The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-04-30

hcme.
"Cne dark, stormy night, Rose was
waiting for her husbands return home
from the club of which he wasa member.
IL was the first time he had attended it
since his marriage; and now, as Rose sat
musirg before the cheerful fire, she
dered if it always kept him 50 late, for it
was past eleven o'clock. Twelve came,
and still no Charles. One-and at half
past, Just as she was almost crying with
fear that something had happened to
him, she heard the outer door open.
She started with Il cry of JOY, and ran
ont in the hall. Yes, it was Charles, but
his gait was unsteady, and his face pale
and haggard.
"'What is the matter, Charles! Are
You sick!' his wife anXiously inquired.
"'WelI, [ don't feel very we'll, an
swered Charles, as Rose helped him OFF
with his overcoat.
"'Come into the parlor, then, and lie
down on the sofa by the fire
He obeved her mechanically, and as
she bent over him to adjust the pillows,
his breath famed her clleek-hOw hot it
was.-md she shrank back with Il shud-
der as the horrible truth flashed upon
her-he had been drinking. But as she
looked mt him, and saw how pale and
tired he appeared, she was filed with
pity, and thought that she would not re
preach him this time-perhaps it might
never happen again.
".Ah, but it did occur again, and
again, until Roses heart was well-nigh
broken. In vain were her appeals to
him, her prayers that he would check
himself in his downward course to ruin.
He would either preserve a moody
silence or abruptly leave the room when
ever she preached the subject.
AT last, one night, about six months
after marriage, he came home almost I'M
able to stand.
"'Charlie! Charlie. cried Rose,
when she saw him in this state, chow
can you be so cruel 10 me, and yourself,
too? This will kill me-
"He had reached the point where his
passions were quickly brought into life.
"'Kill yom9 Woman, / would neyer
have been IN this state had [ never seen
you, Leave my sight, or I shall curse
the day ever saw you
Rose shrank back in horror from the
dreadful words hurled at her.
"'Good heavens. Charlie, what do
you mean
al mean Just this he replied, bit
terly; when | was at college, 1 was dis
graced, with some of the other boys, by
drinking too much, and was expelled.
My good old father helped me out of my
trouble, and made MT promise never to
drink again, and | kept my pledge until
that fatal night at your party, when You
urged me to drink. [ did it for .yOnr
sake, Behold your work. The horrible
fires were rekindled in me, and they Will
never go OUT
"Oh, Katie Katie. he spoke the
truth. They never We're quenched.
Every word of bitter recrimination
seemed pointed with a sharp arrow that
sank deep in the heart of his wife. /
was crushed to the earth by his words,
and when l recovered consciousness l
found that [ had been raving in deliriUm
for seven long weeks. On asking for
my husband, [ was told that he was
array; and not until | was strong and
well again did | learn that he was dead.
He was not very well they told me, and,
while attempting to step on a train,
missed his footing, fell under the cars,
and was killed.
"Ah. although they tenderly tried to
hide it from me, I kneW that the acct
dent was caused by a different kind of
sickness from that which they would
have had me believe"
You, Aunt Sarah. Is It possible
that this sad story is yoHl&.'" exclaimed
Katie.
eyes, mine, Katie, Heaven help me.
Remorse is ever gnawing at my heart,
and | shall never forgive myself for the
death of Your poor uncle. Now you
know where my thoughts We're when
Won entered the room"
Chow thoughtless [ was, [ must
have panied you by my light words.