Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-12-06
MABLE CLIFTON'S REWARD.

Mable Clifton sat before one of tn,
windows of her fathers magnifcen
mansion, and servant stood in wait
ing. rts
! She was making out list of article,
wanted for the next day. Coming
footsteps arrested her attention. Sh,
raised her eyes from the paper ant
looked out. The crimsOned flush deep
ened on her bright young face as "Obi J
in tone of deep regret, escaped hel
lips.
She turned a around for an instant
of thought and said:
John, / am not just ready to finish
this list, and shall not send it for an
hour yet: If you have anything to dc
in the meantime you can do it.
Mr.. Clifton had been reading in a
distant part of the room.
Hearing the door close after John 1
departure, he said:
You have not forgotten to send
for those wines | spoke of, my dear?''
He has not gone yet, papa"
All, we'll, do not make it toe late.
They will be very busy tonight" her
father said.
Papa"
Well ?"
6 A boon, papa. Promise to grant
me, this last day of the year, my boon T.
What is it love ?"
" Promise to grant it first"
e" Not in ignorance, my child"
Trust me, father"
She had an eager, earnest, noble look
in her eyes that her father did trust in,
and he promised her.
well, you shall have your way"
" Father, let us abstain from having
wine tomorrow
p" Whatl No, no; | can't grant you
that. No wines ! Why, child, have
you gone crazy? For twenty-five years
past have offered my friends wine
on New Years day and have never felt
that | was doing wrong. What has
come over your
" Oh, father, | have never felt just
right when offering men wine,
and Just now, when | was max
ing out this for John. | chanced to
raise my eyes just as Edger Livingston
was passing. 1t needed but glance to
see that he was under the influence of
liquor. His mother is a widow: he
her only child; all her earthly hopes
are in him. Will they not be wrecked,
think you, if he INDUCES in the wine
cup? Tomorrow he will make many
calls. Beautiful women will offer him
wine. He will not have courage, or
possibly wish, to decline. Tomorrow
night, most likely, then, he will return
home TO his mother heart with sOr-
row. | don't want to contribute one
drop to the bitter cur"
My dear, whether we have wines or
not, with him it will be ali the same.
As you say, he will make many calls"
" Father, if you had a son YOU would
talk differently. Think how many
men of the brightest future have fail
ed nay, worse, won disgrace and early
graves from the love of wire. feel
as if Edger Livingston stood on the
brink of fearful precipice. Father
do stretch out youristrOng arm to draw
him-if only step by step. If We do
not save him, it will be comfort to
think that we urged him not forward
on his fatal course"
why, Mable, you are very much
in the young man. Am L
to conclude" -..-..-.
Nothing more than for his own and
mother sake. | would endeavor to
save him or any other young man In
his danger, father. Here will be one of
his first calls. Possibly / can detain
him long enough to prevent him visit
ing many places where he would be ex
posed to great temptation. Oh, father,
please grant me this ?"
Really, dear, | feel disposed to grant
this wish, but so many will be dlsap-
pointed Besides have not the courage
to make the change and set the neighbOrs
at work specializing about the cause OF
it. Some will declare / am about to
fail; others that | have grown penuri-
Gus. All, John, what is it ?"
just then the servant entered and
handed him the envelope, and said:
d" A telegram, sir. y
Mr.. Clifton tore it quickly open,
read it, and exclaimed:
Really, this is too bad, but L must
go. John, here"
And hastily writing few words for
a return dispatch, he handed it to the
servant, and turning to Mabel said
My old friend Hartwell is dying
and begs that [ hasten to him; L can
not deny him. So you will have to enter
tain my friends tomorrow, and explain
to them the reason of my failing to see
them, the first time for so many years.
And-well, dear, you can do as you
please about the bill of fare. As
Shall not be at home the folks will not
hold me responsible for what happens
in my absence, "
oh, thank you, papa, for permission
to do as | choose. | will willingly
take all unkind remarks if any one
feels like making them. But | am
confident that all who have sons will
give me the kindest wishes for with
holding temptation from their boys.
And to the young men | shall try to
make myself agreeable, and have our
cook make our coffee so very fine that
they will go away quite as we'll pleased
and with their brains a good deal clear
or than if | had entertained them with
wine
An hour after that Mr.. Clifton was