South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-03-06
On the Brink.


to my knowledge through my own obser,
vations, and q part he told me himself.
| Arthur came Of an old well-defined and
respectable stock, with just enough of ar
istocratic pride inherited from his progeni.
tors to give him refinement and self.reli-
ance. At an early age he was lef, an or
phan, and, received most Of his education
under, tho care of an uncle
When he was one.and-twepty he was
admitted to the employ of banker named
VANDERLAIN, and very soou took posi-
ton of trust and responsibility in the house.
A year later be took for his wife FANNY
SUMMERToN-one of the fairest and sweet
est of earthly treasures. He had loved her
long aud truly, and her love 10 return had
been single and devoted. Thus was life
opening for ARTHUR GRAvELY with bright
and happy promises. He had friends which
ever way he turped his business prospects
were of the very best and his homo was
an earthly paradise.
One enemy, and one enemy alone, at this
time stood in ARTHtR's path. His wife
did not see it then. She loved him fondly
and so trustiDgly that she could not see n
fault.
! A few Of ARTtrtR's friends feared dan
! ger, and one of them, more bold than the
rest, spoke to him warniugly, but kindly /;
but he turned away from the warning With
q sneer Of detision.
The mouths and the years went on
from twenty-five to twenty-eight Six
years of married life-six years of blessing
so far as the outer things of life can give
blessing. 10 bank ARTHUR had assumed
place very near to the head, and his sala-
~ was muuifceDt.
From early youth ARTHUR GRAvELY
had found the wine cup among the sy IN bos
of life's social phase. He had kept wine
in his own house he had used it upon his
sideboard and upon his table and he bad
partaken freely abroad. In the earlier
years it was wine, and only wine of the best
and purest. Later, strong liquors were re-
quired TO keep up the tone. At the age
of eight and twenty there had come IN un.
due flush upon ARTHUR's cheeks, and
there were bloiches which ought not
to have been there. He now took brandy
before breakfast, and through the day he
was forced to supply fuel to feed a fire
which else might have consumed all bodi-
ly comfort. As yet he had never been
help!essly intoxicated. He was confident
in his own strength.
| Alas /! for the man thus failing. He
knows that his powers for understanding
are dying out as the body fades and then
perishes.
At length Mr.. FANDERLAfN called
ARTHUR into his private closet and told
him he was going to suspend business.
q have money enough said Mr.. VAN
DERLAIN, land / know that my close appli-
cation to business is wearing upon me. l
am growing in years and need rest. l
think of going to Europe
And of closing up your business 2
yes
But, sir, there is no need of that. IF
| you will trust your business under the gui-
dance Of some capable and responsible a.
gent, with your name at its head, it might
go prosperOusly on, and you could go away
upon your trip at will
! A cloud came over the bankers face and
be shook his head.
1t is too late, he said. Sat some time
may tell you more
| Shortly after this, in process of closing
up his business, Mr.. VANDERLAIN sent
ARTHUR to distant city TO make some
/ important settlements. Arrived at bis des-
| tinstion, the young man called upon the
correspondents of the bank, and having
made preliminary arrangements, ho found
/ himself with few days upon bis hands,
which he might enjoy in pleasure. On the
very evening Of his arrival, he had fallen
in with JoHN HATToN and WILLIAM ROB-
ERTs, two friends and classmates Of earlier
/ years He was startled when he saw them
They were evidently going down hill-were
drinking to excess Yet they we're gen
tlemen, aud ARTHUR joined them. He
spent FIRST and second night in their com.
/ paDy. On this second night for the first
/ time in his life, ARTHUR GRAvELY drank
to state Of helpless stupefaction. He A.
woke on the next day feeling sad and hu-
inflated. When he met his companions
10 a private parlor connected with their
sleeping apartments, be found them with a
bowl Of hot brandy between them. A spi-
rit Of true fricndlinoss came upon him,
when he saw the marks Of the DESTROYER so
deeply fixed upon the companions Of his
| boyhood.
BOys,' sail he, this won't do. You are
going down
| They regarded him curiousIy and asked
bin what be meant.
He told them what no meant. They
were IN a dangerous way
'You forget, old boy said HATToN that
| you are in the same boat. If we took pos
sage before you, il is no less sure that our
route now is the same. Don't preach, Ar
THUR. Try Bit Of no. brandy
There are momen,sin a life timo-groat
crises-When the events Of tho past Aash
before the mind as upon maoic -
orv 1rier instant, recalls ey.
eaiient point Of bis early career. Such