National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-03-19


hance his powerOf fascination new.
er was he so brilliant, never so
handsome. Almost could Ruth
have laughed at the sermons preach
ed by temperance folks, of the harm
/ sure to follow wine drinking.
If the story could end here, the
true story OF Ruth Holly's life, 1T
would be almost a happy one, but
alas, the sunny slope down which it
seemed so easy to slide, daily grew
/ darker as the years,tlew Oh. How
they began to tell her the fate before
her, Ruth, hardly knew. y
| A little flush OF shap4a ,N.,ne first
when his step was unsteady and his
voice too loud. Then a grieved tear
or two when he 'was unreasonable.
Then a sorrow that kept her heart
aching night and day for the man
who had first won inspiration from
the glass now lost it in its depths;
lectures to be delivered were not
given to the eypectant public be
cause 'of the illness of the lecturer
Ruth knew what that illness
meant, and tried to hide it. Litera-
ry work was neglected also. Money
was lost that migLthave easily been
won. Debts grew and credit lessen
ed: the handsome suite of rooms
were exchanged for one quite shah
by. Ruth'S dress became poverty
stricken. her husband was out at
the elbows and at toes--he was III
toyicatcd from morning until night,
and vet She loved him and Clung to
him. and in his sober moments he
loved her as fondly as ever. Some
times the old strcr 9Th aid the old
hope would be aroused III him and
he would struggle to re7aln his lost
position, butt was all IN vain; rum
triunphcd, and five years from her
wedding day Ruth found herself
with her one remaining child, the
first had died within Il year OF ITS
birth, in the dingiest OF wretched
tenement houses. in a state border
ing on bcgsary.
Edward had been more madly N.
toxicatcd that day than ever before !;
he had given her a blow; and now,
as the night wore on, he muttered
and raved and called for brandy,
and cursed her and himself until
She trcmbIed with fear. Al last as
the clock struck ten. he started to
his feet and staggered out of the
room. NOWing TO get drunk some
where.
Poor Ruth stood where he had
left for Il few moments. The mem
ory of the past was strong on lel
that night. Just at this hour five
- ycats before they had fed from her
fathers house together. How ten,
der he was, how loving, how gentle
How he vowed that She should ncV-
cr regret that night, and how had
he kept these promises! lie hau
broken every voW-he neither cher
ishcd nor protected her. His world
IL Goods he had given to the demon,
drink: his love had become a some
thing scarcely worth having and
vet She loved him and clung to him
She tried to feel cold ard hard to
him. but she could not; she Strovc
to remember the blow he had giNel
her. the oathS hc had uttered, but
she answered herself as she did So
1t waSuCt he who did tit va.
= rum She listened 30 the uncertain
rccing tootstcp in the street below
; and burst into tears.
I My poor darling,' she whispered
u as she thought some gricvouS caiam
/ ity had Smittcn him into the thin!
} he was. and he had not himself 'pu
L an enemy into his mouth so stca
- away his BRAIN uumindtul of he
woe and her shame. She though
, of him rccIiug hclplcssly along tn
II street, and feared that some haw
Il world come TO hiu. He might taI
into some ont .otthe way place an
e lie there undiscovered, and so lreez
u to death that bitter night and |
! her agony orterror, poor Ruth couI
= not restrain herself from iolloWln
= him.
II Her poor, weakly baby slept Sl
; wrapped it in blanket and lald
u in it's poor cradle. Then she thrc
l. her warm shawl over her head, an
+ FASTENED down the street, busy th
II late Saturday night with malkc
TT going people of the poorer classes.
I \ little way before her ree'ed Il
III handsome. broad shouldcrcd iigu
le of her husband. and she lady brC
VI and born, laStidiouS, elegant, accol
ke plishcd, reared in luxury, heaI
~ T." poor laborer's wives warn their eli
~ drcn To beware OF the drunken II
~ Wl' low.
~ ~ She heard coarse laughs at j
III expense, Under the shadow of h
shawl her cheeks burnt hotly b
T. for all that She never thought of :
", ing back and leaving him to hi
Nv self. AS soon rs she could :
.of gained his side aud called to him
- name:
II, EGwad. E. Edward!'
eo lie turned and stood unstead
''' looking at her, in a bewildcrcd WI
=, you he said. .Y0u ought to
NV u" at home this.timc of night
,'ii so we ought BOTH said Ruth.
~, Come dear
He threw her hand of.
in I'm my own MASTER he said !
hc not tied to any wolnan's apr
to string p and staggered away aga