The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-09-17

! er, man loved and respected. How dt
you suppose he feels | have rict
brother in New York. They have both
TIED to save nc
Il was ruined in my youth. There
Is large oil store Oh the corner of NJ
and l.. streets, You have doubtless seen
It, Before his death, my father carried
on that business. | went there regular.
ly after it was closed for the day, stealing
from my home, often from my bed, for
the purpose of carousing with three
young fellows of my own age. We told
stories, we drank wine together till mid.
night, then with false key | had made,
would steal into my house aud sleep of
my earouse. l began that sir, when
was but ten years of age. Do you won
der | was drundard ? OF these boys,
L alone am living. One of these boys
shot himself, another was drowned drunk,
and the third was hung for murder, only
two months ago. The fourth you see, is
not much better off, he added with a
slckiy smile.
My habits began to be known at last
to my parents 1t came near killing
them. Before | was eighteen, | had
been brought home drunk nearly score
OF times. Sir, fought with my habit,
but it mastered me. The iend had me
by the throat.
Strange to say, once when l was in
liquor l performed daring feat l
caught runaway horse, and by sheer
strength succeeded in arrcstins his mad
course. Noula that some power could
have held me so. l was much applaud
ed for my heroism. But better than all
the praise l heard were the sweet smiles
upon the white face of the girl | had
saved from horrible death She was
driving alone in the city, as had been her
wont for months. | claimed the privi
iegc of driving her home, as she was
most thoroughly frightcd. You smile,
sir; but the expression, her graceful
thanks, my own impulse of gratitude,
had sobered me. ! sprang into the vc-
h'cie, and IN short time we stopped at
her fathers door She invited me in. |
thought | would at least describe the ac
cIdons, and make some apology for my
unexpected appearance.
Il told the story of the narrow escape,
to the Old man whose brow and hair were
whltencd with the frost of eighty win
tcrS. lie was the aged grandfather
Childish in his joy, he tottered toward.
uIc, and throwed his trembling arms
about my neck, he kissed me on the
check.
Many times have fel, that kiss, sir.
| was unworthy OF SO pure an ovation
from such a holy man | felt myselfun
worthy that dear angels gratitude, as the
sweet Annette cauo in few moments
after, still sremblinc still pale, and with
misty, blue ewes and gentle lips thanked
me again and again In that house that
day, was fcasted like prince. There
were cousins and aunts there visiting for
the summer, and among them | was a
lion.
L" ] was good looking fellow then sir,
and Just on the eve of entering college.
" \ loung as ! was, if ever man fell in
love, did there and then Poor cEiId
she loved me-and | cloudcd her life.
"Wcli, sir, you wait for my story, !
see After this, my calls upon Annette
were frequent. | lost my relish for vui-
gar issipation, and preferred her society
to that Of any Of my former congeniai
mates If drank--and did-it was
secretly, and always slept it off. Ny
friends and those Of Annette prophesied
a match-you see my father was wealthy
| had good expectation, intended to study
for the law, aud was deemed desirable
catch.
Il believe I worshipped Annette -
She was scarcely more than a child, but
such a glorious, gifted creature. She
was fifteen, | twenty; five years between
us. We were engaged twelve months
from that time, while going through col,
lcge.
For year, had successfully resist
ed my old disease. called it disease
| do now. Remember that | did not let
the cursed daught alone, as I should. |
only kept the appetite in unvholesome
subjccsion. | applied the knife, but not
to the right place, and there came ais-
grace and downfall.
"Ono night the students had frolic
| was the foremost reveler. They tempt
cd NE with devilish pertinacity to drink
to excess. [ did so, grew quarrclsomc
and raised a row. In the melee two of
the students got hurt and made so
much noise that we were discovered in
our rcvels. The blows that were given
proved upon me falsely. Incver remem-
b2red that gave them. | was convict
ed, expelled and published.
The disgrace was overwhelming, l
tried to kill myself when | heard that
Annette friends had cast me of forev-
er. \ note was put in my hands one
day, Just as | had determined on the
means to rid myself Of existence. 1t
read thus
"DEAn RrcHAnp--I am sorry for you
| do not believe az they say, and surely
a man is no. to be cast off for one false
step Come to Aunt Marthas this af.
tcrBoon They have forbidden me to re,
coive you at the house. but | will see
you there. Yours, as euer,
ANNETTE.
"Oh. sir, that made my heart lcaI
into my throat with JOY aud grief. Sh,
did not know that this was far from my
first false step
i" Dear angel, she had faith in me, ant
wanted to comfort me. Besides, sh,
was young, impulsive, loving. At three
in the afternoon ! went to the place .h
had designated 1t was poor, plail
house, for her Aunt Martha was far from
rich, and, az | sat in the little parlor
Annette came in and made it all alight
q Her low. dear Richard! was tn
sweetest music | ever heard Then as
cannht her tn my hnsnm sha r,rcss