The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-02-18

classmates Of earlier years. He wa
startled when he saw them. The,
were evidently going down hill
were drinking to excess. Yet the,
were gentlemen, and Arthur joined
them. He spent first and secon(
night in their company. On thi
second night, for the first time il
his life, Arthur Gravely drank to :
state of helpless stupefaction. III
awoke on the next day feeling sac
and humiiated. When he met hi:
companions in a private parlor con
nected with their sleeping apart
ments, he found them with a bow
Of hot brandy between them. A
spirit Of true friendliness came up
on him when he saw the marks O.
the destroyer so deeply fixed upor
the companions of his boyhood.
"Boys," said he, "this won't do
You are going down.
They regarded him curiously, anC
asked him what he meant.
lie told them what he meant
They were in a dangerous way.
"1ou forget, old boy" said Hat.
ton, "that you are in the same boat
If we took passage before you, it is
no less sure that our route now is
the same. Don't preach, Arthur
|. Try bit of hot brandy
There are moments in a lifetime
great crises-when the events Of
the past flash before the mind as
upon magic mirror-when a man
in brief instant, recalls every sa
lient point in his earthly career
Such a moment was the present tc
Arthur Gravely.
"Let it alone," lie said, solemn
ly. 81 tell you, Sack, 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, cit appears tc
me that what is sauce for the goose
is sance for the gander~ Hadn't you
better try to let it alone yourself?'
eff l will try it, will you try ~
he asked.
evil you try it?'' demanded
Hatton.
Il viii if you will join me-"
"Done!!"
And they did it. They joined
hands and promised one another
that they would be true and stead
fast. ....
A new surprise was in store for
Arthur Gravely. He found upon
cutting off his spirituous liquors
that his body weakened and that
his hands shook as though with
palsy. lie applied to physician
for help. Fortunately he applied
to man of sense and understands
ing.
"Can you give me something to
steady my nerves and restore my
appetite p Arthur asked, after he
had frankly stated his case.
"This shows you, my dear sir" "
said the physician, ."into what a
dangerous state you had fallen. l
can give you something to steady
your nerves, but it would not help
you in the end. If you will be
brave aud true will come out all
right in Il few days.
Arthur said he should not go
back. He wanted no stimulant-
no more of that.
The trial was severe one, and it
may have been a blessed thing for
Arthur Gravely that it was so. lie
felt more heroism in the conquest,
and lie also saw more clearly how
deeply the evil habit had become
fixed upon him. On the morning
Of the fourth day of his trial ne
awoke with al appetite for food,
and was able to eat a hearty break
fast. lie was a new man from this
time forth. The physician had given
him certain hygienic directions
Which he followed implicitly, and
thus he held fast upon his health as
it came back to him. :.
And on this fourth day Arthur
saw Hatton and Roberts. They had
kept the faith, and had been unex-
pectedly prospered. An excellent a
opening in business had been pre-
sented and accepted.
On the fifth day the business
which had brought Gravely from
his home was concluded, and he
set out on his return. And the last
struggle had passed. His nerves
had become steady his appetlte had
started up as if by magic; his check
had grown fair; and the white of
his eye was growing clear and
pearly again.
lie reached his own city early in
the morning, and went first TO the
bank and gave in a return of his
business. Mr.. Vanderlain had
glanced quickly and eagerly into
his face whom he first entered, and
Il wondrous change came upon the
bankers manner as the business
proceeded. Something outside the
business in hand was evidently on
lis mind.
Arthur did not reach his home
until time for dinner; bnt he had