The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-07-25

rited some wealth-and I fancied enemies
who envied me the love Of Mary Granville.
Another week passed and became more
and more sad and lonesome. Ny business
was irksome 10 me. and my books and pa
pers afforded me no respite. In fact could
not read, for my mind was never on the
page before me. Another Sabbath at
church and l saw Mary again. She was
paler than before. and her eyes looked as
though she had been weeping. 2W
During the succeeding week received
. visit from my college chum Jack Stanton,
who had just opened Law Office al Berry
vile. After supper. as we sat in our cosy
psrlor smoking our cigars. suggested that
bottle Of wine would NOT be amiss. Jack
shook his head.
"Ne, Charley" he said. "we'll leave the
wine 10 those who need IT,"
You used to drink. Jack"
YES, but IL never did me any esod."
"And do You think that it ever did you
any harmf'
"As 10 that will not say. il never shall
do me harm. | know ithas harmed others
ss strong as am. BY the way, Charlie,
isn't Mary Granville here" a
YES" said /.
do you know herr"
l turned away my face and pretended to
have heard something al the window.
IL have seen her." I replied. when
had composed myself. "She plays The or
gan in the church"
.She and | we're sehoolmates." pursued
Stanton ]" and speaking Of wine brings her
20 my mind. DO you know any thing Of her
early liie."
"Nothins., answered.
Poor Mary l never think Of her with
out feeling my resolution Of total abstin-
ence grow stronger and stronger. When
we were school children together her faith
er was the wealthiest man in Berryville.
and she and her brother we're among the
hsppiest Of the happy.
"Mr. Granville was in the habit of drink
ing wine. and the habi, grew upon him un-
Ill he could not 60 without his brandy.
/" He was of social disposition, and in
time il came to pass that he was often
grossly intoxicated. Of course. under such
Circumstances. one Of two things must hap
pen--,he man must reform or sink. Mr..
Granville did not reform. and ere many
years he died drunkard's death, leaving
his family in poverty and suffering.
Thomas. the son-four years olden than
Mary-beeame dissipa,ed. and al the age
Of eighteen was killed in a street fight 10
New York. Mrs. Granville survived her
son but few months--absolu,ely dying,
the doctor said. Of broken heart.
i "Poor Mary thus left iatherless and
motherless, without brother or sister, at the
age oi fifteen. was forced 10 earn the bread
she ate--snd nobly has she done il. lfyou
know her, Charley, you know one Of the
noblest women hat.,ever, lived. But-whats
the matters Why bless me, you look as
pale as ghost.
struggled hard with myself. and told
Jack that had swallowed a lot Of cigar
smoke. lrose and opening one of the case.
ments steppedsout on the balcony, where
, the fresh AIR restored nae.
! Al = late hour Jack departed for .he hn.
tel. and when retired 70 my chamber
paced to and fro until long after midnighi
} | could no longer misunderstood the mo-
tive which had ae,uated Mary in rejecting
! my hand. She knew that was in the ha.
. biz ef using wine. and on that evening when
we me, she mus, have discovered that had
. drank enough to bring false dush to my
r cheek.
"Oh my God!"I calculated. as | sank
! into a chair, /" wonder not that she refus.
! ed to place her future life in my keeping
She had suffered enough from the sccursed
cup. The night Of sorrow and desolatior
Q has been long upon her. She would be
worse than mad TO take husband, whose
opening path in life: led towards the Pil
) into which the loved ones Of other days had
fallen.