St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-04-14

IL NOT liIlIcl DciicT Oh, ne i'lltu, VII
a sickly smile.
"My habits began TO be known at las
TO my parents. 1t came near killin
them. Before | was eighteen had beer
brought home drunk nearly score O
times. Sir, fought with my habit, bu
it mastered me. The iiend had me by
the throat.
STRANGE TO say, once when | was il
liquor | performed Il daring feat.
caught a runaway horse, and by sheer
strength succeeded i'll arrcsIing his ma,
course Would that some power conld
have held me So. | was much applaud
ed for my hcroi>m. But better than all
tie praise heard, were the sweet smll2s
upon the white face of the giIl | had say
rd from Il horrible death. She was
driving alone in the city, AS had been
her wont for months. | claimed the
privilege of driving her home, rs she was
mast thoroughly frightened. You smile,
sir; but the cXertion, her graceful thanks,
my own impulses Of gratitude, had So
bcrcd me. sprang into the vehicle and
i'll short time we stopped at her faith
cr's door She invited me in thought
! would at least describe the accident
and make some apology ipr my unrX
peclrd appearance
Il told my story of the narrow escape
to an old man whose brow and hair WAS
whitcncd with the frost of eighty win
tiers. 1t WAS the aged grandfather
Childish in his joy, he tottcred toward
me, and throwing his trembling arms
about my neck, he kissed me ON my
check
"Many times have felt that kiss,
sir; | was UNIV orlhy of so pure an ov;l-
ton from such 4 holy man. | felt my
self unworthy of that dear angels graft
tudr, rs the sweet Annette came in Il few
moments after, still trembling, still pale,
and with misty blue eyes and gentle lips
thanked ne again and again. In that
house that day | was fcascd like a
prince. There were cousins and aunt>
there visiting for the summer, and among
them | was Il lion.
81 was a good-looking fellow, then,
sir, and Just on the eve of entering col
lege.
"Yuung rs | was, ii ever man fell in
love, did there and then. Poor child !,
She loved me-and | clouled her life
"Wcll, sir, you wait for my story, |
see After this my calls upon Annette
were frequent. lost my relish for vul-
gar dissipation and preferred her society
to that Of my former associates If |
drank-anl | did--it was secretly, and
always slept ii oft. My friends and
those of Annette prophcSicd a match
you see my father was wcalthy-I had
good expectations, intended to study for
the law, and was deemed desirable
catch.
Il believe | worshipped Annette. She
was scarcely more than child, but such
Il glorious, gifted creature. She was iif-
teen, | twenty five years between us.
We were engaged in twelve months from
that time, while going through college.
"For year had successfully resisted
my old disease. called it Il disease
do now Remember, | did not let the
cursed draught alone, As should.
only kept the appetite i'll unwholcsomc
sul.icction. Iapplcd the knife, but not
at the right place, and there came dis
grace and downfall.
"One night the students had irolic.
| was the foremost revcller. They tempt
ed me with lcvili,h pertinacity 10 drink
to excess. | did so, grew quarrclsomc,
and raised row In the melee two OF
the students were injured, and | made
50 much noise that we were discovered
in our rcvcls. The blows that were @ivcr
were proved upon me falsely was
convicted, expelled and punished.
'FThe disgrace was overwhelming.
tried to kill myself when | heard that
Annette's friends had cast me off forever.
A note was put in my hands one day
Just as | Ii ,d determined on the means
TO rid myself of existence. 1t read thus
DEAR RcIIARp,-l am sorry for you
| do not believe all they say, and surely
Il man is not To he cast oft for one false
step Come to Aunt's Martha's thi,
afternoon. They have forbidden me tc
receive you at the house, but will re
ceivc there. Yours, rs ever,
ANNETTE.
"Oh sir, that made my heart Leap
into my throat with joy and grief. Sh,
did not know that this was far from my
first false step.
''Dear angel, she had faith in me and
wanted 10 comfort me. Besides, she was
young, impulsive, loving. At three in
the afternoon went 10 the place she
had designed. 1t WAS n poor, plain
house, for her aunt Martha was far from
rich, and rs sat in the little parlor,
Annette came in and made it light.
''IIcr low dear Richard.' was the
sweetest music | ever heard. Then, Il
| caught her to my bosom, she pressed
back my hair with her loving fingers
and said with a smile that seemed angel
ir, They can't make me believe you
wicked, dear Richard, when | look OF
that face
sIIer voice inspired me; her perfect
faith for the time elevated my manhood
| silently vowed that such II thing should
never happen again-that l would moi
die, but make myself worthy of her.
"sYou do not believe all they say o
me, then? !?
"'No, Dick the beautiful eyes were
raised lovingly to mine No, Dick, ant
| wouldn't believe it though they ha(
made you appear guiIticr than you are
You know, Dick she added, rs if tC
apologize, to soften the reproof, 'it i:
wicked to do it at all
"But | did not injure the students,
! I al a,.,.iyolv 81 distinctly c,Ny I,l