The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-02-18

well pleased, and with their brains a good
deal clearer, than if | had entertained
them with wine
An hour after, Mr. Clifton was on his
way to the side OF hi. dying friend.
Mabel sat down and wtote:
My dear Flora Come help me re-
ceive our friends Tomorrow Papa has
been called away. must have you with
me, as | am particularly anxious to have
my reception success.
Lovingly,
Mabel
Edgar likes Flora, can plainly see,
aud | think she is not wholly Indifferent
toward him. Together | think We can
manage to hold him here tomorrow, and
thus save his mother a great sorrow most
likely said Mabel.
NJ bel Clifton was one Of the lovliess
girls in p Frend1 wondered thu,
her heart bad not yielde to one OF her
many suitors. They did not know sha
had no heart to yield to any Of thoao who
sought it,
The fist cason she appeared in me G.
lect circle her f,tGer wealth Gni posi-.
ton placed ncr. she met E,rae-t All iI5oo
lie was noble boxing man, tiiented,
gi,A minl aud heart alike flied with
'ood. true rosolves. TO Mabel he Na-
very attentive, ard she grew to love hiid,
feeling sure the time was not far distant
when he would come TO tell her Of hi
love. But months rolled BY. ani he
spoke not. Gradually his visits rrew
less frequent, until they ceased. What
it was that bad come betwecu hia love
aud hers she could never think but she
felt perfectly sure he did love her, and
50, hoping that time would solve the mys.
terry aud bring balm to her Wounded
spirit, she watched and waited for the
comins
New Year. day came beautiful and
bright. llanel and her friend Flors
never looted lovoliar Mabel bad rS-
pressed her wishes, and fully infused her
orn spirit into hec t4ir FREUD.
1t wss impossible for an indifferent
r-on not 70 fec. their powers of iascina-
tiou. To Edgar Livingston, who YEAS
one Of their first guests, they were quite
irfo,istble. lie fingered on, notaitH-
standing the many efforts Of young
friend who accompanied him to diaw HIM
away.
DO stay and help u.s. said Mabel. and
when Flora's beautiful eyes repeated the
wish Ejgar yielded.
Few, il any, won't from Clifton housC
dissatisfied. Everything that heart could
desire or mind suggest, in the way oI
dcIcacio- and uxurics Of the season, Ma
bel offered her guests. But as her father
had said, many tongues We're busy specu
lating about it, and in few hours it wa!
widely known that Miss Clifton was hay
ing temperance reception
Eagerly Mabcl's eyes sought the door
on every new arrival Of guests She hat
hoped for the coming Of one. But th'
hours passed, and when it grow late il
dny the hope faded aud almost died out
She had seated herself YEARLY IN an arm
chair, when the same greeting that ha'
fallen on her cars 80 many times tha
day, Happy New Year Mss Clifton,
can,ed th3 brigh, light to retarn to he
eye, the brigh, light to her face, as ,h
rose to receive Ernest Addison
There was an expression Ia bis fin
eyes. when he received from har tdo fl.
grant cup Of coffee, that relieved the su-
pense Of yeas. Her heart wls oouniin,
with new hope.
Edsar Livingston had drawn Flora &
the window. a ieg momerts, aud reel
, lug along the sils@alk, shoutiot an
singing a drinking song, came Edgar
companion Of the moroing.
Flora turned from the sickeung ight
EisAt followed, saying
But for yon and Mls- Clifton, migh
have oeen one Of that purity.
Aod goin4 up to Mabel, he said
'Mi- Clifton, your slIn,er toni n
should be v-r9 peaceful. You have m
nelpel TO cloll either the brain or hear
Of -ny of yoJr frienl- to-day. Accep
ny v.rn4,t thank. for hayin, .ayel III
rom feeling both
f lyar saw an expression in Ernce''
eyes that made him think it raGll b
quite as agreeable to all parties if h
souli take Flora back to the recess O
the vindos, 70 the piano, or anyShef
out OF hearing, just then.
e A ieV momenta after, his fine voic
wa blending with hers in well-ehosc
= duet.
/ Then Erncs, told Mabel OF the lov
which had been her since first he kue
! her
4 came one night to lay ruy heart be
fore you. You h - maoy gue't-, and O
: iered thsm vine; you noticed uot that
! placed my glass unc,rched on the t'h.
r | dared not WOO the heart Of oue vi
D held such a fearful temptarion before M
f why YOU wall knos when tsi you Nh
} terrible ;rnth. Ny only brother vs'
, down 10 druuk,rd'- grave, the SONIA
o he lowed urged hlu on.
o For timo mothrrau intl"ou hj
from his fatal passion. DE as doiu
$ we'll We believed he would fulfill ii
bright promise, Of early youth. He gre
e to love beautiful gr.. She was vii
d aud thoaghtlos-, and one night at a Va
l. ty in her latheis house, 81 urged him
n drink.
"Ore glass Every one but you tax
t, wine' she said
lie resisted. She trunied him abor
d having to abstain entirely because he hl
not the selt-con;rol TO use wine in mo
Grafton. lie yielded, accepted the fat
Il glass IRON her hand, aud drank, iii
moderately, then on and on in the o
st fearful way, until the end came-a =
a ned life and a mothers broken heart.
l. ado you wonder that | acd from you
l. Every hour siuce ycaruiug to rciuIa. y
daring not.
ID "To-day heard What you were doiu
l. Earnestly thanking God that light h'