The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-02-15


beseeching him with streaming eyes 70
turn aside from the path that was lead
ing him rapidly to ruin. and adopt . no.
bier, better life. sal
Vain were her efforts. He loved her
dearly as the only child heaven had
blessed him with, and rs . beautiful
souvenir of his sainred wife, and he
promised her repeatedly that he
would terminate his shameful. car
rer, leave his vile companions, and
that his actions thereafter she need new
er be ashamed Of But no sooner was
she out of his sight no sooner Was he
free from tboad pleading bdEsand words
and wasi onoe2 more in ceIpany Of his
degraded associates, than All his good
resolutions vanished like mist before the
morning sun.
He was the slave OF rum. Every
night found him in the bar-room. laugh
ing, chatting and drinking to excess.
and when intoxicated some cooler head
ed rogue who professed to be his friend
but whose love for gold was stronger
than the ties Of friendship, would entice
him to the gaming table. This was
continued night after night, and what
money st. Clair earned for the support
OF himself and daughter, was swept
| from his hands in this way.
While things continued thus it is no
| wonder that lie was soon compelled to
sell furniture, clothing and jewelry to
obtain money with which to buy their
daily bread. This awkened him to the
alarming fact that he was fast working
himself into a bad predicament and he
resolved to be moro careful in the fu-
ture.
By some lucky stroke-not by cast
ing cards or dice, but in q manner pure
ly honorable though accidental-hc
had come in possess sion Of i've tho usand
dollars. With this, he said, he would
recover all that he had lost.
"No, my dear Katie" said he, eI will
not take drop of the accursed stuff
tonight; for I'm as anxious as you to
retain the little fortune"
Neither must you play, father
'Oh, Katie! you're becoming too
strict. Unless play how am to regain
the large sum have lost?'
sOh, father, fathcrv
There, Katie, don't be baby
Don't cry, pray you, and 1 will also
promise to leave the csrds alone to night.
l will go down and entertain the boys,
for already hear them below, Kiss
me good night, darling. There; cheer
up, now, and rest assured that not a
single drop of the filthy poison shall
pass my lips in my absence
And with this he left her left her
alone in the plain little sitting-room.
there, to weep and pray for the parent
she loved so well, but whose degrade
ticn and deprivaty was source of much
trouble to her. Her heart bled for him,
and yet it beat with feeble joy now
faint hope that he might keep his
promise this once and turn res solutely
away from the sparkling beverage when
tempted to indulge his taste. She sent
up feverent prayer to heaven that it
might be so, for we'll she knew that if
he once yielded to the temptation he
would drink till intoxicated, and full as
we'll did she know that if once intoxi-
Gated the money he possessed would
soon be in the hands of the merciless
wretches who nightly visited his bar
Down stairs went Dick St. Clair, to
join the men below. The saloon was
brilliantly lighted up, and there were
several rough-looking men assemebled
there, trequenters of the house, loung.
about in various attitudes, some talking
ing and laughing familiarly. some quietly
slipping their liquor, and others disput-
| ing and blaspheming boistrously. Blu, all
paused to receive the host.
Among the number gathered there
was portly man, rather more prepos-
essing than the set whossurrounded him
He was doctor, and an old friend of
| St. Glars.
The sight of this parsonage, who had
long been absent from the city, served
to Danish poor Katie from his mind, and
the impression she had made upon him.
He forgot his promise he forgot the
Eve thousand dollars, and his resolve to
make it the means of recovering his lost
property; he forgot the pleading words
and fearful eyes of Katie, and the effect
they had had upon him; he forgot every
thing but his old friend, and no sooner
had they exchanged greeting than he
called to the sprighAy bar>keeper 10
bring on the wine. 1t was another solemn
promise broken.