Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-01-24
ON THE BRINK.

ON THE BRINK.
I have known Arthur Gravely well
and intimately. A part of his story
came to my knowledge through my own
observation, and part he told me him
SELF
Arthur came of an old, well-defned
and respectable stock, with just enough
of aristocratic pride inherited from his
progenitors to give him refinement and
self-reliance. At an early age he was
left an orphan, and received most of his
education under the care of an uncle.
When he was one-and-twenty he was
admitted to the employ of a banker
named Vanderlain, and very soon took
a position of trust and responsibility in
the house. A year later he took for his
wife Fanny Summerton-one of the
fairest and sweetest of earthly treas
ures. He had loved her long and truly,
and her love in return had been single
and devoted. Thus was life opening
for Arthur Gravely with bright and hap
py promise. He had friends which,
ever way he turned his business pro s.
poets were of the very best; and ais
home was an earthly paradise.
One enemy, and one enemy aloue, at
this time stood in Arthur's patti. His
wife did not see it then. She loved him
SO fondly and so trustingly that she
could not see fault.
A few of Arthur's friends feared dan
ger, and one of them, more bold than
the rest, spoke to him warningly, but
kindly; but he turned away from the
warming with a sneer Of derision.
The months and the years went on
from twenty-five to twenty-eight.
Six years of married life,-six years
of blessing so far as the outer things of
life can give blessing. In the bank Ar
thur had assumed place very near to
the head, and his salary was munifcent.
From early youth Arthur Grs,fely had
found the wine-cup among tne symbols
of life's social phase. He had kept
wine in his own hou9e; he had used it
upon his sidebsard and upon his table :;
and he had partaken freely abroad. In
the earlier years it was wine, and only
wine of the best ana the purest. Later,
stronger liquors were required to keep
up the tone. At the age of eight-and-
twenty, I'll. .efe had come an undue flush
upon t.rthur's cheek, and there were
blotches in the eye which ought not to
nave been there. He now tc ok brandy
before breakfast, and through the day
he was forced to supply fuel to feed a
fire which else might have consumed all
bodily comfort. AS yet he had never
been helplessly intoxicated. He was
confident in his own strength.
Alas! for the man thus failing! He
knows not that his powers OF under
standing are dying out as the body
fades and perishes!
At length Mr., Vanderlain called
Arthur into his private closet, and told
him that he was going to suspend bust
ness. ss
a'sI have money enough" said Mr..
Vanderlain, and 1 know that my close
application to business is wearing upon
me. I am growing in years, and need
rest think of going to Europe"
''And of closing up your business p
uYes." --3 c.sa g.. ..9-
e"sBut, sir, there is no need of that.
If you will trust your bank under the
guidance of some capable and RESPONSE
BILE agent, with your name at its head,
it might go prosperously on, and you
could go away upon your trip at will. y
A cloud came upon the bankers face,
and he shook his head.
"It is too late," he said. cat some
time may tell you more"
Shortly after this, in process OF
closing up his business, Mr.. Wander
lain sent Arthur to a distant city to
make some important settlements. Ar.
rived at his destination, the young man
called upon the correspondents of the
bank, and having made preliminary ar
rangements, he found himself with 6
few days upon his hands which he
might enjoy in pleasure. On the very
evening of his arrival, he had fallen il
with John Hatton and William Roberts
two friends and classmates of earlier
years. He was startled when he saw
them. They were evidently going
down hill-were drinking to excess
Yet they were gentlemen, and Arthur
Joined them. He spent first and {
second night in their company. Or
this second night, for the first time il
his life, Arthur Gravely drank to
state of helpless stupefaction. FL,
awoke on the next day feeling sad ant
humiliated. When he met his compan
ions in a private parlor connected will
their sleeping ap lrtments, he found
them with a bowl of hot brandy be
tween them. A spirit of true friendli
ness came upon him when he saw th,
marks of the destroyer so deeply fxet
upon the companions of his boyhood.
"Boys," said he, this won't do
You are going down."
They regarded him curiously, ant
asked him what he meant.
He told them what he meant. The,
were in a dangerous way.
"Y You forget, old boy" said Hatten
"that you are in the same boat. If W,
took passage before you, it is no les
hot ta =