The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-10-19

hopes OF his reform when he would
talk of himself in his drunken state as
of another person, expressing his abhor
feeling that he could never sink so low
again. But again the craving would re.
turn so strong he could not overcome it.
and he would sink beneath it, At the
time of which have been speaking he
remained sober about six months. He
seemed so much like his former self in
this lucid interval as it might be called
that the hopes Of Prudence ran high,
though they had often done so before
aud been dashed. He looked more like
his former self. His self respect seemed
to have returned in a great degree
Since he had fallen into these'degraded
habits he had acquired an abject, down
look, SO different from the air Of manly
dignity that had before characterized
him. Now he held up his head, and
his walk, and the expression of his face,
indicated that he began to believe in
himself again. He showed less irrita-
bility at home, and seemed more like
the genial Stephen of other days.
Prudence took more pains to please
him and to be pleasant. For years she
had been pecvish and frstful. But the
lightness of spirit she felt in the pros
peet of Stephens reform showed in her
manners and in her face. The prospect
seemed Frightening for their future hap
piness. Imagine, then, her feelings
when, one night after she had taken
particular pains to get supper to suit
him, and had dressed herself in a way
that suited his taste-she had begun to
see the influence of these little things
imagine the feeling Of disappointment.
of horror that overcame her, "a she stood
at the door watching his coming, her
face arrayed in smiles, to see him come
reeling up the street. waving his arms
about to keep himself from falling. She
stood as if transfixed till he reached the
gate. She looked at him with a stony
horror in her eyes as he fumbIed at the
latch, and then opened the gate and
toward the house. He reach
ed the step. She did not move. He
pushed back his hat, aud looked up ut
her with drunken leer. Then. with
a thick utterance and a silly laugh, he
made some complimentary remark upon
the dress she wore. Then reaching out
his arms toward her, he said, "Ye look
so pooty l mus kiss ye.' staggering in
his speech as in his gait
With look Of disgust upon her face
she put out her arms with sudden mo-
tion, and with all her force she pushed
him back ward He fell heavily upon
the stone walk. His eyes closed a
deathly pallor overspreah his face. She
and ran to him. She fell upon
him.
30, Stephen, have killed YOU p she
cried. 80, Stephen, do open your eyes,
or l shall die. My dear husband! O,
heaven knows I did not mean to hurt
YOU"
Ames. I called to him. then drew the
weeping wife, almost frantic now with
horror and remorse, from the body. |
led her into the house. and placed her
almost fainting. upon her bed, so weak
now she had no power of resistance
whatever
Mr.. Ames called another neighbor to
his assistance and bore stephen, still in
sensible, into the house and laid him on
a sofa in the sitting-room. Then they
sent for the village doctor. He was ab 5.
sent. He had gone few miles into the
county to visit patient that was dan
ge-ously i'll. What was to be done /?
The doctors wife thought he would be
back in the course Of All hour, so there
was nothing to do but to wait.
had given Prudence a soothing po-
ton, for I was fearful she might go into
Mysteries, and she had fallen asleep. In
the mean time Stephen reused from his
stupor. He seemed perfectly sober. He
raised himself and looked about him.
He put his hand to his head and look ed
inquiringly at Mr.. Ames, who stood by
his side.
"You fell; you were stunned" said
Mr.. Ames
Stephen looked at him fixedly for a
"a il trying to recollect some.
thing, then he fell back ward and closed
his eyes again. Tears forced themselves
between the lids, and his lip trembled
like grieved child's.
/ wondered if he was conscious of the
violent rspulse his wife had given him.
He opened his eyes again and looked
round, as if searching for some one. l
stood beside the sofa then thought
he was looking for his wife. "Pru
dence.' was SO overcome by seeing you
in an insensihle state that l made her
go and lie down to recover herself. I
gave her a soothing potion, and she ia
asleep a look of relief can,e into his
face. 1t is because he thinks Prudence
cares for him still, thought. He put
his hand to his head.
docs your head ache?" Mr.. Ames
asked.
YES he said.
1.-The doctor will be here soon, /
Think said Mr.. Ames. "then perhaps
he will give you something to relieve
it,"
20, am my own DOCTOR" he said. II
don't want any DOCTOR" He had read
medicine before his marriage, but did
not incline to it's practice, yet usually
prescribed for himself or family when
i'll. There's little chest of medicine
IN that closet there. Ifyou'll bring it I
think can select something that will
relieve me-"
Mr.. Ames brought it, and set it in
chair beside him. Stephen opened it,
md took a phisl from one corner He