The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-31

BY FRANCES HENsHAw BADEN.
Mabel Clifton sat before one Of the win.
dows of her fathers magnificent mansion.
A servant stood in waiting. She was
making out list Of articles wanted for
the next day. Coming footsteps arrested
her attention. She raised her eyes from
the paper and looked out. The crimson
flush deepened on her bright young face
as "OhW in tone of deep regret
escaped her lips.
one turned, after an instant of thought,
and said
"John, | am not Just ready to finish
this list, and shall not send for an hour
yet. If you have anything to attend to
in the meantime you can do it."
Mr.. Clifton had been reading in dis
tant part of the room. Hearing the door
close after Johns departure, he asked:
"You have not forgotten to send for
those wines Ispoke of, my dear?"
she has not gone yet, papa"
"Ah, well; do not make it late. They
will be very busy Tonight" her father
said, turning again to his paper.
"Papa!"
"Well, my dear?'
"a boon, papa. Promise to grant me,
this last day of the year, my boom"
''What is il, love ?'
"Promise to grant it first"
''Not in ignorance, my child"
thrust me, father"
She had an earnest, eager. noble look in
her eyes that her father did trust in, and
he promised her.
swell, well; you shall have your
way"
row.
"What! No, no 1 cannot grant you
that. No wines? Why, child. have you
gone crazy? For twenty-five years past
l have offered my friends wine Oh New
Years day, and never felt that was doing
anything wrong. What has come over
you ?'
"Oh, father, have never felt just right
when offering young men wine and just
now, when l was making out the order for
John, | CHANGED to raise my eyes just as
Edward Livingston was passing. 1t need
ed but glance to see he was very much
under the influence of wine. Father, his
mother is widow; he her only child. All
her earthly hopes are in him. Will they
not be wrecked, think you, if he INDUCES
in the wine cup? Tomorrow he will make
many calls. Beautiful women will offer
him wine. He will not have the courage,
possibly the wish, to decline. Tomorrow
night, most likely, then, he will return
home to fill his mothers heart with sor-
row. | wish not to contribute one drop to
that bitter cup"
My dear, whether we have wines or
not, with him it will be all the same, as
You say he will make many calls"
~ Father, il you had a son, you would
ieel differently. Think how many young
men OF the brightest promise have failed;
nay worse, won truly disgrace and early
graves from the love Of wine.
II feel as if Edgar Livingston stood on
the brink of a fearful precipice. Father,
stretch forth your strong arm to draw him
back--if only one step, and for moment.
If we do not save him, it will be comfort
to think we urged him not forward on his
fatal course"
'tMabel, you are'very deeply interested
in the young man. Am | to conclude"
''Nothing more than for his own and his
mothers sake. / would endeavor to save
him, or any other young man in his dam
ger, father. Here will be one of his first
calls. Possibly can detain him long
enough to prevent his visiting many places |
where he would be exposed to great temp
tation. Oh, father, please grant me this 2"
REALLY, dear, l feel disposed to do as
you wish, but SO many will be very much |
disappointed. Besides, have not the |
courage to make this great change, and set |
five hundred tongues to work specializing |
about the cause of it. Some will declare |
Pm about to fail others, that | have |
grown penurious. All, what is it, John?'
Just then the servant entered and handed
an envelope, saying:
"a telegram, SIR"
MIR. Clifton tore it quickly open, read it,
and exclaimed:
''Really, this is too bad ! But must go, |
John, here !" And hastily writing few |
words for return dispatch, he handed it |
to the servant, and turning to Mabel, said /: |
'My old friend Hartwell is dying, and |
begs that will hasten to him. / cannot |
deny him. So you will have to entertain |
my friends tomorrow, and explain the rea-
son of my failing to see them, the first |
time for so many years. And-well, dear, |
you can do as you choose about the bill of |
fare. AS | shall not be home, the folks
will not hold me responsible for what |
happens in my absence"
"Oh, thank you, papa, for permission |
to do as choose. l will willingly take
any kind of remarks, if any one feels like |
making them. But feel confident that
all who have sons will give me their kind
est wishes for Withholding temptation from
their boys. And to the young men l
shall try to make myself so agreeable, and
have our cook make the coffee SO very fine
that they will go away quite as well pleased,
and with their brains good deal clearer
than if l had entertained them with wine."
An hour after Mr.. Clifton was on his
way to the SIDE of his dying friend.
MY Dear Flory-Come help me re-
ceive our friends tomorrow. Papa has
been called away. I must have you with
me, as l am particularly anxious to have
my reception success.