Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-08-24
Miscellany.
Kate's Resolve.
A TEMPERANCE STORY.
ny HATTIE HARPER.

Kate you do not love me and much
doubt if you ever did; or you would not
let such trihe separate us. l should be |
ashamed Of myself we're Ito sign away
my liberty, and thus ackowlcdge to the
world that have no strength Of mind or
confidence in myself"
"Oh, Stanley, how can you wrong me
so? 1t is the deep interest | feel in you
that makes me so anxious for you to do
that which you will never regret. I
would not pain you by bringing to your
mind unpleasant recolectons of the past,
only TO warn and stimulate you to an act,
simple in itself, but one on which may
rest your future happiness and that of
many loved ones. Think, oh think, dear
Stanley, of your own dear mother! You
can never imagine the half she suffered
from this terrible evil. My mother and
yours were bosom friends; and | have
heard her say she has often seen her shed
tears of agony over you while clasped in
her arms, and pray that you might be
taken, in all your purity and innocence,
rather than risk yoar following in the
steps of one who, instead of being your
guide and counsellor in all that was man
y and noble, might siuk you in poverty,
disgrace ana ruin. Stanley you have tax
en- the initiatory steps in that downward
road 1; you know you have, for you could
not disguise that you we're under the in
fluence of wine at Mrs. Alstons sociable.
} tried to believe that my eyes deceived
me, but others saw and commented upon
it, causing my cheeks to burn with shame
and grief. God alone knows how very
hard it will be to sever the ties of friend
ship and affection but never, while rea:
son holds her throne, will | consent to
) place my life's happiness in the keeping
of man who refuses to sign temper
! ance pledge under the Aimsy pretext that
it will sign away his liberty! Would |
: not sign mine away were l to become a
! drunkard's wife? Surely would, and
if you have any love for me, don't again
say I have no regard for you; for it is
> this feeling of regard that catscs the
grief to see you commencing course,
. which, if continued, must end in your eter.
nal ruin, here and hereafter"
Kate, this is perfect madness! Isay
again, | must have my independence!
= would scorn to refuse taking social glass
. with an intimate friend /; nor could | bt
: so rude as to refuse to pledge in wine tn,
health of our fair hostess. What if j
did make me little merry! l think toc
much of myself to become intoxicated, O
course and l do think you are making
g entirely too much of a trlfe, by allowing
your scruples to overrule your bettel
;. Judgment. l cannot believe it right.for
u man to bind himself in any way he shoult
: be free to act as his own feelings may die
tate" '.r..,
:, 81 say amen to that, Stanley. Yot
: are free from this very moment and j
: will be worse than useless for you to hin
y this subject again at any time or tttide
~ any circumstances, unless you have BEEF
: apledged temperance man for at Teas
" one year; and Heaven helping me, anc
= with my sense of right to sustain me,
I, will stand firm in my determination, anc
: not yield one iota, though it break m.
9 heart! But, oh! Stanley, l impore yo'
: to think of your angel mother, and forsak
this horrible practice before it is too lat
= to retraee."
u "Kate; for Heavens sake, cease this
= my mind is in wkirl. l am maddened
~ | cannot bear to be sent off thus; Civ
:, me tonight for rejection; tomorrow a
- ten o'clock l will see you, perhaps, for tn
+. last time"
l. He seized her hand, imprinted a kis
y, upon it, and was gone.
II Poor Kate She threw herself upon tn
sofa convulsed in tears.
is "Oh, 1t is SO hard, so hard. Ii givln
s. up half my life could save him, how cheer
j. fully would it be given but | carnc
r yield to his weakness, for it would be t
IS his ruin and disgrace, and What, whS
ns would l BET Oh, it is too horrible I
I'd contemplate! drunkard's wife the yer
,g thought makes me shudder." y
n Let us follow Stanley to his boarding
ne house, where he quickly repaired aftt
Z parting with Kate.
ri Un entering his room he threw himse
y, upon a sofa for reflection and, as !
told me afterward, reasoned with himse
%. thus , --. -r
o. . III am in pretty dilemma there
~ II II. l.. Il