Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-06-06
THE LAST TIME.


Come in. John. aod let N have some.
thing warming. There's nothing like il.
after days work. to cheer man up.'
Thank you, Joe. not to-night.'
Have YOU signed the plsdgs-gone
over to the enemy?
'No-n". that. bat the truth il. Joe, l
promised that little woman Of mias TO be
home early tonight. and-and'-
! Tut. man. you're not going 10 allow
yourself to be tied BY . womars apron
strings in that style. are you! 3ha. will
be cook joke to tell the boys. Come in
aud take glass. or I'll blow
John Burns weakest point Of character
vas dread ofridicule. This his sompan-
ion weii knew. aud bad chosen q Is wea,,ous
accordingly; aud now be stood holding
the door half open. allo~ing the light and
warmth. anil boon companions within. to
aid him in his purpose. forming as they
did striking contrast to the wet, muddy
street.
John Burns hesitated one moment be-
fore he entered, while there arose before
his minds eye pale. pleading little face
that had been lifted to his that morning,
and sweet voice pleaded: Come home
ear! !y Tonight. dear: shall have a nice
supper. and please don, let i, spoil She
had spoken playfuily. ~ithou. any a.lusiou
TO his bese!t;ng sin; yet he well understood
the wissful pleading of the blue eyes. the
deep under current Of feeling tha, eaused
the rremor in the m lsical voice Know
ing this he promised. sealing the promise
with kiss, holy in its tenderness She
was waiting for him now, he knew: peer
lag out into the sto-m to see If he was
coming. The knowledge made him strong.
Love hal nearly ga ned the victory; bu.
the temptcr was at h and--the influence OF
the place was around Kim. lie yielded,
aud when once in lie was in no haste to
leave. for though the weight OF broken
promise was upon him. and the thoaght
Of the brigl: aud cheerful home, and the
patient wife that waited his coming. caused
his conscieacce to upbraid. be found it
hard to tear himself away from the CAV
company and the light and warmth Of the
place to 60 out in the dri1zly rain and
cold. damp streets. for though the month
was june tie day wouli have been more
in place in Nnvcm ber-onc of those cold
, disagreecb!e days hat our northern climate
sometimes thrus;s IN among the June ro-
Ses.
JOHN Burns aad Joe Herney were me-
chauics, working for the same employer.
and receiving the same amount of wages :
bu. their circumstances in life were far diff
, fercnt.
JOHN Burns was one of those <,crsnns of
whom We frequently hear it said .fie is
his own worst enemy lie was kind and
generous to fault. but he lacked frmuess
: o: character. With Eerney everything
seemed to prosper; cor tho drinking a
glass occasionally, he never drank TO ex-
cess. By nature he was grasping and
penurious.
Upon the evening in question. as soon
% the two men had received aud drank
;he liquor they had called for. Joe Herney
paid for his glass and passed out. but the
temptation Of the place was upon Burns,
an the shades of twilight bad deepenci
into night ere he turned his unsteady steps
, homcward. \ walk Of half an hour
through the Wet anu gloom. brought him
$ to small cottage in the suburbs of the
city. A pretty place when seen in the
sunshine. with lis clinging vines and shell
tering trees; but looking gloomy enough
IN the darkness and storm. with the wind
5 waiiing through the trees aud strewing the
path With the petals Of John Burns
= choicest rose.
: He paused under the vine-sheltercd
doorway to gain courage to enter. How
: should he meet those earnest blue eyes
that had never given him nm unkini look
even when heavy with the weight of uu-
shed tears! lie knew she was waiting
tor him, for out through the half-open
shutter came = tile OF bright light. and he
could catch glimpse of the cosy home
scene. While he stood thus the sound ..
approaching footsteps. aud the u,terance
OF his name. arrested his attention.
oh. 1t is sure to be sold John Burns
will never pay off the mortgage
lie may get an extension Of time. or
borrow the money. And who would lend
money to man like Burns lie spends toe
much tine and money at the bringing 81.
looms for Lis credit to be govi. You
Sa"1'N aSNc sSSu u4tu o-HiHut AZ " ltildthS
e spending his money as though there wa.
no eusi 10 it,
i am sorry for John; be isl good heart,
Cd fellos.'
Yes. pity him; but it can't be helped
And when the place is sold. as i: is sure
, to be, have few hundreds laid By &c
invest in it. 1t will be SOLD cheap. aud
: shs II make good thing of it,
: The speaker had paused before the gate
while speaking. and John. without being
{ seen. had heard all. and recognized in the
would.be purchaser. bis fellow workman
, Joe Herney.
| l, is no, in the power of pen of mine tt
5 discrite the storm of emotions ,ha. shooL
{ his frame. ss he heard these comment.
E upon his worldly affairs.
, Great Heaven. Have indeed sunk
= so low: have been bhni-bliui,
! thank ycu. Joe Herney, for opening my
, eyes. I think / understand your game
e aow Bay it. viii you? Wen see
1 john Burns is not quite the poor so, 20,
take. him to be-
He shook his e,enched fst after the re
treating figures. and took a step toward