Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-07


. nothing, save that she had been well cduc
ted and had moved in good society and
had reason to believe that, at some time, h,
parents had been wealthy but her fntll,
; had failed in business, and it had been tol
to me that the sad reverse killed him.
lia3 known that Mary was poor-that sh
was dependent upon her daily labor for sur
portland the thought that l could ofre
her comfortable home, with the atvantag
OF moderate wealth, had given increase t
my prospective happiness. But this unex
pccted answer dashed all my bright hope
to the ground
"Do you mean" cried velemcntly. tlla
you thus dismiss me ! Am cast off.'
'l cannot be your Wife" was the reply.
Then" said ], with more warmth thar
| might have betrayed under the circum
stances, 81 leave you to yourself, and Will,
| strive to shake off the love that has bound
. me to you, will only hope that ere you
lead another into your net you will conclude
beforehand whether you will keep him."
| She looked up into my face with a pain
/ full, frightened glance, but | did not stop to
hear her speak further. turned and left
! the house.
/ remarked that under other circumstan-
ccs might have been more cool and col
lccted in my speech; ana what do you sup
,'osc dear readers the attending circumstan
ces wcrc2 I'll tell you candidly.
| was little heated with wine. ! had
drank just enough to warm my blood and
give my brain an extra impGlsc, and my
words were not chosen rs should have
chosen them had the spirit of wine been
absent. As walked toward my home
sought to persuade myself that had tortu-
,.I, -
that | Nigh. he the better enabled thus to
reason, | stopped at the hotel, where found
few of my companions, and heped dispose
of half II dozen bottles of wine.
On the following morning awckc with
headache, and when 1 called to mind the
events Of the preceding evening was any
thing but happy began to realize how
much had loved Mary Granville. There
was an aching void in my heart, and fairly
wcpt as ] contemplated my loss. 1t was my
first love- and its influence had penetrated
every fibre of my being. The beautiful girl
had become more dear to me than ! could
tell, and grouncd in bitter anguish when
thought that she was lost forever. l had
resolved that woald feel very angry and
indignant, but when the sweet face was call
cd UP to mental view such feelings melted
away, leaving nc sad and dcsolate.
On the following Sabbath | attended,
church. where saw Mary once more. She
played the organ, as she had done for the
past year, and us her fingers swept over the
keys. ianced that could detect a trcmu-
lousness which had never noticed before
Was it only imagination, or WAS it really
plaintivcnrss-u sadness in tho expression
of her music
To NC it seemed at times as though the
organ moancG and wept. 1t was like the
wailng of the daughters Of Zion by the
rivers of Babylon.
When the 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 suffer.
ing as l had suffered The thought flashed
upon me that some one might have told her
something to my disadvantage. / had enc
mics in the villnge-rncinies who had en-
We'd me htcause had inherited some wealth
and inncied enemies who cnvied me the
love OF Mary Granville.
Another week passed and | became more
sad and lonesome. My business was irk-
some to me, and my books and papers af
fordcd ne no respite. In fact | could not
read, for mind was never upon the page be-
fore me. Another Sabbath at church and
| saw Mary again. She was paler than be-
fore, and her eyes looked as though she had
been weeping.
During the succeeding week received Il
visit from MY old college chum, Jack Stan
ton, who had just opened law office in
Berryvlle. After supper, as we sat in the
cosy parlo. smoking our cigars, suggested
that hottie of wine would not be amiss...
Jack shook his head.
"No, Charlie hc said, "we1l leave the
wine for those who need it,"
"IOu used to drink ii, Jack
"Yts, but it never did me any good.'
And 90 you think it ever did you any
harm p
AS to that | will not say it never shall
do me harm. know it has harmed Others
who were rs strong rs | am. BY the way,
Charlie isn't Mary Granville hcre?"
YES said l.
do YOU know herr"
turned away my face and pretended to
have heard something at tie window.
II have seen hcr,"l replied, when | had
composed myself. "She plays the organ in
/ the church"
''She and were schooimates,' pursued
/ Stanton, land speaking "f wine brings her
to my mind. Do you know anything Off
carly liici"
"Nothing,n answered.
"Poor Mary never think OF her with
out feeling my resolution of total abstinence
grow stronger and stronger. When we were
school children together her father was the
weal,hicst man in Bcrryvlle, and she and
her brother were among the happiest OF the
happy.
ing wine, and the habit grew upon him un
til he felt that he could not live without Ai'
brandy.
''IIc was of social disposition, and IL
time it came to pass that he was often gross
ly Intoxicated OF course, under, such cir
cumstances one of two things must happeI
the man must reform or he must sink
Mr.. Granville did not reform, and ere man!
years he died drunkard's death, leayin:
his family in poverty and suffering.
'Thomus, the son, was four years olde
than Mary, became d:ssipated, and at tn
age of eighteen was killed in Il street fgh
in New York. Mrs Granville survived he
son but few months hs-absolutely dying
the doctor said of broken heart.
Poor Msry, thus left iatherless and moth
erless, without brother OF sister, at the az
of fifteen was forced to earn the bread whic
she ate-and nobly has she done it. II yo
know her Charlie, you know one of the n,
blest women that ever lived. But-what
Il n I'M Il