Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-10-17
DIVORCED.
"I1c'll go TO the dogs, now"
"Of course he will"

"He'l1 go to the dogs, now"
"Of course he will"
"By all means. Only see how he ac-
ted when his wife lived with himl Now,
that she's left him. and all restraint is re-
moved. he'll 60 to the rest Of the down.
ward way in no time. Poor Nettie !
wonder she stood it so long!
II will give him just year to be bu-
ricd"
"Pshaw. Half that time will finish
him"
well. I pity him. too but pity her
more. Il was he who brought misery
on both"
Such was the gossip of half dozen vii
layers. who stood in front Of the principal
stores. one summer evening. while the
subject of their remarks went staggering
along on the opposite side of the street.
1t was evident that he was trying to
walk straight. ard not to appear iu.oxica-
ted, but such endeavors always seem to
make drunken man walk more crooked.
Well. it proved one thing: that he wa,
not yet lost to all sense of shame-that he
still retained little pride and lingerint,
aversion to being ridieuled aud despis-
cd.
But Harry Rogers had carried on at a
fearful rate for tcat or two past. He
had just one vicc-drink !; but that was
enough. He had become an actual drunk
ard by degrees. and was every day grow
ing more abandoned. lie had married a
worthy farmers daughter. Ncttie Ray.
only few years previously. aud such had
been his conduct. during more than year
past. that she. seeing no hope for reform,
had been obliged to cast him loose to pur-
sue his proAigate course alone aud a le-
gal separation had just been effected. I.
was sad. indeed. but no other course vas
lcft her.
Harry's home was on a little farm, q
mile from town. He owned it. but then
it was heavily mortgaged. and in another
year foreclosure was certain. Il was not
likely his creditors would spare him. as
he made no effort to meet his obligations,
and spent his time in riotous and disgrace
:ul conduct.
A week passed after that summer even
ing on which all agreed in predicting his
carly ruin-two weeks, three weeks, a
month or two. What strange mystery is
here To the utter bewilderment Of the
prophesying sages. Harry discontinee vis-
i;ing the tavern. and was rarely ever seen
in the village. When he did como to the
store in town. he speedily transacted his
business and went home sober. But wou-
ders never cease. when they ge. start
He was next reported as actually at work
on his farm. Had but one man seen this.
and reported it in the village. he would
have been marked rs man lacking vc-
raci,y; but number Of ncighbors saw it,
and their continued testimony was worthy
ef crcdeuce.
The little farm began to look healthier
as the summer wore on. The fences
Strengthened up; the weeds disappeared !;
the corn grew marvelously; tho briars
and elders were rooted up from the fields
and fcnce-rows the animals looked fat
ter. sleeksr and happier the cottage
looked neater.
Time wore on. aud the great change
was the more strongly marked each day.
Harry's creditors called aud told him they
would not be hard on him. seeing tha,
he Was doing his best. and tba the might
have bis own time about paying bis debts
and In clearing his house and farm Of the
mortgage.
The fall came. and the farm Welded an
abundance Of golden corn and fruits; such
crops. indeed, as il had never produced
before. and Harry found himself begia-
ming to dria smoothly along with tide
cf prosperity.
Aud Net,ie Ray begun to live her young
ilhood over again, rs it we're. under her
fathers roof; but. somehow, it was not
the happy. joyous cirlhood Of memory. -
II was sober aud quiet now, and Ne.tie
frequently fell into the train Of musiug,
and every now aud then there would pass
through her mind certain sotrowful
thoaght-she was neither maid nor wife.
She avoided the vicinity Of her late home,
noe bad she once seen Harry since the Sc
paration but she had heard Of him oc-
cssionally. knew that he was q changed
man. Sill. this knowledge brought her
but melancholy satisfaction. The reform
had conc too late. Thc.c vas q Wide
A -~s.ag Ia