Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-03-16
CUMBERLAND, MD, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1866.

the organ as she had done for the year past
and as her fingers now swept over the keys
fancied that could detect tremulonsness
which had never noticed before. Was it
only my imagination, or was there really a
plaintiveness- sadness-in the expression
Of her music TO me it seemed as though,
at times. the organ moancd and wept. 1t
like the wailing Of the daughters Of Zion by
the rivers Of Babylon. When services were
over, and We went out from the church, saw
Mary's face. 1t was pale and wan as though
she had been sick. What could it be? Was
she suffering as I suffered? The thought
flashed upon me that some one might have
been telling her something to my disadvan-
tage had enemies in the village-encmics
who enved ME because had inherited some
wealth and, fancied, enemies who had en-
We'd me the love of Mry Granville.
Another week passed, and became moro
sad and lonesome. My business was irksomc
to me, and my books and papers af.or-
ded me no respite. In fact, could not
read, for my mind was never upon the page
before me- Another Sabbath at the church.
and I saw Mary again. 1t seemed to me that
she was paler than before. and her eyes looked
as though she had been weeping.
During the succeeding week received a
visit from my old college chum, Jack Stanton.
who had just opened law-ofice in Berry
Vile After supper. as we sat in my coozy
parlor smoking our cigars, | suggested that a
bottle of wine would not be miss. Jack
Jack shovk his head ns 'l. ..
"No, Charley he said. "We'll leave
the wine for those who need it,"
"You used to drink it. jack" ...
"Yes; but it never did me any good"
And do you think it ever did you any
harm p
"As for that will not say but, my boy.
l will tell tell you what can say 1t never
shall do me ary harm! know it has harmed
sthcrs who were as strong as | am. BY the
way, Charlie, isn't Mary Granville here"
Yes" said I.
"Do you know her 7"
turned AWAY my face, and pretended that
I had heard something at the window.
Il have seen her." I replied. when had
composed myself. "She plays the the organ
in our church. ."|..,
"She and were schoolmates. pursued
Stanton; " and speaking of wine brings her
to my mind. DO YOU know anything of her
early life" @
4" Nothing" answered. .-.
Poor Mary! never think Of her without
feeling my resolution Of total abstience grow
stronger and stronger. When We we're school
children together her father wasthc weathies.
man in Berryvile. and she and her brother
were among the happiest of the happy. Mr..
Granville was in the habit of drinking wine
and the habit grew upon him until he fel,
that he could not live without his brandy.
lie was Of a social disposition, and in time i,
came to pass that he was often grossly intox-
icated OF course, under such.circumstancps
one Of two things must happen: The man
must reform, or lie must sink. Mr.. Gran.
vile did not reform. aud ere many years he
died a drunkard's death. leaving his family in
poverty and suffering Thomas, the son
four years older than Mary. became very dis
sipatcd, and at age of eighteen, was killed in
street-6gbt in New York. Mrs. Granville
survived her son but few months. absolutely
dying so the doctors said. of broken heart
Poor Mary, thus left fatbcrless and mother.
less, with out brother or sister, at the age o.
fifteen, was forced to earn the bread which
she eat, and nobly has she done it. If you
know her, Charley. you know one of the
grandest women that ever lived. But--wha
is the matter2 Why, bless me, you look a.
/ pale as ghost Fl ~ aH
struggled with myself. and told jack thai
had swallowed a lot Of cigar smoke.
arose and opened one of the easements, and
stepped out upon the balcony. where tho fresh
/ ulT pdTtialJ IcStoic cu uuc W NY loTmcT sell.
AT a late hour Jack departed for the hotel
and when hnd retired to my chambes paced
to and fro until long past midnight. could
no longer misunderstood the motives which
had actuatcd Mary in rejecting my hand, She
knew that was in the habit Of using wine,
, and OIL that evening when last we met she
must have discovered that had drank enough
to bring false flush to my check.
80. my God r. ejaculated, as sank into
a chair, II wonder not that she feared to
trust her future life in my keeping. She ha.
suffered enough from the accurscd cup. The
night Of sorrow and desolation has been long
enough upon her. She would be worse than
mad to take husband whose opening path.
way Of life led towards the pit into which the
loved ones Of other days had fallen.
"But." asked myself. "why did she moi
tell me the whole truth r
found no difficulty in answering the qucs.
ton She had shrank from wounding my
feelings, I knew how sensitive she was, and
kpow that she had been afraid Of offending
"a u Il.