The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-04-11

Augusta, but it is matter of principle will
me-"
What evil spirit possessed the beautiful
tempter at that moment. In her heart she
was conscious of honoring him, nay of be
ing proud of his manhood. And yet Judge
| Edwards had sat down again to await the
slower movements of his companions, and
with face turned little aside, was not
seeming to notice them. But Miss Angus
ia saw that he was conscious ofevery move
ment, though not within sound oftheir low
voices. An overwhelming desire to exhib-
it before this old man her power over the
younger one seized upon her and silenced
every other feeling. Again she fixed those
beautiful pleading eyes ON her victims face
and spoke in low, soft tones:
81 never offer wine except on New Years
day, and never then very earnestly to peo-
pie in general, but confess to you that |
have little bit of superstition in my veins
and the old fancy Of making the wine cup
a pledge of future friendship and good
wishes possesses me just now; won't you
Just touch your lips to the edge, to humor
me, you know2"
Did she or did she not know that there
were moments in which this wise and SEN
sible young man felt that he would throw
himself from the edge ola precipice hun
dred feet deep, just to humor her? One of
those insane moments possessed him now.
A glow outrivaling the wine ovcrspread his
face, he took the dainty silver thing from
the fair outstretchcd hand, and merely say
ing:
You tempt me too severely, Miss Au-
gusta," raised it to his lips and drained it
to the bottom. A low chuckle sounded
from Judge Edwards corner.
"Well done, Miss Augusta" he said,
playfully. "If were not an old man, and
| a very weary one, I'd travel back and give
| Miss Cornela Vaughan an account of this
| victory. You should have seen how scom-
fully this young gentleman resisted her
persuasions not an hour ago."
A triumphant smile lighted up Miss Au-
gusta's face. Miss Vaughan was her an
| noyance, her one rival, not only in society,
but in something that was far more to her
than society-the attentions of Mr.. War
den. To have succeeded where she had fail
ed was double victory. AS for Mr.. War.
den, he seemed to have not another word
to offer on any subject, not even farewell
did he vouchsafe, other than hurried bow,
then he strobe away, as if in haste and ex"
element.
You consider Miss Reynolds heart
less unprincipled, scheming girl She was
nothing of the sort heartless most certain
ly she was not; she never came in Mr.
Warden's vicinity without being almost
painfully conscious of that fact Her edu-
cation had been that of "a young lady of
wealth and fashion; her ideas had been
modelled after that stamp of the world
On the question Of temperance she could
hardly be said to have any distinct ideas,
! save, of course, that drunkenness was low,
debasiug folly, marking the man who was
guilty of it as belonging to a lower class of
beings, not worthy to be admitted to "our
set" In Short size belonged to that large,
and it would almost seem constantly in
creasing class ofyoung ladies in fashionable
society, who, while they have brains of
their own allow themselves to be treated
| like puppets, and nodded into fashion
plates, after the generally accepted model
All Miss Augustus views concerning the
case in question can be gathered from the
brief conversation which she held with her
sister Helen, between the calls.
81 wouldn't have done that, Gussie, if
had been you," Miss HELEN said, with Il
flash of earnestness in her bright eyes and
Miss Augusta answered, while u dreamy
smile stole over her face:
~ doubt very much whether you could
have done it, Nellie"
That was just all she thought about it !;
| to prove her power, a glass of wine, or n
glass of ink, it were one and the same to
| her, so that she prove to herself, that what
Mr.. Warden would not do for others, he
would do for her.
Mr.. Reynolds, senior, stamped and brush
ed and pulled in the hall, and rubbed his
| hands between his spells of divesting him
| self Of muller and overcoat and snow-shoes.
Finally he made his appearance in the lit.
tie gem of library whittier the family had
betaken themselves, the daughters to rest
after the fatigues of the day, and to chat
with their invalid mother.
"It's perfect fury of night" he said,
as they made room for him in the little cir
Gle. "Snow blows all ways at once, appar-
ently-absolutel blinding-and growing
colder every minute; but don't know but
the weather is in keeping with the appear.
ance of the people. haven't seen as many
drunken men in year as have tonight.
It's sickening. declare l don't know
about this New Year business. I've half a
mind to Danish the wine from my table, Just
| for the sake of the fools who can not let it
alone. Mrs. Henry and Mrs. Allen treated
us to hot coffee in the place Oft and the
idea seemed to suit just as we'll"
"But it looks so queer" murmured the
pale-faced mother, whose grown-up son
was "makinga fool of himself in down
town saloon.
"Yes, know it's queer, but I've been as
tonished tonight - respectable people
men whom you would imagine to be above
such folly, seem to forget themselves on
New Years day. Why whom do you think
they carried home from Harter's drinking
saloon in an absolutely beastly condition ?
Young Warden the lawyer, that everybody
considers such remarkably talented young
man. l never was so astonished in my life.
Augusta, what in the world is the matter
with you; you're as pale as a ghost
guess the days work has been too much for
you. Will you have some wine?"
Almost inaudible was Miss Augustus re-
fusal and her good-nights were said almost
Immediately. There were some hot tears
shed that night.
Although Miss Reynolds did not in the
least object to wine, she in common with
many Others, had no admiration for COM
mon drunkards who were carried home
from saloons in beastly conditions. With
the morning, however, came quicter
thoughts. Her idol had fallen, to be sure,
but it was only once; his temptations must
have been great and peculiar; itwould not
| be likely to occur again, especially as she