The Van Buren press., 1875-01-19

You wrong me, Ada" said gently,
| looking down into her beautiful, plead
ing eyes, 4" ! entertain for you the warm
est feelings of regard; but must not
violate my pledged word
IL do not think it will do you any
harm 1t is not strong like brandy, aud
| should think you might grant my re.
quest
Miss Ada | cannot do as you re.
quest, and beseech you not to cntreat
me further"
- Mr., Parker, | cannot excuse you
You are my guest, and think you ought
to take glass with me, ~iH yon,
please r.
Reader, you should have seen that
face. 1t had been lovely to me before,
but never, till now, had her almost hcav-
enlv beauty shone so divinely IN her las
trous eees, or sat Yith such queenly maj
esty upon her cheeks | looked down
upon her upturncd face, and heard, as 1t
were, the pathetic pleading of her eyes.
She seemed to exert over me an enchant.
ing influence which was powerless to
resist. She took goblet of the sparkling
] NlHt III utI hNltt NnItS ihu'i' anu NiHPihS
little of it with her ruby lips, held tito
mine. | felt her soft hand press my face,
and her warm breath tint with rosy hue
my check | was enraptured, aad my self
control was fast doserting me. | was
tempted by an earth angel, and seemed
to have no power to resist the tempta-
! ton.
On the little finger Of my left hand |
wore the plain gold ring which my mother
had given me. AS often as | looked on
| it, it was a reminder to me of the solemn
promises | had made 1t hal been to
me the guardian angel that had shielded
me lu the hour of temptation. | looked
upon it now, and from its elistenlng cir
clct reflected back to nv gaze the scenes
Of the dreadful past. Itcaused to lnger
anew in my mind all the dreadful horrors
of those fearful nights. heard, or seem
ed to hear, the horrible curses and denuE-
Citations, which, in my dclrum, | hurled
at the woman who had given me birth.
Tommic's pale, pain tinted face, looked
pjteously at me from the golden band,
and called to mind the fearful wound !
inflicted upon him in the insanity of my
rawlings. Nor was this all of the remin
iscences that it called to mind. | heard
anew the prayers Of my mother and my
brother at my bedside, as well as the
VOWS | made never to take another drink
! But this beautiful evil one, with her sun.
nv smiles and bewitchng words, blinded
me, momentarily, to the influence of the
| holy train OF memories which came trip.
| ping to my mind, in response 10 the ele
quent silent sylablings of that golden
ring monitor, my mothers gift forgot
her prayers, her entreaties, aud her death
! which had been FASTENED by, my cruel
words. All the past, with its terrors and
moDitions, was blotted out blythe presence
and beauty Of my willy temptress.
| When the great books shall be opened
on the judgement morn, upon their pages
will be found written the names of fair
ones, whose only fault has been put
ting the chip to their neighbours lips to
make him drunk: can call to mind
several young men who sleep, o-day, in
drunkard's graves, whose first glass was
forced upon them by the entreaties Of
beautiful, fashionable girls, in good (Y)
society.
As | have said, | was unable to resist
the bowitching influence which Ada VIII
liams exercised over me. ltook the glass
in hand, and placing it to my lips drain
ed it to the very dregs But, as took it
away. and put it upon the table, fairly
tremblcd at the dreadful perjury | had
committed.
Now that the ice was broken, and !
plunged again into the dreadful sea, there
was no telling where the fearful current
might carry me. had taken a glass
with Ada, and could not, without a
breach of courtesy, refuse to do similar
" with Miss Carrie and the other young
ladies, and, in less than an hour l had
drank three glasses Of champagne, and
under its exhilaraling effects was the
gaycst one in that large throng.
In the meantime the subject Of cards
was introduced and Ada asked me if |
knew how to play cards | told her !
did, and she then asked me if | would
not play game of f" whist" | hesita
ted for a moment; but wine and woman
had control of me, and after little re.
sistance, | succumbed, and offering Ada
my arm, we proceeded to table that was
vacant, and commenced the game
Shade Of my dead mother how had
tramplcd upon thy memory. If from the
blessed land ayond the skies" the spir
its of those 4" who are gone before, are
pcrmitted to watch ever loved ones here
below, how painful must have been the
yipils of my sainted mother.
About three o'clock in the morning
the guests commenced leaving AS
babe the family good night. they all invi
ted me to visit them often, aud Mr.. w.
told me to consider his house my home.
Twas voted by all the guests a splendid
fellow, and the ladies' said that no party |
could be complete without my presence.
And so | was sure OF carnival OF fun |
during the party season.
| left the house anu wandered down
Chotean Avenue, and thence toward ,
home As the cool nj, hit air kissed my
fever. flushed cheek, 1t seemed to tear
away the veil that wine had drawn before |
my mind retrospection, and concealed
myself from myself, letting into my soul
ali the dreadful iniquity of which l had
been guilty When | reached home, !
went to my room TO snatch few hours
sleep, the better TO prepare myself Tor
-. ,ha Jav llpt anpSpipnpa /