The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-05-09
A Fathers Confession

higi time that this Young ona OF
hers tried its wings, hey? The old
nest Is growing 1nattractiye. and
the world outside looks very bright.
does it? Pin-feathers are plent,
yets l M thinking; but / suppose we
nlust st the hG4tering bird have its
/ way. When does this fandaneo ol
yOnrs come off2'
There is no fn7donqo at all, papa -
pOuted pretty Kate Stedman. 81
only want to receive,- on New Years
Day. Louie Utley is six months
younger than I, and she receiVed 3
year age. I'm sure I'm cd enough
/ for that natter
well, we'll, child, I suppose You
are thouzl is does seem bat geeter-
day that my golden haired pet
cTowed IN my arms and tugged at
my beard. Il WAS as brown then,
Katie, as your eurls arc now. But,
Birdie, what Eore's wanting? Didn't
the money hold outT'
20 yes, papa! That is-my new
blue popliu Is elegant! MafnR has
ordered Eueh sweet BOUQUETS for Else
parlors and tables. The cake, the
confectiona and the fruits are Just
rich! But didn't YOU forget one
thing, papa - Where is Tthe ssiae?
LONE Ctley has just the loveliest
decanters and glasses yen ever sasg
Her tstther had sent them mp x5ester-
lay. l know, papa" she added
! hU r4i aglls- caaiY,gr 4ha r.I,uIaJ G..~---
that We never use wine ourselves; ;
but then you. see, papa, all the ladies
put it ON their 81. tables, New
Years day, and it would look too
mean for me not 10 do the same
Did you ask your mother, Katey''
said Mr. Stetman, in a husky voice,
which cOntrasted strangely with his
former playful manner.
TO tell the truth, papa, I did
speak of it once, but mama's face
locked too forbidding; so con
Guided t. gain your consent first,
knowing that she would be sure to
relent. l come slyly, you see, while
she's .aWay.e , 2Flf7 A.F
.'Daughter, M consent you must
glass of wine stand upon our side
hoard, and -nevsr shall g, so help me
Godr'
Papa" said Kate, almost frigh-
tened at her fathers Sehemence,
''you don't think that any of the
geHtlemen in our set WoHld 50 far
tOrget themselves as g take more
than a few sips2 Surely, that much
would harm them. But, indeed, l
wont tease yeu. since you. disap-
proves thOagh J don't see any need
of beng quite 50 strict, I'm sure 1
don't"
Mr.. Stedman pushed aside his
evening paper and drew his daugh-
ter doEn- beside him on the lesfuire.
Il never mcsnt e. tell you, Katie;
but if it serve 3 noble end, trust l
shall not regret it. You have seen
Harvey Greeny'
"rhat poor .drunkaEd whom you
have tried to help SO many times?
Yes, indeed. And, papa, 1 have of
ten wondered why you took such An
interest in him, when be is 50 lost to
manliness."
Kate, Harvey Green was my col
Iege chum, and better hearted man
never bFeathed. He was handsome
and talented, too--ths pet Of soci-
ETY."
"Is it possible, papa! Really,
how could that bcY' -
8t.Will YOU be any more credulOus,
daughter, when l tell you that your
own father was once just snch man
as poor Harvey GreenY'
:. Koz, papst Ion q common
drunkard! Never, never will be
lieve thatw Kate flung her arms
passionately Lbout her fathers Reck,
and sobbed in her excitement.
God knows l wish it were not
to revesl-that dark page |
of my life, darling. l shrink from
lowering myselfin the estimation OF
those ! love best"
SSothing in the world, papa, could |
Lessen my love fOr You" said the |
young girl in choked voice.
Then listen, Katie. Twenty Eve
years ago, Harvey and myself, with
= few others from the class of '46,
select dinner party at the
sty lish ma asieR of Mrs. P. New
Years receptions were not SO CON
mon then as now; bat dinner par
ties were all the age. Cora P-was
one of the most fascinating girls
ever met. Half of Us fellows were
smitten, and ne all drank her health
again and, again in the fatal cup,
whiclr her own fair hand hlied to the.
brim. (God forgive herD l was
engaged to your mother, even then,
Katie. She also formed one ef the
party; but Though she never took
her beseeching eyes from my face, l
not to see for I could not,
)r would not. resist the power OF the
.harmer. That first glass sOwed the
seeds of dissipation, which sprung
lp and bore fruit abundantly. Har-
rev aud I we're never men after that !
light.
an three months, Nellie, (gPur
after reasoning witlrme
line sud again. declared that's
;ould. not ceasoientiously marry a
nan of unsteady hahsts.1 we must,
therefore, consider our eagagenent
It an end,
"'Oh, Nellie! yoW win save me.
)h! / caunotI I cannot give y75u upF
exclaime,i, overcome with emo
ion.
Charles, she.replie1 gently, 3 +;
0ifs can never do for you what you
will not do for yourself. All my
owe is pewerless to save you.
EssSbe held out her hand to bid me
final farewell May pea never
now, Kate, the agony experienced
L that moment l felt she. my !
.romisea wife, turned away, tlere /
ras nothing before me bui utter ru- !
dark despair. II she had lett I
ae thus. I believed should have de- (
troyed myself j
SSEe loved me even them with ali Il
~ weakness, and any look Of entire l
was more than she I
ord bear. She laid her head upon E
b..-.E f.tFn faara - r