Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-01-25

After supper, as We sat in eur coy paFor,
smoking our cigars, suggested that = bottle
Of wine might not be amiss. Jack shook his
head. 81
"NO. Charley" be said, we'll leave tue
wine for those who need it"
You used to drink, Jack"
Yes, but ii never did me any gsOd."
And do you ever think it did you any
harm ?"
As for that will not say but my boy
will tell you what can say: It nerer shall DO
me any harm. | know it has harmed ethsrs
who were as strong as am. BY the way,
Charley, isn't Mary Granville here2"
YES, said DO you know herr, -
l turned away my face asd pretended :ha:
heard something at the window.
81 have seen her" replied, when | had
composed myself. She plays the organ in
our church"
"She aud I were schOolmates," pursued
Stanton land speaking Of vine brings her to
my mind. Do you know any thing Of her early
life p Nothing" | answered.
Poor Mary I never think Of her without
my resolution Of total abstipence growing
stronger and stronger. When we were ,cheoi
children together her father was the richest
man 10 Berryvile; and sh, and bsr brother
were the hsppest Of the happy. hr. Gran
vile was in the habit Of drinking wine, and
the habit grew on hin until he could not do
without his brandy. Hs was Of social dis
position and in time it came to pass that he
was grossly iuteIicsted OF course under
such circumstances one Of two things must
happen the man must reform or he must
sink. Mr. Granville did not reform and ore
many years he died drunkard's death, leav-
ing bis family in poverty aud suffering
Thomas the son, who was four years older
than Mary, became very dissipated, and at the
age of eighteen was killed in a street fight in
New York.
Mrs. Granville survived her son but few
months, absolutely dying Of broken heart
Poor Mary thus left fatherless ahd nOtherless,
without brother or sister, at the age Of fifteen
WAS forced to earn the bread she ate, and no.
bly, has she done it. If you know her, Char
lev, you know one Of the grsndest women that
ever lived. But-wbat is the nattsrI Why
bless me You look as pale as a ghost"
| struggled with myself, and told Jack |
had swallowed lot Of cigar smoke. | arose
and opened one of the easements and stepped
cut upon the balcony, where the fresh air par
TALLY restored me TO myself. At late hour
Jeoi, dor~rted for tho hosol, ~sd when had
retired to my chamber paced to and fro un-
til long past midnight. could no longer
misunderstood the motives which had actua-
ted Mary 10 rejecting my hand. She knew that
| was in the hsbi. Of using wine; aud on that
evening when first We met she must have dis
covered that had drank nough to bring the
false flush to my cheek. i.. ;-....
20, my God !" CALCULATED, as sask into
a chair; 81 wonder HOt that she feared to
trust her life in my keeping" She had uifer-
ed enough from the accursed cup. The night
of sorrow had been long enough upon her
She wsuld be worse than mad to take a hus-
band whose opening pathway Of life led to the
pit into which the loved ones Of other days had
fallen.
But" I asked myself why did she net
tell me the whole truth ?"
found ne difficulty in answering the ques-
ton. She had shrsuk from wounding my
feelings. | knew how sensitive she was, and
| knew that she had been afraid Of offending
me. Perhaps she thought me proud and head
strong enough to resist such liberties on her
part aud perhaps she imsgin that l might
look upon her course as the Offering Of her
hand in consideration Of my ronOuncing the
wine cup, and that might spurn said offer
On Friday Jack Stanton left me, and on
Saturday evening called at Mary's boarding
place. Mary herself answered my summons.
She startled when she saw me, and | saw her
hand move quickly to her heart
MARY" said l, speaking very calmly, for
bad mighty strength of will to support me,
Il have not come to distress yen. l have
come as friend, and humbly ask that you
will give ME audience for few minutes"
She went into the psrOr and followed hsr
closing the door behind me and when we
were alone she set the lamp on the table and
motioued me to a seat NO." said I, al
will not sit down yet. Give me your hands,
Mary"
Mechanically she put forth her hands, anG l
took them in my Own. There was wonder
ing look upsn her face and slight flush had
come to her pale cheeks.
MARY" continued, speaking slowly and
softly-snd I knew that a moisture was
gathering in my eyss-"yO must answer me
Que simple question Answer it as you please,
and take my solemn assurance that only ask
it for my good. Tell me-DO yen love me
No, no-do not take your hands away yet
nswer me if you can. Fear nst-o, fear
not for would rather SO forth into endless
night than do you wrong. Tell me, Mary
Do you love me ?"
al cannot speak falsely" she tremblingly
whispered; {" for my own peace perhaps
love Won ,oo well"