The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-02-07

"l'm good walker" sail the stran-
ger; aud aI he spoke he drew Hat
flask from his pocket, uncnked ii With
his teeth, and drank a copions drauglt.
Israel E>mayne wached him with
eager, gistening eyes, like those Of
some famished wild animal that scents
blood.
"lIavc drink, friend ?" said the
stranger, pioff"ring the flask. Israel
ESmaynr Shonk his head with set teeth
and lividly pa'e cheek.
81 never drink" said he hoarsrly.
"Yor would, guess, If you could
get such stuff ai this" sail the man;
"Soft as oil aud strong as fire My
father imported it. There Is not mach
like it it, the country. Taste, If you
don't believe me"
ISRAEL stood for a moment hesita'lng.
Then he cast an eager glance to the
right and to the left, rs If half fearful
hat some one should see him, and
glaSping the bottle-drank
The frverrd blood mounted t. his
check; a strange sparkle came into his
eyes.
"IIave you got more Ike that g. h.
whispered, hoals,ly, approaching his
burning lip. 50 closely to the 0ian'S ear
that he involuntarily started. "More?"
live got another llt,k. but"
"Will you leave it behind? I'll pay
you good price for it !"
"What fO:?"
Israpl's eyes fell guiltily. On in
case of .,irkness, you know. We can't,
buy such liquor here e-and it's q lonely
spot"
YOU'RE right enough, there" said
the man, laughing, as he drew out an
other flask, the mate to the fist.
"IIere, takeit. Pshaw, friend, put up
your purse. You're welcome to it as a
gilt"
And he was gone, plunging through
the high grass AMI bushes, all fIinged
wi h scarlet Cardinal flowers and nOd
ding marigolds, before Israel uld stay
him.
Israel ESmayne crept back to his
house, or rather the Iude log cahir.
that was sort of hostage that one day
q real home should lise On its founda.
tons, holding the fiat bottle close 10
him, and glancing around with furtivc,
wandering eyes.
~ needed it," he said TO himself;
"yes, l needed it. Iddn't know how
much until tasted it. Just one more
taste. 1t slips over ones palate like
glass, So smooth, so rich, so full Of
strength. One1nore taste, and then -"
When the clock struck nine the whis-
Tie of the way train sounded ,fairt an,l
far off, and Israel Esnayne rose uncer'
tainly to his feet. The subtle burning
iume of lhe liquid flame had entered
into his brain; the walls seemed to reel
about him, the stars TO swim in the
great blue armament overhead. Moth
ing VAS real--all was faint and far oil
and visionary. But the chains OF | abit
are hard to shake oil; and Israel had
gore out at niue o'clUck every night
for a year. Cropping his way, and
walking with slow, unsteady steps, lie
went, still clasping the partially emp
tied flask 10 his breast in the inner
pocket Of his coat. ....fl.
lie could hear the gush Of the river
below; he could see the rails OF the
tra ok glistening in the faint Starlis isht;
and mechanically fe,ling under clus-
ter Of i ice busLes for the switch key,
he knelt Town and s,upidly fumUied
there an Instant. .....
The May train," lie mutteIed tn
himself. ''It's all right. And then
the freight train half past nine a
quarter 10 ten; aud - .....
lie stopped down by the river shore
and wet his burning foreh, ad with the
cool drops lie could scoop up In the hol-
low OF lis hand, lie sat dowl Oh Il
fallen tree, and let his head fall on his
palms.
Am I-drunk ?" he muttered, half
aloud. 20 God have come to this
in spite of every thing?"
And the memory of Dorothy Beers
and his sacred promise to her rose up
in his mind, as one sometimes renlenl-
brrs PROMISES made TO the dead. In all
the wild, wide, reelii G, rocking world
Of his brain there was but one certain
, IS, lie had lost Dorothy, his soft step
ping, sweet'eyed redeeniing angal--the
one ia all the world who loved and
trusted him implicitly.
~ don't deserve her." he thought,
scarce able to shape definite thought in
his chaotic MIMI "but-if ] had only
fallen down, dead before-before /