The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-01-15
KEEPING AN OATH.

condition. Bryan had married IN MS
better days the sister of Moses FELTON,.
At length all his hopes were given
up. Week after week would the fallen
man be drunk on the floor, and not a
day of real sobriety marked his course.
| | doubt if such another was known.
He was too low for real conviviality,
for those he would have associated with
would not drink with him.
All alone in his Office and chamber,
he still continued to drink, and his very
life seemed the offspring of his jug.
NEARLY spring Moses FELTON, had call
to go to Ohio. Before he set out he
visited his sister. He offered to take
her with him but she would not go.
"But why stay here?" urged the
brother. "You are fading away, and
disease is upon YOU. Why should you
live with such brute?"
"Hush, Moses, speak not So answered
the wife, keeping back her tears. Il
will not leave him now, but he will soon
leave me- He cannot live much longer
At that moment Daniel entered the
apartment. He looked like wanderer
from the tomb. He had his hat on,
and his jug in his hand.
"Ah, Moses, how are yep he gasped
for he could not speak plainly.
The visitor looked at him for few
moments in silence Then, as his feat
ures assumed cold, stern expression,
he said in strongly emphasized tone:
Daniel Bryan, | have been your best
friend but one. My sister is an angel,
though matched with demon. have
loved YOU, Daniel as never loved man
before; you were generous, noble and
kind; but | hate you now, for You are
a perfect devil incarnate. Look at that
woman. She is my sister-she now
might live in comfort, only that she
will not do it while you are alive; when
YOU die she will come to me- Thus do
pray that God will give her joys to
my keeping. Now, Daniel, do sin
cerely hope that the first intelligence
that reaches me from my native place,
after | shall have reached my new
home, may bc-that-you-are dead"
stop, Moses, ! can reform yet
"You cannot. 1t is beyond your pow
err. You have had Inducements enough
To have reformed half the sinners Of
creation, and you are lower than ever
before. Go and die, sir, as soon As
you can, for the moment that sees you
thus will not find me among the mourn
ers.'
Bryan's eyes flashed, and he drew
himself proudly up.
Go" he said, in the tone Of the old
sarcasm, "Go to Ohio, and I'll send
you news. Go sir, and watch the post
| will make you take back your words
Never, Daniel Bryan, never
You shall, | swear it,
With these words Daniel Bryan
hurled the jug into the Fireplace, and
while yet a thousand fragments were
flying over the floor, he strobe from the
house.
Mary shrank fainting upon the floor
Moses bore her to a bed and then, hav-
ing called in ncighbor he hurried
away, for the stage was waiting.
For a month Daniel lowered over the
brink of the grave, but did not die.
"Onc gill of brandy will save you,"I
said the doctor, who saw that the alb
rupt removal of stimulants from the
system, that had almost subsistcd on
nothing else, was nearly sure to prove
fatal. "You can surely take a gill and
not take any more"
"Ay,' gaspcd the poor man, take a
gill and break my oath. Moses FELTON,
shall not hear that brandy and rum
killed me. If the want Of it can kill
me, then let me die-I'll not die till No.
SEES felton, shall eat his words"
He did live. An iron will conquered
the messenger death sent-Danicl Bry.
an lived. For one month he could not
even walk without help. Mary helped
him.
A year passed away, and Moses Eel.
ton returned to Vermont He entered
the court house at Burlington, and Dam
iel Byran was on the floor pleading for
a young man who had been indicted
for forgery FELTON, started in sur
prise. Never before had such torrents
of eloquence poured from his lips The,
case was given to the jury, and the