The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-18
WINES WORK.
"Premise nae, Charlie!v

ner cigar. But Mrs. Cole had mis-
chievously snatched it from his hand,
threatening to withhold 1T until he gave
her the desired promise. And now she
laid one hand caressingly on his fore
head, and stealing the other under his
chin she looked archly yet half earnestly
down into the dark deeps Of his eyes, as
she repeated: .Promise me, Charlie.
Now do; that's dear!'
"Nonsense, Virginiap' And he tried
to put away her hand.
"Oh, Charliep reproachfully.
"Pshaw, do let me 90. You'll choke
me-" he said, half impatiently.
Sand SO | WILL" she cried. merrily,
.'Tf you don't promise me, this very
minute, not to drink anything stronger
than pure cold water at Uncle Logan's
party tonight"
"Yes, yes, yesl There, now. hope
Pve promised often enough to satisfy
'.On your honorw
"Certainly. Yes, Of eoursep
sob, sir, thought could bring you
to terms. Reeollect, you have said on
your honor"
And then, while her face grew earnest
in its pleasing expression, she added:
ooh, Charlie, you do not know how
anxious l have felt about this party ever
since we decided to 60. They always
have such gay time at Uncle Logan's,
And you know, dear, though you would
not do wrong thing yourself, how easy
it is for your companions to make you go
too far, because you are such dear
good-natured fellow. But now that you
nave promised me, feel quite easy.
And, dear, don't forget when the young
men begin to get too gay, come up stairs
to me and baby"
And he promised.
Going out to an evening party at
Uncle Logan's was no small affair, con-
siderlng that it was good fve-mile
ride from Glendale, out into tine country,
| over rough roads, with Maple river
swollen by recent rains-to be crossed.
| For this was in remote and secluded
part of England, distant from any rail-
road, and with no town near where a
vehicle might be obtained. Besides,
| Virginia Gale was frst-rate horse
woman, and feared nothing on her own
account. That she was. thus rather rash
and foolhardy, will appear from the fact
that she had resolved to cucumber her.
self with burden, though OF very in-
teresting kind.
Lights were glimmering from the win-
dows as they rode up to Uncle Logan's
gate; and the number OF horses and
vehicles already congregated around it
showed that the invited guests of the
Christmas eve party were already begin
ming to drop in. Aunt Lizzie came out to
the door to meet them, and took the
sleeping babe from Virgie's poor, tired
arms.
"Remember, Charliew she said i'm
ploringly, laying her head on his shoul-
der as they were on the point of separa-
tiEg-she, for Aunt LizzIe's comfortable
room above stairs-he, Tor the society Of
| his boon companions.
| "Never fear meW And he went gayly
away.
Alasl for the promise made to the
fond, credulous wife, sitting up stairs in
the quiet matronly circle, with her babe
on her knee. In less than half an hour
Charles Gale had forgotten his promise,
wife, child, everything; and again and
| again his glass was filled, and his voice
raised in riotous chorus with the loud
lest.
The night waned and the guests began
to disperse. Virgie sat in the dressing
room all ready for the ride, holding in
her lap what seemed to be huge bundle
of shawls, but which was in reality little
Charlie, who lay curled up in his warm
nest fast asleep, with one little tat
thumb in his mouth.
81 wonder what makes Charles SO
late," she said, at last, impatiently.
"Aunt Lizzie, will you please send for
him, and say I'm waitingW
He came at length. But the first words
| he spoke told her all. She knew at once
that he was Intoxicated, though to
others only a very slight excitement
was all that appeared unusual about
him.
Oil the shamel She hardly dared
speak to him. All her thought was tt
get him away before he betrayed his
i condition to other eyes.
"Give me the child" he said.
And as she did 80, she felt that his arm
was unsteady.
ooh! l dare not trust the baby will
J him." was her thought, but she wal
silent. .
She could not bear that those aroun(
, should know the mortifying truth.
81 do wish you would stay all night
Yirgie,", spoke Aunt Lizzie, renewing
her entreaties. sit is SO late, and it il
growing colder"
Virgie thought of the dreary five miles
} ride with drunken husband-and the
the river! She had before refused t
stay, but now she thought better of it.
.. "What do you think of it, Charles
l Hadn't we better stayT' she asked pei
!. suasiyely.
But liquor had made him sullen.
, "No, we must 20 home," he said sui
i lily. ....I
She knew 1T would avail nothing t
: argue the matter with him, but only lea
to q painful exposure, SO she commence
, paying her adieux.
BY dint OF gentle coaxing she induced
t. him to give the babe to her before the
r started. a
AS they rode away, Uncle Loga
} shouted out to them:
r "Look out for the riverw
Virgie's heart was too heavy for II
lply; but Charles shouted back wit
!. maudlin cheertulness:
" "All rightp
AS they rode on she saw that he wa
+ sinking into drunken stupor. Oh,
,. they were only safe at home, how gla
d she would be. And then she thought
, the river yet to be forded; and ever
% breath was a prayer. She determine
e not to let him have the child when the
j. came to the crossing, but to trust to he
i. own arm and courage to carry herse
through. She hoped ne would not thin
IA to ask her for the child, and was neryin
!; herself for refusal in case he shoul,
o when they came in sight OF the water.
/, The moon shone down, making
- almost as bright as day. Vlrgie thanke