Middletown transcript., 1869-01-16

BILE, EdgarY' said Minnie, motioning her
head towards the main object between the
back windows small damask- k-draped ta-
BILE, where glass and silver, and conf.c-
tionery, and hot-house flowers made daz-
zling glitter
"In excellent TASTE" he said slowly ap-
preaching and surveying the tout ensemble
with something of "a critics eye. BY my
faith that coffee-urn of frosted silver sends
forth a most appetizing odor; and those
grapes might have ripened in the sunshine
of Italian vineyards But, cara mia,
where on earth are all your wines ?"
Minnie colored little.
81 shall have no wine upon my table,
Edgar"
"No wine? And on New Years Day ?
Isn't that something like the play of Ham
let, with the part of Hamlet left OUT
"That's what Uncle and Aunt Archer and
everybody else said," cried Evelyn Ford,
eagerly. "And it will look so odd and
Minnie is absurdly determined upon it,"
Mr., Ashley laid his hand on the bell
knob.
=" Let us ring and order it now, Minnie
Your cousin is right-it will appear very
odd and prudish."
"No;' ;'-Minnie's voice was low, but
rcsolute, IL have thought the matter
over, Edgar, and have deliberately made
up my mind that /, for one, will have
nothing to do with offering the liquid poi
son to my guests, many of whom, although
they may wish to abstain, will yet lack the
moral courage to do So"
" You are complimentary to the strength
of mind of your guests, Minnie" said Mr..
Ashley, Struggling his shoulders
Many of them will not even pause to
think, Edgar. Many are mere boys who
have not the resolution to say no, when a
lady's hand holds out the cup of tempta-
ton. Should I be guiltless, to lay stumb-
ling blocks in their path p
"But everybody else will have wines on
their table what will it do for you alone
to be unlike the rest of the world -
Minnie shook her head smlingly.
"That Is no argument at all, Edgar.
1t Is nothing to me what my neighbor
thinks, or does not think, on question of
conscience like this. am responsible to
myself. and for myself alone"
Minnie, l think you are absurdly
Quixotic. If your guests haven't com
mon sense enough to judge for themselves
| -
"But, Edgar, they are not leftto Judge
for themselves. Wines, cordials, and
other Intoxicating liquors. are absolutely
forced on them by the mistaken hospitali-
ty of their hostess until it becomes almost
an impossibiity for them to decline with
out seeming rudeness, and the tiny cham
paign glass of sparkling foam becomes too
often the first drop in that fiery tide of de-
struction which one day engplfs them, soul
and body"
She spoke with enthusiastic earncstness.
Edgar Ashley curled his lip rather scorn-
fully.
You would make capital temperance
lecturer, Minnie. Nevertheless, | must
say, think you are behaving very ridic-
ulously. Come-be sensible girl put
aside these ine-drawn fanoies and behave
like other people"
Minnie was inexorable, however, and
Edgar Ashley, though he strove to con-
ceal the feeling, was little annoyed.
You show very little regard to my
Wishes" he said, coldly.
"Your wishes shall be my law, dear
est," she answered, in tone scarcely
above whisper, Gin all cases where they
are not opposed to the dictates of my own
conscience"
He turned abruptly away. She could
see that he was angry and irritated.
"Well, ladies, an repoir," he said, light
ly; "my friends will be waiting for me.
Later in the day l shall pay nay respects
with due ceremony"
There was graver light than usual in
Minnie's eyes as the door closed behind his
retreating footsteps.
"Well," said Rachel Ford, lightly, &c
wouldn't run the risk of offending such a
splendid young man as that for mere
matter of conscience"
"A mere matter of conscience Poor
Minnie she felt how hard it was to keep
to the narrow path of duty, with SO many
opposing influences at work.
But I know I am right-my inner
most heart tells me so," she said to her
self. and took courage.
1t was late in the day when Mr.. Ash
ley's sleigh once more stopped before the
Archer mansion-so late that the chande-
liers were lighted and the blue satin cur
tains drawn. Mr.. Duchesne and Colonel
Clifford were with him-the former gay,
dashing young Southerner, the latter a
quiet, well-bred ''society man." general
favorite in metropolitan circles.
Charlie Duchesne had evidently imbib-
ed freely of champagne and its brother la
mentations.
{" As general thing, don't drink" "
said he, 'but on New Years Day. when
the beaker is wreathed with roses and pre-
sented by the hand of beauty, man must
be more than mortal to resist. So, Miss
Archer, I'll drink to the health of the
Three Graces !"
He bowed round to the young ladies
holding on to the mantel as he spoke, tc
{ check slight unsteadiness. Colonel Cliff
} ford laughed Edgar Ashley bit his lip,