Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-02-27
on THE BRINK.
a TE,IrERANCE SKETCH.
BY SYLyANUs COBB, JR.

have known Arthur Grsve'y wei
and intimately. A part of his etor,
came to my knowledge through ny
| own observation, and part he ted IL
me himself.
Arthur came of an old, well-deilnet
and respectable stock, with just enorgt
| of aristocratic pride inherited from III.
| proeen1tors to give him retinementanc
| seIf-reliance. At an early age tho wal
left an orphan, and received most o.
| his education under the care of an IN
Gle. When he was one and twenty LIE
| was admitted to the employ of banker
named Vanderlain, and very soon tool
| a position of trust ard responsibility
in the house. A year later he took to1
his wife Fanny Sommerton, one OF the
fairest and sweetest of earthly treas
ures. He had loved her long and
truly, and her love III return had beer
single and devoted. Thus was life
opening for Arthur Gravely with
bright and happy promise. He had
friends whichever way he turned; his
business prospects were OF the very
best; and his home was an earthly
paradise.
One enemy, and one enemy alone, al
this time stood in Arthur's path. 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
danger, and one of them more bold
than the rest, spoke to him warningly,
but kindly; but he turned away from
the warming with a sheer of derision.
The months and the years went on
from twenty-five to twenty-cight
Six years of married life-six years
of blessing so far as the outer things
of life can give blessing. In the bank
Arthur had assumed a place very near
the head, and his salary was mu-
nificent.
From early youth Arthur Gravely
had found the wine cup among the
symbols Of LIES social phase. He had
kept wine in his own house; 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 and the
purest. Later, stronger liquors were
required to keep up the tone. At the
age of eight and twenty, there had
come an undue flush upon Arthur g
check, and there were blotches in the
eve which ought not to have been
there. He now took brandy before
bi eakfast, 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 hopelessly intoxicated. He was
confident in his own strength.
Alas ! for the man thus failing. He
knows not that his powers Of under
D. 1rI,, o,,i 1,n no. IL
fades and perishes.
At length, Mr.. Vander.ain called Ar
thur into his private closet, and told
him he was going to suspend bust,
ness.
81 have money enough" said Mr.
Vanderlain," and / know that my
close application to business is wear,
ing upon me. I am growing years
and need rest. I think of going tc
Europe"
"And of closing up your business?'
yes"
But sir, there is no need Of that
If you will trust your bank under the
guidance of some capable and respon.
si5le agent, with your name at It's
head, it might go prosperousiy on, and
You could go away upon your trip al
will"
\ cloud cameup the banker's face,
and he shook his head.
1T is too late" he said. "At Holne
time may tell you more.
Shortly after this, i'll process of clos
ing his business, Mr.. Nanderlain sent
Arthur to a distant city to make some
important settlements. Arrived at his
destination, the young man called upon
the correspondents of the bank, and
having made preliminary arrangements,
he Pounds himself with few days upon
his hands which he might enjoy
On the very evening of his arrival he
had fallen in with John Hatton and
William Roberts, two friends and
class mates Of earlier years. He was
startled when he saw them. They
were evidently going down hill-were
drinking to excess. He spent a first
and a second night in their company
On this second night, for the first time
in his life, Arthur GraveIy drank 70 a
state of helpless stupefaction. He
awoke the next day feeling sad aud
Inundated. When he met his com
panions III a private parlor connected
with their sleeping apartments, lie
found them with bowl of hot brandy
between them. A spirit of true friend
illness came upon him when he saw the
marks of the destroyer SO deeply fixed
upon the companions of his boyhood.
Boys said he, this won't do.
You are going down"
They regarded him curiousIy and
asked what he meant.
He told them what he meant They
were in a dangerous way.
You forget, old boy" said Hattcn,
''that you are III the same boat. Ii we
took passage before you, it is no less
sure that our route is now the same.
Don't preach, Arthur. Try bit of
hot brandy"
There are moments in O lifetime
great crisis-when the events of the
past fash before the mind as upon a
magic mirror-when man in brief
instant, recalls every salient point OF
his earthly career. Such a n oment
was the present to Arthur Gravely.
Let it Alone" he said solemnly.
81 tell you Jack, and You Will, that
you are going down You can't last
much longer at this rate"
"Well," retorted Roberts, with an
attempt to laugh, sit appears to me
that what is sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander. Had you better
try to let it alone yourself!"
IF ] will try it, will you try it ?" he
asked.
Twill you try it ?" demanded Hat
ton.
Il will If you viii join me-"
Ozone !"
And they did it. They joined hands,
and promised one another that they
would be true and steadfast.
A new surprise was i'll store for Ar
thur Gravely. He found upon cutting
off his spirituous liquors that his
body weakened and that his hands
shook as though with palsy. He ap.
Piled to a physician for help. Forth
nately he applied to man of sense
and understanding.
Can you give me something to
steady my nerves and restore nv ap-
petite % Arthur asked, after having
fl ankly stated his case.
''This shows You, my dear sir" said
the physician, Into what dangerous
state you had fallen. 1 can give Won
to steady your nerves. but
it would not help you in the end. If