm done just tor once it was in
honor of you.
For once, Philip she rejoined, in a
tone and with u look that | t him under
stand that she was not deceived. -
Were it only once | disbelieycd the
reports of your being fond Of drink but
the worst is now confirmed. A man
does not become drunkard all at once
| have had time to reflect. and however
painful it may be to say 1t. we must
cease to think of each other. No,
connot marry man who values his rea-
son so lightly as to drown and debase it
in SO strong drink.
Philip hung down his head while Ma
ry was Speaking, and Tel. all the shame
OF his position. But YOU won't cast me
off SO, he replied, again looking up
Try mel IL never touch liquor again.
Oh. Mary what fool was to risk so
much happiness for drink You know
how | loved you, and though now
x,,,.olr I lnya y.n mora tba