The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-06
E. a WEBSTER, Editor and Proprietor.
ltls your master now, since twice it
has made you break n solemn pledge to

1t is your master now, since twice it
has made you break n solemn pledge to
me-" Ea4
''But, Hettie, can't you understand ?
A man may take occasionally little
more perhaps than his head can bear.
and yet never fall into the pitiable state
you have described. Heavens, Hettie l''
he cried impatiently, his temper paling
under the steady resolution of the face
that could bs 30 gentle and sweet, "you
pay mo poor compliment when you
want me to bind myself by a written
pledge not to make abeast of myself"
Il did not come here to exchange
compliments, said Hettie, sadly, "but
to tell you that will never take up the
urden that rushed my mother into
her grave, voluntarily. Never with my
eyes open will I link my life with that
of man who ever touches one drop Of
liquor. It is useless to repeat the old
arguments, Robert. Moderate drinkers,
occasionally intoxicated, may live for
years only moderate drinkers, but I will
never be tho wife of any man who has
not bound himself by n pledge never to
touch liquor III any form.
"!A total abstinence fooll" sneered
Robert, now thoroughly angry.
ga total abstinence man," she said
firmly.
II hope you will bo able to find the
soft fool who will put his manhood un-
der your thumb. For myself, I will
mover bind myself to temperance
pledge"
"What !" he argued, "shall T, tho
richest man in M, who could marry
almost any girl in my own set, bind my
self to absolute slavery for Il nursery
goyernesB, n girl vino has not one penny
beyond the salary Mrs. Reed pays her,
drunkard's child, by her own confes-
sion? Never %
He was very angry, and like most an
cry men, very unreasonable. He forgot
to think koof the long oourtship by which
Hetiie was won, of the gentle 1naidenIy
reticence that had been one of her great
est charms, OF her own modest estimate
OF the merits that had won him. He
forgot the times without number when
be had compared her in his heart with
all the mnidens he knew, finding her
even prettier, sygeeter. more winsome
than any. He forgot how he loved her
in his anger ut her resolution.
And Hetty, walking slowly home
ward. realized ttat with her own hand
SAiS AAti'A e~tlHk,F s.1A ><tS Oup Ol
hard life.t She loved Robert. Not be
canse he was rich, could give her
he.-sg,.s I'll tllp. .j,,v,.rioa of
wen tn, had ,sNe tDved him, but for his
tender chiyalrE for her, his noble intel
l,ct, his loving eyes that had sought
her rwn with such constant devotion.
She had believed him all noble, true
and manly when she had put hor little
hand i'll his strong one and promised to
be his wife.
Six ]blg months Of betrothal had
pass cd before the summer evening
when (sha turned from him, MS she
thought, forever. And only in the last
few weeks had she known of that fear
ful, deadly foe to her hope OF happi-
ness who was fastening his fatal hold
upon her lover. The first tine she 4
heard OF Robert Grey intoxicated,
deadly despair grasped her heart. She
thought of lifelong marlyrdom from
which she had escaped so Titled time
before, aud she wrote to her lover
sterDly forbiddipg him to see her ngain,
and thin spent night after night weep
ing for her lost love.
But Robert Grey would not accept
his dismissal, and pleaded 40 penitently
that love conquered fear, and Hett:e
believed that never again wonld he
yield to the temptation. Again the
story camelto her. and half maddened,
unwil ling toSbelieve the solemn pledge
brskep. she Nd begged him TO come TO
her End explain away the lie. But the \
third time che had 8 en- him Too well
she knew what the red, wild eyes, the
thick ntterance, the reelinR step betok-
ened. Only in answer to the most earn
est petition had she nerved herself to
grant one more interview, and it had
ended in Roberts anger and the failure
of her own last hope.
She knew Robert Grey had sense OF
honor as keen rs hcr own. That he
had failed in his promise to her was
because be looked upon it as q pledge
merely given to answer n girls foolish
"him. Ouce bound before men by q
written pledge she felt sure he would
keep it Mt whatever cost to himself. So
she hoped to win him to sign suclr
pledge. There was strong temper
nncc revival in Mat that very time,
and OH this she built hope not know
ing it was her weakest bold.
For robert Grey, young, wealthy
and popular, looked upon al this TEN
perance preaching as directed aeainst
tho lower class, tn sots who rolled in
gntters, the frcqucntcrs of village tav.
ems. That be, gentleman, should
place his name 10 such pledge as these
wre'chea were pcrs,ladod to sign /
scene d to him in Il measure TO place
himself upon their level. Tier, rs he
told III ttie, iSwas n confession of weak
pcss against which all Of his manhood
reSoltcd.
The summer days wore. away, and
these two, loving each other fondIy,
met but seldom, only to exchonge con-