Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-06-23

dnw him away.
| Do stay and help u.s. said Mabel, and when
Fldy's beautiful eyes repeated the wish Edsal
yidded.
Few, If any, went from Clifton house dissat
isfbd. Everything that heart could desire vi
mind suggest, In the way Of delicaeies and lux
urns Of the season, Mable offered her gues's.-
But as her father had said, many tongues were
busy specializing about il, and In few hours
1t vas widely known that Miss Clifton was
ei'ing temperance reception.
Eagerly Mabel's eyes sought the door on ev.
cry new arrival of guests. She had hoped fol
til. coming OF one. But the hours passed, and
when 1t grew late in the day, the hope fad
ed and almost died out.
She had seated herself wearly in an armchair
wien the same greeting that had fallen on her
ears SO many times that day, Happy New
Year. Miss Clifton caused the bright light ia
rsnrn to her eyes, the beau iful flush to her
faec, rs she arose to receive Ernest Addison.
There was an expression in his fine eyes,
when he received from her the fragrant cup oil
cotee, that relieved the suspense Of years. Her
hart was bounding with new hope.
Edgar Livingston had drawn Flory 10 the
window. They were looking out on the pass
es by.
| Keeling alon, the sidewalk. shouting and
singing drunken soEg, came Edgar's compan-
ion of the morning. Flory turned from the
| srkening sight. Edgar followed saving.
But for you aud Miss Clifton, might have
been one ofthat party And going to Mabe !,
| he said:
Miss Clifton, your slumber tonight should
be peaceful. You have not helped to cloud
ether brain or heart of any of your friends to
day. Accept my warmest thanks for having
slved me from feeling bo'h.
Edgar saw an expression in ErnesL's eyes,
that made him think IL would be quite as agree
able to all partie, If he would take Fory back to
tie recess of the windo v, to the piano, or any
where out OF hearing, just then.
A few moments after his fine voice was blend
ing with hers in well chosen duet.
Then Ernest told Mabel the love which had
been hers since he knew her.
l came one night to lay my heart before YOU.
YOU had many guests and offered them wine.
You noticed not that | placed my glass un-
touched on the table. | left early. l dared not
WOO the heart of one who held such n fearful
temptation before me; why, yeu will know.
when tell you the terrible truth. Nv only
brotlier went down to a drunkard's grave, the
woman he loved urging him on
'sor time mother and | won him from his
fatal passion. He was doing well. We believ-
ed he would fulfil the bright promise of bis
early youth. He grew to love a beautiful pirl.
She was wild and thoughtless, and one night,
at party In her fa.hers house she urged him
to drink.
'one glass. Every one but You takes wine.
she said.
He resisted. She tsunted him about having
TO abstain entirely because he had not the self
control to use wine in moderation.
He yielded, accepted the fatal glass from her
hand, and drank, first moderately, then on and
.on,i the old fearful way until the end cama-l
ruined life, and mothers broken heart
Doyou wonder that fed from yous Every
hour since yearning to return, yet daring not i.
To-day heard what YOU were doing Earn
esly thanking God that light had dawned upon
you, hastened here to lay my heart before the
or1v woman had ever loved. viii yon he my
wife, Mabel.
Her heart was too full o. joy-she could net
tell him in words how happy she was; but her
'"he hs.,t sad her p5 iu his. au..
the love of years beaming there. lie needed
no answer.
Judging from the low tones into which the
voices in the other room had fallen, l thirk
some other hearts must have found their mates
But the pairs were separated or rather Joined
ag ain, by the return Of Mr. Clifton, who enter
ed, calling out:
Mabel, dear, to me these rooms look rather
dark. Let's have the gas turned on, if yor
please
Certainly, papa
| And when there was light enough for Mr.
Clifton to look into his daughters eyes. he saw
bright light shining there. Another moment
when Flory came to greet him, he said with
smile:
'Ah! see why you young folks know nothlni
of the surrounding darkness-guided by til
light within. Well, have yon had pleasan
days
"A happy day, father: there are no regrets +
steal in and mar it, Mabel said. with gf
smile
4 am glad of it--glad of yor resolve, Ma
bell
'iiow glad you will know. when | tell yo
that this morning closed the eyes of a fathe
whose only son was away in some drinking 81
loon. How my heart ached for that fathe
And what balm II was to think at that tim
nay daughter was not holding the fatal glass
any young man. said Mr.. Clifton, his voic
trembling.
Before another New Years day, Mabel al
t'lory each presided over an establishment
their own.
The happy remembrance of their rccepti'
Is never clouded by the thought that they ha
added one drop to the cup of bitterness whi
so many wives, brothers, mothers al
sisters have to drink-the cup of sorrow viii
is so often prepared for then by sister wome
/