The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-03-09
WINE' WORK.
Promise me, Charlie %

Promise me, Charlie ~
She wm leaning pIayGulIy over tine
back al hlr chair, looking down into hi,
face. by "shc' mean Mrs. GaIc, and
''ImIIo' was her husband. He had
lllrj cilIod himself for a quiet after.
dinner cigar, But Mrs. Gale had mis-
"]hlcyou,Iy Snatchcd il from his hand,
threatening TO withhold it until he gave
her the desired promise. And now she
laid one hand carcs5ingIy on his fore
heat and stealing the other under hi
chin ,hc looked archly yet half earnestly
down into the dark dccps Of his eyes,
with her tender blue eyes, ~ she re-
poatcd Promise me, Charlie. Now
DO tIai a dear y
" Nonsense, Virginia go And he tried
TO put away her hand.
oh, Charlie" responsibility.
nl,hw, do let me 90. You'Il choke
me, he said, halt lmpaticntIy,
Md 20 WILL she cried, mcrriIy.
at you don't promise me, this very
minute, not 10 drink anything stronger
than pure, cold water at %l'ncIc'4 Iogan's
party tonight"
% Yes, yes, yes There, now, ! hope
Eve promised often enough 10 satisfy
Nuu.'
ON your honor ''
Certainly. Yes, Of course"
on, sir, Thought | could bring YOU
T." lcrms, ltccoIIcct volt have said ON
your honor
And then, while her face grew earnest
IN IT, pleasing expression, she added
'Oh, Charlie, YOU don't know how
anxious have felt about this party
ever .lncc We decided To 90. They
Away have such 4 gay time at Uncle
lo%ln's. Aud you know, dear, though
you would not do = wrong thing your
SET, how easy It Is for your companions
/" max" you 20 too far, because Won
arc such 4 dear, good .mturcd fellow.
hnli now that you have promised me, |
i""l quite easy. Nnd, dear, don't for.
get when the young men begin 10 get
l"" gay, rome up stair, To me and baby"
hnd he promised.
Going out 10 an evening party al
ucIc IOgan's was no small affair, con
rnIcrIng that was it Il good tyc-miIc ride
nom Glendale, out into the country.
over rough roads, with Maple river
swollen by recent rains to be- crossed. .
FOR this was in Il remote and secluded
part oi England, distant from any rail
road, and ne town near where a vehicle
might he obtained. Besides, virginia Gale
NA'A INST rate horse woman, and feared
llpthiu" on that account. That She
was thus rather rash and loolhardy, will
appear from the fact that she had re-
solved to cucumber herself with , bur
a',l though OF a very interesting kind.
ld%hl5 W"r" ghmmcrlug from the win
d"w7 ~ they rode up to Uncle lugnm's
galc, and the number of horses and yc.
hicl'S already cOngregatcd around it
-how"d that the invited guests Of the
hTlStWiaS eve party were already he
glnnIng to drop in. Aunt Iillic came
ont to- the door to meet them, and took
the sleeping babe from Nirsic's poor,
tired arms.
Remember, Charlie she SAID impIor-
lngIy, laying her hand on his shoulder.
as lhcy were On the point Of separating
,hc, for Aunt Lillir's comfortable
room above stairs he, for the society Of
his boon companions.
Never tear me! and he went gaiIy
away.
NIa, for the promise made to the
found, crcduIous wife, sitting IN stairs
~ the quiet matronlv circle, with her
hah" on her knee, 50 proud and happy
Tor 1t was her first child. And what
Young mother ever failed To appreciate
the dignity oi her position ut such II
time
IN less than half an hour Charlie Gale
had forgotten his promise, wife, child,
everything and again and again his
class was filled, and his voice raised in
riutous chorus with the loudcst.
The night waucd and the guests began
Il" dlspcrsc. Nlrgir IN the dressing room
all ready for n ride, holding in her lap
what seemed to be n huge bundle of
-hawlS, but which was in reality little
Charlie, who curlcd up in his warm nest
fast asleep with onc little fat thumb in
his mouth.
wonder what make, Charlie 80
late w she said, AZ last, impaticnIy.
AUNT Lizlic, will you please send for
him, and say I'm waiting ?"
NV 'dHn' ~ I'lHlll. Tut the inst
word he spoke told her all. She knew
ut once he was intoxicated, though to
Others only q very slight excitement wa,
all that appeared unusual about him.
Oh the shame. She hardly dared
peak To him. All hcl thought was to
@ct him away before he betrayed his con
dItIon To other eyes.
Give me the chill - lao nil
Nnd as ~h, did 80, shciclt that his arm
WAS unsteady.
On dare not trust the baby with
silent. wv '' wiz
She could not bear that those ar,und
-ii"nld know the notifying truth
81 do wish YOU would stay all ri,,L,
Nirgic,' spoke Aunt Lizzie. rcncwina
her cntrcatics. 1T is 10 late and /, I;
rowing colder"
Nirgic thought of the drcary five
miles ride with a drunken husband-and
then the river, She had refused tostay.
but now she thought better of it,.
What do you think of il Charles?
Hadn't We better stay ?" she asked. per.
-uasiyely.
But liquor had made him sulIen.