The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-12-23
Albany grgister.
The sz.n-Trnp at A.,..,"Ic.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

snu twilight was gathering uitniy.
Mrs. Pratt leaned closer to the Win
slow that she might catch the fading
ays, and a little while longer con-
.:nue her work.
Sarah.'
:. Well?"
Mrs. Pratt did not turn nor look to-
low. sad murmur.
Sarah -
The hand of the speaker now rested
tightly on her shoulder.
With a quick movement. and with
some surprise in her manner. Mrs.
Trait turned herself from the window.
30 Edward -
Her voice choked and her eyes filed
with tears.
Slrlh.'' And Mr.. Pratt seated
himself beside his wife, placing his
hand gently on hers rs lie did So, and
looking earnestly and tenderly IN her
Iice. Sarah, | have Il little good
;ews for you if good news. can come
.s,jH>t such Il shape. Old kil!igrcw
/, dcad.'
Dead :"
Light and shadow were blended on
..ie face of Mrs. Pratt. Death Is an
-a1vtill thing. come in almost any shape
il will and in the case of a man like
! siliigrew it was awful in the extreme.
aet the Intelligence caused IA t!lrob of
pleasure i'm the heart of Mrs. Pratt.
Yes; he fell dead about two hours
ego, while standing b hind his bar.
lie died with the toddy stick i'll his
fand, and glass of liquor before
him. I wouldn't like to go into eter-
flity with all the sins against human
ity that lie on his conscience. The
very thought makes me shiver.
And Mr.. Pratt shu(ldercd as he
spoke.
:. Is the tavern to be closed ?" asked
Mrs. Pratt, hope and anxiety blending
hl her voice.
:. saw Parker, old killigrew SON
in-law. as l came along, and he told
RE that not another drop of liquor
should be sold there While he lived.
He means to farm the place himself.
It's first-rate land. though neglected
and run down.
:. Will he keep his word -
:. Parker! Yes indeed. If he says
a thing. you may depend OH his doing
II. lie has always been opposed to
lie oia ,-,an's keeping bar
ANA wi..-t 9 curse to Ashda,e that
bar has been, u Eslvarfi -.
No wonder Mrs. r~att was over
come by her feelings; no wu.uler She
said that the bar had been a curse. Ten
years before, as she stood beside her
young husband, she had the proudest,
ilappiest heart in Ashtlale. Since then
alas none was so humbled and grief
stricken for in that bar her loved and
honored husband had trailed his man
hood in the dust of deblsing sensual
ity.
Then, Edward Pratt kinder-heart-
ed man could not be found. But he
had neither decided will nor strength
OF purpose. The current in which his
life-boat happened to be usually bore
him along and even when conscious
that it was gliding towards a danger
oas sea, he opposed to it OILY slight
resistance.
Very soon after their marriage, Mrs.
Pratt discovered in her husband Il fond
Less for stimulating drinks. A
prompt yet gentle and loving remon-
STRANGE accomplished all she had hoped
to gain-the dangerous tempter was
banished from their house. All would
Rave been well, from that time forth,
had not the tavern of old Killigrew.
rhe only in Ash6lale, stood directly OIL
the way along which Mr.. Pratt daily
went to the store where nc was en-
pioyed as clerk.
Often, in returning home, lie would
ipe in company with young men who
word with the companionable land
lord, and a taste of his well-nlixed
liquor. 1t was not in the amiable and
compliant Mr.. Pratt to say mo- OH
these occasions.
soon his wife became aware of the
temptation that was in his way, and
OF his almost daily Weddings to its en-
Elements. She talked with him So
berly, yet gently and lovingly as be-
fore. Her words aroused no iinpa-
tience-nO anger-nO stubborn self
win. He loved her too well to pain
her with even frown.
$ I'n not darken old killigrew's
door again If it troubles you, Sarah.
1 don't care for his liquor. AS you
say it does me no good
:. shall be SO happy .'s sobbed Mrs.
Pratt, hiding her fearful face on the
breast of her husband. There il
nothing else in life to trouble me.,'
On the next morning, as Mr.. Pratt
yras passing the tavern, old KILL
.rrew--who. if not behind the bar
mixing up his tempting connpound<,
was sure to be at his door watching
out for c,lstOmers-cilied Osit:
6 Hey! Neddy, my boy! What's
your particular hurry z"
s. I'm a little late replied the
Young man, eyasively, keeping on his
way.
stop. stop!. called the landlord.
- Here! Why, my dear fellow, one
would think you had the business of
tine world on your shoulders. A man
should never be I'm too great a hurry to
speak a word with an old friend.
what's became of Phillips. | haven't
set my eyes on him for a week
THE truth is,' said Pratt, who
row paused, sit is the opiiliol of his
friends that he has been coming here
too often.''
ssPooh! Nonsense. Too often. l
never saw him when L thought he'd
been drinking too much. It's ridic-
yloas! And he is silly enough TO mind
tite1n Well, we'll! If he thinks he's
il, danger he'd better stay away. lie
must have weak head.
Killigrew spoke eoiitemptuously.
Pratt felt the landlords sneering man
,,,,. al,,,ost as Yuuf.ln as if IL faad bx.a,f