The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-02-01
SELECT STORY.
Mabel Clifton's Reward.
A NEW YEARS STORY
By FRANCES HENsHAw BADEN.

as .sOh!" in tone Of deep regret,
escaped her lips.
She turned, after an instant of
thought, and said:
s'John, / am not just ready to
finish this List, and shall not send it
for an hour yet II you have any
thing to attend to in the meantime,
you can do it.
Mr.. Clifton had been reading in
a distant part of the room. Hear
ing the door close, after Johns de-
parture, he asked:
"You have not forgotten to send
for those wines spoke Of, my DEAR
"He has not gone yet, papa"
'.Ah, well; do not make it late
They will be very busy tonight"
her father said, turning again to
his paper.
"Papav'
swell, my dear!"
ga boon, papa Promise to grant
me, this last day of the year, my
boon"
s9What is it, loves"
Promise to grant it first"
'sNot in ignorance, my child"
Trust me, father"
She had an earnest, eager, noble
look in her eyes that her father did
trust in, and he promised her.
"Well, well; you shall have your
way
@Father, let us have no wines to-
morrow"
"Whats No, no; I can not grant
you that. No wines! Why, child,
have you gone crazyl For twenty
five years past I have offered my
friends wine on New Years day,
and never have felt that I was doing
anything wrong. What has come
over you?"
'SOh, father, I never have felt Just
right when Offering young men
wine; and just now, when was ma
king out the order for John, 1
CHANGED to raise my eyes Just as
Edgar Livingston was passing, It
needed but glance to see he was
very much under the influence of
wine Father, his mother is q widow;
he her only child. All her earthly
hopes are in him. VIII they not be
wrecked, khink you, if he indulges
in the wine cups Tomorrow he
will make many calls. Beautiful
women will offer him wine. He will
not have the courage, possibly the
wish to decline. Tomorrow, most
likely, then, he will return home to
fill his mothers heart with sorrow
I wish not to contribute one drop
to that bitter cup.
"My dear, whether we have wines
or not, with him it will be all the
same, as you say he will make many
calls" kt4
| Father, if you had son, yor
would feel differently. Think how
many young men of the brightest
/ promise have failed, nay, worse, wop
truly disgrace and early graves
from the love of wine. e
1 II feel as if Edgar Livingsto,
stood on the brink of q fearful pre-
cipice. Father, a reich forth YOU
strong arm, draw him back-if only
one step, and for a moment. If We
do not save him, it will be a com
/ fort to think we urged him not for
ward on his fatal course"
/ " Mabel, you are very deeply in
terested in the young man. Am
to conclude"
sNothing more than for his owl
and mothers sake. / would en-
deavor to save him, or any othe
young man in his danger, father
Here will be one of his first calls
Possibly / can detain him Ion,
enough to prevent his visiting man
places where he would be expose,
to great temptation. Oh, father
please grant me this!"
Really, dear, I feel disposed t,
do as you wish; but SO many will b
very much disappointed. Beside.
I have not the courage to make thi
great change, and set FIVE hundre
tongues to work specializing abou
the cause of it. Some will declar
/ am about to fail; others that I hay
grown penurious. All, what is i
John?"
ssJust then the servant entere
and handed an envelope, saying:
ga telegram, sir"
Mr.. Clifton tore it quickly opel
read it, and exclaimed:
"Really, this is too bad! But
must go. John, heres" And hast
ly writing a few words for a retur
dispatch, he handed it to the SCI
want, and turning to Mabel, said:
II "My old friend Hartwell is dyin,
and begs that I will hasten to hin
/ can not deny him. So you ha,
to entertain my friends tomorrow
and explain the reason of my failin
to see them, the first time for {
many years. And well, dear 70
can do as you please about the bi
of fare. As I shall not be hom,
the folks win not hold me respons
BILE for what happens in may al
sence."
''Oh, thank you, papa, for permi'
sion to do as I choose. I viii vii
ingly take any unknd remarks,
any one feels like making them
J But I feel confident that all WI
Ihave sons viii give me their Endes