The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-02-02


..How delicious that wine was" I've
mused when III his own room. I" |
only drank two glasses and never
felt so royalty In all my life. Why
cannot those poor drtuikarls. Il they
must drink, save their money and pro.
cure such harmless beverages as those:
But Amanda loves mel know II, and
| am bound to improve upon it.
He was right. The love he felt was
mutual. and as the way had been paved
it did not take him long to improve
upon 1t.
ALE became a frequent visitor at
Colonel Bliss house, drank that harm-
less wine as often, and in due course
of time led the blusliing Amanda to
the altar.
Four years OF married life had they
passed. Albert drank homemade
wines no longer, for he lad iong
since abandoned his scruples, and now
drank anything and everything which
could minister to his terrible appetite.
He was a drunkard .
Often, often had he come home
staggering and maudlin, but the worst
was yet to come.
One night he was brought home,
badly bruised and wounded from a
street fight. For a day or two his
life was almost despaired Of, but
finally lie amended, and was soon well
again. !,
Amanda Ind begged and entrcatetl
him, before this, to iorS;lke the way
he was pursuing, and Albert had al
ways promised 10 make the effort /;
vet ii male it seemed a weak one, for
very few days passed over bis head but
the social glass passed to his lips. But
now the still young wife was more
than ever alarmed. anl rs he was
about TO leave the house for the first
time since his Injuries, she threw her.
self beside him and pleaded still more
earnestly that he would not again
yield to temptation.
''Try to he Strong-try to resist
your appetite, she said, clinging to
him.
.'0h. Amanda, why did you not al
ways tell me so." he asked In wild
tones. "Then I had not been the
thing | am to-day"
'Albert, what do you mean z" she
cried.
Il have spoke, and will finish now. >
he said, claiping her hand close within
his own. ~ did not mean to ever
speak an accusing word, but II, at
your birthday gathering. you had heetl-
ed my desire to abstain, You would
have saved me all this. Iwould have
fought me to the death before | would
have yielded. But | loved you,
Amanda did not believe You could
do wrong; at your request | drank.
Those two glasses created al appetite.
| knew not then Its nature-but it
will drag me down to my grave for
aught | know-and oh, spci, 4 grave
Amanda, why did you do 1t "
The poor woman tore herself from
her husbands side. for she knew moi
what she did, and fed TO the contine;
of her own room.
Throwing herself upon her knees
she cried out, in the bitterness Of hel
anguish to that God whom she haG
never before approached in prayer.
.'Oh, | did it ALL see it now! l
I was my work. Illaye sinned--sinned
and I elnnot undo the wrong. .
mcrcitul Father! is there no power il
Heaven to help me.
Albert Bruce stopped not in hi
| downward course. The strong mai
was but a plaything in the hands o
the demon appetite.
The storm of war burst over TIN
land. 4 call was made for volunteers
and in moment of drunke4 patrlo
tism his name was enrolled. But III
shrank not from the duty, tllougl
everything was left in confusion b.
his sudden departure, His affair
were not and could not be suitably
arranged; but he did not murmnr
Only. as lie clasped his wife tendcrl,
to his bosom in a final farewell, h
said
"In the army shall be free iron
temptation. Three years must eur
this dreadful appetite, and If live
Amanda. | will still endeayor to be
man. have been matle an orderly
I sergeant already. and | will be am
| biti0u; for your sake, and for the SAX
| of my manhood. "
| Ills ambition availed not.
Ona reyiewat Washington, adrunk
en- orderly sergeant was stripped of hi
cheyrons in tie presence of ten thou
sand of his fellow soldiers, and sen
away, in disgrace, to the guarl-llotlse
| it was Albert.
We pass the degradation and niiser!
! he endured.
| Just before the battle of Gettysburg
| he was taken III, and sent to a North
enl hospital. A fnllongh cofld not b.
obtained, but he wrote to his wife 0
| his whereabouts and She sending hin
| d supply OF money for his comfort
4 arranged her affairs to follow It, am
! relnafn near him till le was oblige'
4 again to return to duty.
1 Albert received the money. and !
Jeanne to him at t8a moment when h
was half cFazetl by the liquor he haj
! bccntakfng as a medicine. Upon
4 forged pass he made his way into I'll
city, and for a week remained hiddel
! iii one Of the low hauhts OF debaucll
cry IN a remote quarter Of the town
Then, his money being gone. he "a
kicked f)rth into the street, picked II
by the provost guards, and wonli lay
been tried for desertion, had not
higher tribunal summoned him. Mex
morning he was found to be sutlerill
from de!irium tremens, ard all poi
sible attention was given him-but !
vain. Iii q few hours the disease BIZ
obtained complete mastery, and the
elisued n long night scene Of snc
! 4 '5s.-s