The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-01-02
suspense of years. Her heart was
bounding with new hope.

suspense of years. Her heart was
bounding with new hope.
Edgar Livingston had drawn Flory to
the window. They were looking out
on the passers-by. A few moments, and
reeling along the sidewalk, shouting
and singing drinking song, came Ed
gar's companions of the morning.
Flory turned from the sickening
sight. Edgar followed, saying
"But for you and Miss Clifton, I
might have been one of that party
And going up to Mabel, he said:
"Miss Clifton, your. .slumber tonight
should be very peaceful. You have not
helped to cloud either the brain or heart
of any of your friends to-day. Accept
my warmest thanks for having saved me
from feeling both
Edgar saw an expression III Ernest's
eyes that made him think it would be
quite as agreeable to all parties if he
would take Flory back to the recess of
the window, to the piano, or anywhere
out of hearing.
A few moments after, his fire voice
was blending with hers in well-chosen
duet.
Then Ernest told Mabel of the love
which had been hers since first he knew
her:
"I came one night to lay my heart be-
fore you. You had many guests, Gyd
offered them wine You noticed not that
I placed my glass untouched on the ia
BILE. left early. 1 dared not WOO the
heart of one who held such a fearful
temptation before me; why you will
know when tell you the terrible truth.
My only brother went down to drunk
ards grave, the woman he loved urging
him on.
"For time mother and had won him
fran his fatal passion. He was doing
well. We believed he would fulfill the
bright promise of earlyyouth. He grew
to love beautiful girl. She was wild
and thougLtless; and one night, at n
party in her fathers house, she urged
him to drink.
Gone glass. Every one but you takes
wine," she said.
"He resisted. She taunted him
about having TO abstain entirely because
he had not the self-control to use wine
in moderation He yielded, accepted
the fatal glass from her hand, and
drank, first moderately, then on and on
in the old fearful way, until the end
came-a ruined life, and a mothers
broken heart.
"Do you wonder that / fled from you !?
Every hour since yearninS to return,
yet daring not.
: To-day heard what you were do
ing. Earnestly thanking God that light
had dawned upon you, hastened here
to lay my heart before the only woman
have ever loved. VIII you be my wife,
Mabel?"
7 Her heart was too full of ioy-she
could.not tell him in words how happy
e she was; but her little hand lay still in
his. She raised her eyes moment, and
he saw the love of years beaming there.
He needed no other answer.
e Judging from the low tone into which
D the voices in the other room had fallen,
1 | think some other hearts had found
e their mates. But the pairs were sepa-
1 rated, or rather joined again, by the re-
s turn of Mr.. Clifton, who entered, calling
y out:
y "Mabel, my dear, to me these rooms
e look rather dark. Let's haze the gas
d turned on, if you please
e Certainly, papa.
t Andwhen there was light enough fol
g Mr.. Clifton to look into his daughters
e eyes, he saw n bright light shining
there. Another moment, when Flory
d came to greet him, he said, with sly
v smile
: "Ah, l see why you young folks knew
d nothing of the surrounding darkness
guided by the light within. Well, have
It you had a pleasant day?"
i "a happy day, father; there are nc
IS regrets to steal in and mar it" Mabe
e said, with a bright smile.
l. 81 am glad of it glad of your re
g solve, Mabel. How glad you will know
W when I tell you that this morning
closed the eyes of father whose onl,
, son was away in some drinking saloon
: How my heart ached for that dying
father! And what balm it was, t
10 think at that time my daughter was no
+ holding the fatal glass to any young
- man." said Mr. Clifton, his voice tremb
% ling with emotion.
:. Before another New Years Day Mabe
and Flory each presided over an estab
: lishment of their own. The happy re
p" membrance of their reception is neve
:, clouded by the thought that they hav'
added one drop to the cup of bitterness
which so many wives, mothers and SIS
10 ters have to drink-that cup of sorrow
e which is so often prepared for them b.
IL sister women.
# A WRITER in the New York San state
! that there is one man living, and onl,
70 one. who can read Eliot's Indian Bible
~ This is Mr.. J. Hammond Trumbull
U;brar;ap of tbe WatkinsOn Library O