The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-07-07
JULY Z, 1865. g1s' %, I. h. !. (. (
who were as strong as I nun. BY the way
Charlie. isn't Mary Granville here 2"
YES" said I. 5r.ar.! oa.f!

''Do you know herr" r. l' m1i .
turned away my facc, and pretended
that had heard something at the window.
~ have seen her." I replied, when had
composed myself. "Sho plays the organ in
the church." EH ...
"Sho and I werc schoolmatcs," pursued
Stanton, sand speaking Of wine brings her
to my mind. d. you know anything Of her
early life?" U-.
"Nothing," answered. .ars.
"Poor Mary! never think Of her with.
out feeling my resolution Of total abstinence
grow stronger and stronger. When wo were
school children together. her father was the
wealthiest man In Berryville, and she and
her brother were among the happiest of the
happy.
Mr.. Granville was in the habit OF drink.
ing wine; and the habit grew upon him un
ill he felt he could not live without his BRAN
dy.
IIc was Of social disposition, md in time
it came to pass that ho was often grossly in
toxicated. OF course. under such circum-
stances, one Of two things must happen
tho man must roIorm or he must sink. Mr..
Granville did not reform, and ere many wears
he died drunkard's death, leaving his fami.
ly iu poverty and suffering.
Thomas, the son, was four years older than
Mary, became very dlssipated, and ut tho age
of eighteen was killed in q street fight in
New York. Mrs. Granville survived her son
but few months, absolutely dying, the doc
tor said, Of a broken heart.
Poor Mary, thus left latherless and moth
erless, without brother or sister, at the ago
Of fifteen, was forced to earn the bread
which she ate, and nobly has she done 1t.
If you know her, Charlie, you know one of
the noblest women that ever lived. But
-! what is the matter? Why, bless me,
you look as pale as ghost"
I struggled with myself, and told Jack
that I had swallowed q lot Of cigar smoke.
/ arose andopened one Of the easements, step
ped out upon tho balcony, where the fresh
DIR partly restored met my former self. .
At a lato hour Jack departed for the ho-
tel. and when had retired to my chamber |
paced to and fro until long after midnight
l could no longer misunderstood tho motives
which had actuatod Mary in rejecting my
hand. Sho knew that was in the habit Of
using wine, and on that evening when last
we met she must have discovered that had
drank enough to bring lalso flush to my
check.
"Ob, my God" I calculated, as sank
into chair, 81 wonder not that she refused
to place her future liio in my keeping. She
has suffered enough from tho accurscd cup.
The night of sorrow and desolation has been
long enough upon her. Sho would bo worse
than mad to take husband whose opening
pathway of life led towards the pit into
which the loved onos Of other days had fall
On.
"But." asked myself, "why did shc not
tell me the whole truth"
found no difficulty in answering the qucs
ton. She had sl,runk from wounding my
feelings. knew how sensitive she was, and
l knew that she was afraid of offending mo.
Perhaps she thought me proud and head
strong enough to resent such liberty on her
part and perhaps she imagined I might look
upon her course as tho OF ring Of her hand
in consideration Of my renouncing the wine
cup. and that I might spurn her cffer.
On Friday Jack Stanton left me. and on
Saturday evening calleda Mary's boarding
house. Mary herself answered my summons.
She started when she saw me. and saw her
right hand move quickly towards her heart.
"Aary," said I, speaking calmly. for l
had mighty strength OF will to support
me. 81 have not conio 70 distress you. ]
have come as friend, and humbly ask that
you will give me an audience for few mo
mcnts." s@.... tgI'r
She wen. into tho parlOr, and I followed
her. closing the door behind me; and when wo
were alone she set the lamp upon t"c table,
and mo,ioned mo to seat. a '-.r ,.Irr
"No," said 1, II will not sit down yet
Give me your hands, Mary" ''" a'aR ,. b'h
Mechanically she nut forth her hands and