Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-04-09

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e. You all make yourselves liable to in
le dIctment for trespass, Besides. IL ain
&c the right thing for ladies to go trssDp
Il L ing through the streets followed by !
II raDDie, and meddliDg with things thai
vi 9On concern them. 1t n'tlady-like
It's fanat-'
dusn In word, answer me p cried
u Mrs. Elliott i'll n voice that went tc
ever" heart like an arrow. will YOU
y not promise me never to sell my hus-
band another glass of liquor?'
NO! shouted Hill, nor any other
$ woman's husband. L will promise to
L sell to all who'll pay
}, There was sudden hoarse murmurjno
e on the part of the crowd, but in a mo-
Z ment IL was hushed, for the insulted
wife had knelt on the floor before the
par. We all dropped on our knees
: around her
!. % GOd,' she pleaded i'm tone that
must have thrilled the very scul of the
most hardened present, 'eshall human
rove ana human anguish plead before
lhee IN vain? Art thou not God of
mercy, ana yet-crueity is crushing US ,
AT AIT Ihou not God of justice, and yet
we are being robbed of all that makes
: life endurable? Thou didst stop the
mouth of liens. Here in our Christian
land are human hearts more savage.
lhou dldsf preserve IN tae furnace
seven times heated. Beneath our
church spires burns the more remorse-
less ana destructive passion of aYarice.
WIZ thou not break The stony heart
before US, and bend his stubborn will
10 thlne? Thou knoWest that because
OF our love we could die for our dear
ones, but we believe that thou dost ioyei
tnen even more. Wilt thou not jni
mercy change their destroyers intoi
men: Wilt thou not take this awful
soui-klllIng temptation out of their
pain We plead in the name of thy
gear Son, who gave his life for us ali.
Amen
Strange 10 say, there was a respon-
sive Amen from the rough crowd
tnat would have done honor to a Meth
oulst class meeting,' and as l looked
around on rising, l saw many eyes wet
win Tears where had expected only
looks or scorn. did not dare meet
MI. Eiilotts eye, though he remained
still. "'''
But the tragedy went forward with.
out a moments pause. Mrs. Elliott
took step nearer the ruInseller. point l.,
ed up with an Impressive gesture, and i,
bent upon him look, such as / never !.
saw ON woman's face before, for !,
mirror In the bar opposite revealed
ner form and features perfectly, and ;.
gave her back to the audience as
startling picture. Hill tried to meet :
her eye, but could not, for his sank I
guiltily and confusedIy to the floor.
MIR. Hill,' she said in low. gentle
voice, and yet it reminded me of the
still small voice of God,' it was so
penetratlng and awe-inspiring. sonce
more ask You, beseech YOU. answer
me as you will wish you had answered b
when we stand before His Judgment /,
seat, Will You not cease this dreadful o.
business?' Il
A death-llke hush followed. Hill tt
was evidently cowed and overcome, Sc
and aftera moment mumbIed out: 81
ITS not In man to resist you, mad q
am, promise will notself any more al
to your husband, though he will get it cl
eisewhere II he wants it. think it's a cl
pity ne can't stand up for himself e.
without sendlng his wife around a 81
praying and beSeeching for him. ii
Give way there, cried Vinton Eli n
outs Voice, and he sprang down FROM Il
the raised doorstep and struggled to- CT
ward his wife. There were murmurs O.
and CALCULATIONS of intense excitement Il
ON the part of the crowd as this new y
element entered into the drama, and g
all gave way before him. Mrs. Elliott q
Started and trembled violently at his g
voice, and the moment he reached her. u
chung TO MS arm and hid her face Sob 81
blngly on his shoulder. All her won 1t
derful nerve and Self-control seemed C;
gone. In clear, ringing tone, Elliott el
said: D
MIR. Hill, you have spoken some p
true words this morning. This is no OF
place-this is no action for ladies like X
my wife and other honored women b'
that see here; and believe me, they u
would not be here if you and /, and K
our like, had not driven them to des- OF
peration. God knows you have enough
TO answer for, but you only are not to
blame. You can't force us to throw
away our money and manhood here. cl
Ii half is true of what have read con-
cerning myself in the morning paper, o,
l wonder that my wife did not leave
me forever in utter disgust. Instead
OF that, with wOman's faithfulness. she in
comes here to plead for my safety. &C
But she Will never be called to pass
through such an ordeal again. OF
thought could drink in moderation al
at your bar, as I had for years, but yout
have taught me better, sir. Vinton or
Elliott can stand alone, but he will at
stand aloof from you and your kind.
God and you, fellow citizens, be nv
witness that l will drink no more, and sa
may He palsy my hand if it eveI raj OF
ses another glass of liquor to my lips
Mrs. Elliott gave low, glad cry. w
L make no apology for what occur fo
red last night he continued. THE
case admits of none. / deserve YOUR
contempt, but it can not exceed that so
which have for myself. Were it not su
for my wife, and the hope of retrieving
my character, would gladly die.' r.
'Hurrah! three cheers for Elliott, -
who faces the matter Ikea man y cried Z,
voice from the crowd, and they were "
given with good will.
Mrs. Judge Ashman now came for ar
ward and said: ce
Mr.. Hill, this won't answer. MY CO
son is as dear to me as Mrs. Elliott's
husband to her. We all represent some hs
imperilled member of our households. 10
You must promise to quit the business th
altogether in our city,
DO you see that?' asked pale, thin
woman, mechanics wife, and she pi
lifted her hair and showed an uglyteN
scar across her temple. My own hus- AZ
band, once so kind and good, gave me
that blow. 1t went in deep. 1t nearly eli
cost me life. But it made a deeper ST
scar on my heart. People must stop of
selling rum to my husband, or l can't cr
live. l feel that 1 will do something
Desperate
oh please do promise, Mr.. Hill, at
pleaded a meek-looking little woman, ca
with streaming eyes. My only son fo