Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-04-11

is next door to Mrs. EIhott's and
from some secret affinity we had be-
come very intimate. Years before,
my natural heart treasures had slip
ped from me, and |, in my loneliness,
found it very easy to love my young
neighbor as daughter Through a
side entrance we ran in and out of
each others homes with perfect free
dom, and often sat with our work to-
gether.
This afternoon, Mrs. Judge Ash
man, another intimate friend, was al
so with us. Her only immediate re-
sponse to Mrs. Elliott was deep
sigh. At last she SAID:
'"The evil grows so desperate /
can scarcely wonder at any effort to
counteract it, though 1 must say
with you that l can scarcely under
stand this one. l do not see how
lady can go to such places as you
describe, l suppose, only too truly.
But the trouble is, the worst mischief
is not done in these dens Many of
our drinking saloons are elegant in
all their appointments, and are ire
quented by gentlemen"
"No matter" answered Mrs. Eli
oft almost hotIy; "womanly delicacy
forbids that she should go to such
place. They are frequented by roues
and gamblers, also, who differ from
the ragged loafers only in being bet
ter dressed. In each case she is la
bic to insult, and to see and hear
things which, to a pure, refined wo-
man are worse than blows. l had
rather meet the coarse brutality of
the dens than the contemptuous leers
and mocking smiles of the gilded sa-
| looms"
; "What you say, my dear, seems
perfectly true, and have always
felt so myself. But oh! It's dread
full to sit still with folded hands and
see the havoc these places are max
ing"
The pathoS and distress in Mrs.
Ashmam's voice were too deep to be
caused by merely general apprecia-
ton of the evils of Intemperance. | |
had read the secret of the mothers |
trouble in the flushed and bloated |
face of one of her sons. Mrs. Eli
oft looked at her with little surprise |
and said more quietly:
81 agree with you it is a very great
evil, perhaps the greatest in our age,
but it is mems work to cope with it |
publicly. Women can help by max
ing home so attractive that hus-
bands, fathers and brothers will find
nothing that can tempt them abroad.
Thank God, | have never had much
personal experience in this matter.
My husband takes a glass of wine
when he feels like it, and so did my
father. There's no more harm in
that than in the use of tea and cof-
fee."
"No," said Mrs. Ashman, with an
other deep sigh, 81 suppose not, if it
would only end there"
Again Mrs. Elliott looked at her
little curiously, and changed the
subject. The early shadows of the
coming winter evening soon after
warned Mrs. Ashman that she must
be on her way homeward. At Mrs.
Elliott's request | remained to tea.
Her husband came in at the usual
hour. l do not wonder that she half
idolized the handsome, dark-eyed
man, with his fIee and easy Western
bearing, refined by Eastern culture,
for he had completed his studies at
the East. He certainly petted her to
her. hearts content. But tonight he
seemed little preoccupied and ex-
cited. After the meal was over he
Immediately excused himself.
"Must you 60 out again this even
ing, Vintop?'' asked his wife, plead
ingly.
''Indeed must, Nellie. It's court
week, you know. There are so many
lawyers in town, and l have much on
hand"
l heard her kiss him affectionately
at the door as he departed, and
thought it must be a stress of bust
ness indeed, that would take a man
away from such a wife; but surely
that kiss would be protection against
every evil spell.
l sat with her till ten o'clock. We
spoke only at intervals, for we had
attained that true companionship
that does not require constant talk
ing. saw dreamy, far-away look
come into the young wife's eyes.
She was building bright castles in
the future, when her prospects for
maternity would be realized in the
supreme joy of mother love and her
home be complete.
l did not offer to stay later than
ten, for by so doing might betray
somewhat of the anxiety and boding
of i'll that oppressed me. l do not
often have such feelings. But am
always in terror when l do, for trou-
bic has soon followed. My sitting
room was opposite her parlor, where
| knew she would watch and wait.
After lighting the gas l did not
U' am OhS Cui JdllS, UuG SdG uOWn
with my knitting where she could
see me, and so practically watched
and waited with her.
When from a city steeple eleven
was 'olled out, my neighbor grew
restless. When the solemn, meas
ured storke of midnight was an
nounced, heard her side door open
and her quick steps OH the gravel. l
met her at the door.
"Dear Mrs. M" she exclaimed
breathlessly; Snow good of you to
be up! L half believe you have been
watching with me. Vinton has not
come home yet. What does it mean?
lie never st lyed out SO late before"
She was shivering as with cold,
but it was the chill of fear. put !
my arms around her and said:
"Let US hope for the best, my dear.
If you wish | will come and stay
with YOU"
"Please do" she half sobbed, and
then fastened back, as if unwilling
., 1, r