Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-12-06

It was impossible for an indifferen
person not to feel their powers Of fas
cination.
| To Edgar Livingston, who was on
Of their first quests they were quite ir
resitable. He fingered on notwith
standing the efforts of a young frient
who accompanied him to draw him of
" Do stay and help US" said Mabel
and when Flora's beautiful eyes re
peated the wish, Edger yielded.
Few, if any went from the CliftoI
house dissatisfied. Everything tha
the heart could desire or mind suggest
in the way Of delicacies and luxurie:
| of the season, Mabel offered her guests
but as the father said, many tongue:
were busy speculating upon it and in 8
few hours twas widely known that Mis-:
Clifton was giving temperance reeep-
ton.
Eagerly Mable'seyes sought the doc,
on every new arrival of guests. She
had hoped for the coming of one. But
the hours passed, and when it grew
late in the day the hope faded and al
most died out.
She had seated herself wearily in
an arm chair. when the same greeting
that had fallen on her ears so many
times that day, Happy New Year,
Miss Clifton, " caused the bright light to
return to her eyes and the beautiful
flush to her face, as she arose to re-
ceive Earnest Addison.
There was an expression In his fine
eyes when he received from her hand
the fragrant cup ofcoffee that relieved
the suspense of years. Her heart
bounded with new hope.
Edger Livingston had drawn Flora
to the window. They were looking out
on the passers by. sse
Keeling along the sidewalk, shout
ing a drunken song, came Edger's
companion of the morning. Flora
turned from the sickening sight. Ed
ger following, saying:
But for you and Miss Clifton, /
might have been one of the party"
And going to Mabel he said:
Miss Clifton your slumber tonight
should be peaceful. You hayn't help
ed to cloud either heart or brain of
your friends to-day. Accept my warm
est thanks for having saved me from
both"
Edger saw an expression in Earn
est's eyes that made him think it would
be quite as agreeable to all parties if
he would take Flora back to the re-
cess window, to the piano. or anywhere
out of hearing, just then.
- OF
was blending with hers in well chosen
duet.
Then Earnest told Mable of the
love which had been hers since he
knew her.
/ came one night to lay my heart
before you. You had many guests and
offered them wine. You noticed that
/ placed my glass untouched. | left
early. / dared not WOO the heart of
one that had such fearful temptation
before me why you will know when
l tell you the fearful truth. My only
brother went down into drunkard's
grave, the woman he loved urged him
on.
For time mother and | won him
from his fatal passion. He was doing
well. We believed he would fulfill
the bright promise of his early youth.
He grew to love beautiful girl. She
was wild and thoughtless, and once, at
her fathers she urged him to drink.
"One glass; every one but you take !
wine" she said.
He resisted. She taunted him about |
having to abstain entirely because he d /
not the self-contrOl TO use wine in mod !
Grafton.
He yielded, accepted the fatal glass
from her hand, and drank, first mod |
erately, then on and on, in the old fear
full way, until the end came-a ruined |
life and a mothers broken heart.
Do you wonder that [ fed from
you ?-Every hour yearning to return,
yet daring not.
To-day heard what you were do
ing. Earnestly thanking God that
light had dawned upon you, / hastened
here to lay my heart before the only /
woman | ever loved. Will you be my |
wife, Mabel 2"
Her heart was too full of joy-she !
could not tell in words how happy she /
was; but her little hand lay still in his.
She raised her eyes a moment and |
he saw the love of years beaming there. /
He needed no answer -+
Judging from the low tone into /
which the voices in the room had fall |
len, | Judge some other hearts had /
found their mates. But the parties
were separated, or rather joined again,
by the return of Mr.. Clifton, who en-
tered, calling out:
Mable, dear, to me these rooms [
look rather dark. Let us have the gas
turned on, if you please"
Certainly, papa"
And when there was light enough |
for Mr.. Clifton to look into his daugh-
ter's eyes, he saw bright light shin
ing there. Another moment, when
Flora came to greet him, he said with 1
q pleasant smile:
All | see why you young folks
know nothing of the surrounding
darkness-guided by the light within.
Well, have you had pleasant day."
"A happy day, father; there are no
regrets to steal in to mar it, said Ma
bel, with bright smile.
Il am glad of your resolve, Mabel. :"
How glad you will know when
tell you that this morning | closed the
eyes of a father whose only son was
away in some drinking saloon. How
my heart ached for that father And
what balm it was to think at that
time my daughter was not holding the
fatal glass to any young mans lips,
said Mr.. Clifton, his voice trembling.
Before another New Years Day,
Mabel and Flora each presided over
an establishment of her own.
The happy remembrance of their
is never clouded by the cup
of bitterness which 80 many wives,
mothers and sisters have to drink-the I
cup of sorrow that is so often prepared !
for them by sister women.
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