Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-04-11

| qua OAiilH VI lllC SttN 1OI III lJtln .
interest that came to their knowl
edge. The policemen knew that thi
scandal of VintOn Elliott would b,
well paid for, and he was not tb,
man to lose several dollars on an,
sentimental grounds. Even the nigh
editors senSibilities seemed shOcke,
over the affair, for he had written
'Things have come to a sad pas
when such men as Elliott get down
in the streets. If the praying and
singing women can do us any good
they had better come at once. Har-
| ry Hills establishment, with all it,
style, is one of the most mischievous
places in town"
After a few moments she again
seized the paper.
ooh, leave it alone" / cried.
you've had more than you can en-
dure now"
81 am not a child" she answered
almost fiercely. 81 intend to know
and face the worst of this natter
and with a white, stern face, she
read every word, and then sat for Il
few moments with the old thought
full contraction of the brow. Sud-
denly she started up with look Of
fixed purpose, and asked:
''HOw long do you think he will
sleep?"
Several hours"
'Then come with me-"
"Where %
"TO Mrs. Judge Ashman's."
The judges family were just sit
ting down to breakfast when we az
rived.
"Why, Mrs. Elliott and Mrs. NJ,
tool" exclaimed the good lady in
unfeigned surprise. "'What is the
matter ? Surely this is not a social
CALL"
"No," said Mrs. Elliott impetuous-
ly. " Ashman, | take back all
Isaid about ladies going to liquor
saloons, in order to break them up
if they can. 1 am going to Harry
Hills to-day if | go alone. He about
the same as murdered my husband
last night" and she briefly told her
story. 81 am going there this very
morning." she continued. "He
must resist 4 wife's prayers and a
wires curses if he sells my husband
one drop more. Will you go with
me?"
Mrs. Ashman's features were
working with deep emotion, but the
stately judge now joined us from
the dining room, and remonstrat-
ed:
"RealIy, Mrs. Elliott, I greatly
sympathize with you, for l have
read the painful account in the
morning paper, but l hope you will
do nothing rash. You will only ex-
pose yourself to insult, and accom-
plish nothing. Perhps you may OBJ
tain some legal redress"
With a dignity and impressive
ness which even he had never pos
sessed upon the bench, the aroused
wife silenced him with gesture.
"YOu are not equal to this mat
ter, Ashman,'' she said, ''nOr are your
legal forms. During the past night
[ have seen my own grave open, and
in it buried life, youth and happi-
ness. What is far worse, l have
seen the yawning grave of my hus-
band. and l know it to be the mouth
of hell. And do you ask me to go
to law about such matters? Harry
Hill and his kind are digging these
graves. l never realized it before.
Surely he does not. Unless he is a
fiend, he will cease this wild traffic
when | tell him the truth. l tell
you l aoW go, if l go alone! You
may as well ask the lightning not
to strike when the storm is at its
height!'
George" cried Mrs. Ashman, in
a voice OF anguish, show often has
your own son been drunk at this
same Harry Hills ?"
"The judge turned pale and ab-
ruptly left the room.
"YOu shall not go alone" cOntin-
ued Mrs. AShman, sObbing on Mrs.
Elliott's shoulder; ga score of women
that | know of, smitten by the ter
rible curse, will 90 with you if you
only lead the way. Some are rich
and some are poor, but we all have
common ground in this matter. l
will send them word.
After a little consultation it was
arranged that we should start from
Mrs. Judge Ashman's at eleven
Much as | shrank from the under
taking, | determined to remain at
the side of my beloved Mrs. Elliott.
We called on few personal friends
and stated our purpose, but so lar
from joining us they seemed dlSmaY-
ed mt the very idea.
Mrs. Elliott, then turned to her un-
conscious husband. One lOok at
HIM seemed to turn her delicate
frame into steel, and at little be-
fore IL she walked to Mrs. Ashman'S
with firm tread as ever as soldier
marched into battle.
l shall never forget the group,
that we found assembled in the
Judges parlor. There were young
faces present beside that of Mrs. FL
lott. But all were pale and lined
with care-all were solemn with an
earnest purpose, and touched with
the. pathos of suffering.
Ladies', this is Mrs. Elliott, SAID
Mrs. Ashman, simply.
All rose to receive their leader
and she assumed control with the
simplicity and dignity which only
noble creatures can attain.
''In the main you are strangers to
me =" she said "but our common dan
oer and our common wrong, knit
9ur souls together rs one. The evil
which threatened our lives and
homes has grown so desperate that
it seems to require desperate rem
edy. 1t is terrible cross for
us, timid weak women to 90 on
this mission. 1t brings back TO
us the days of martyrdom. Yester-
a. IL,