Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-01-21
MlS CELL a NE @ US,
MABEL CLIFTON's REWARD,


GSS windows of her fathers magnificent man.
sion. servant stood in waiting. She was
making out a list of articles wanted for the
next day. Coming footsteps arrested her at
tentIon. She raised her eyes from the paper
and looked out. The crimson flush decpened
on her bright young face as oh !" in tone
of deep regret escaped her lips.
She turned, after an instant of thought
and said :
'John, I am not just ready to finish this
list, and shall not send for an hour vet. IF
you have anything to attend to in the mean
time. ynu can do it,
Mr.. Clifton had hcen reading in distant
part Of tho room. Hearing the door close
after Johns departure he asked:
'Ion have not forgotten to send for those
wines spoke of, my dear ?'
"iie has not gone yet, papa
.Ah, well; do not make it late. They
will he very busy to to,night," her father said
turning again to his paper.
''Papa ~
SWELL my dear?7
"a boon, papa. Promise to grant me, this
last dav of The year, my hoon.'
"Wh"t is it, my love ?''
'Promlse to grant it first"
"Nnt in Ignorance. my child"
'''Frnst nc, father
She had an earnest, eager, noble look in
her eyes that her father did trust in. and he
promised her.
"Wcll, we'll; ynu shall have your way."
"Father, let us have no wines to>morrow.
"What! F! No, no; 1 cannot grant YOU that.
No owines! Why. child. have you gone crazvY
For twenty-five years past have offered nv
friends wine on New>vcar's day, and never
have felt that was doing anything wrong.
What has come over you ?''
cob. father, never have felt just right
when offering Tonng men wine: and just now,
when | was making out the order for John. I
chanced to raise my eyes just as Edgar Liv>
ingston was passing. 1t needed hut glance
to see lie was very much under the influence
e wine. Father, his mother is a widow: he
Yer oulv child. All her earthly hopes are in
him. Will they not he wrecked, think Won.
it he INDUCES in the wine cup? Tomorrow
he will make many calls. beautiful women
will offer him wine. lie will not have the
courage, possibly the wish, to decline. To>
morrow night, most likely, then, he will re-
turn home to fill his mothers heart with snr-
row. ] wish not to contribute one drop to
that bitter cur'
''My dear, whether we have wines or not
with him it will be all the same, as you saw
he will make many calls
fa'neF, II you had son, you would feel
differently. Think how manv young men of
the brightest promise have faiicd, nav. worse.
won truly disgrace and early graves FROM the
love of wine"
81 feel as if Edgar Livingston stood on the
brink of a fearful precpice Father. stretch
forth your strong arm to draw him back-if
only one step. and for a moment. IF we do
save him. it will hc comfort to think Wa
urged him not forward on his fatal course
"a1ahel, you are very deeply interested in
the Young man. Am to conclude"
Nothing more than for his own and his
mothers sake. | would endeavor e. save him.
or any other young man in his danger father.
Here will be one Of his first calls Possibly
| can detain him long enough to prevent his
visiting many places where he would be ex-
posed to great temptation. Oh, father please
grant me this ?''
Really, dear I feel disposed to do as YOU
wish, but SO many will be very much disap-
pointed. Beside, [ have not the courage t.
make this great change, and set five hundred
tongues to work specuIatino about the cause
Of it. Some will declare I'm about TO fail:
others that have grown penurious. All what
is it, John ?'
Just then the servan. entered and handed
an envelope. saying:
ga telegram. sir"
Mr.. Clifton tore it quickly open, read it.
and exclaimed:
t.Realy this is too bad But must 60.
John, here!' And hastily writing few
words for return dispatch, he handed it to
the servant. and turning to Mabel, said ::
"Nly old friend Hartwell is dying. and bces
that l will hasten to him. I cannot deny him.
So You will have to entertain my friends to-
morrow, and explain the reason of nv falling
to see them, the first time for so many years.
Aud-well, dear, you can do as you choose
about the bill of fare. AS shall not he
home, the folks will not hold me responsible
for what happens in my absence"
ooh, thank you, papa, for permission to do
as choose. I will willingly take any unkind
remarks, if any one feels like making them.
But feel confident that all who have sons
will give me their kindest wishes for with>
holding temptation from their boys. And to