Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-03-25
St. Bethlehem, Tenn. I
WINES WORK.


- --Fy---~o~7z----
WINES WORK.
a lHe 7rs5sstssss M
Promise me, Charlie - Is.8 e
She was leaning playfully over the
back of his chair, looking down into
his face. By ''she" | mean Mrs Gale,
and Charlie was her husband. He
had just settled himself for quiet ,af
ter dinner cigar. But Mrs. Gale had
mischievously snatched it from his
hand, threatening to withhold it until
now she laid one hand caressinglyl on
his forehead. and stealing the other
under his chin she looked archly yet
half earnestly down into the dark deeps
of his eyes, with her tender blue eyes,
as she repeated: Promise me, Char
lie. Now do; that's a dear T.
Nonsense, Virginial And he tried
to put away her hand.
'Oh, Charlie p reproachfulIy.
'Pashw, do let me CO. You'll choke
me, y he said. half impatiently.
And so | will, " she cried, merrily,
''if you don't promise me, this very
| minute, not to drink anything stronger
than pure, cold water at Uncle,s Lo-
gan's party tonight. 5re oi
Yes, yes, yes! There, now. I hope
I've promised often enough to satisfy
you" e4 9'o7 si.t
ION your honor?' aas
Certainly. Yes, of coursep'
"Oh, sir, / thought I could bring
you to terms. Recollect, you have said
on your honor" !" .r
Aud then, while her face grew earn
est tin its pleasing expression, she ad-
ded: ''Oh, Charlie, you don't know
how anxious | have felt about this par
| ty ever since we decided to go. They
always have such gay time at Uncle
Logans. And you know, dear, though
you would not do wrong thing your
self, how easy it is for your compan-
ions to make you go too far, because
you are such a dear, good-natured fell
low. But now that you have 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 was no small affair, con-
sidering that was it good five-mile
ride from Glendale, out into the coun-
try, over rough roads, with Maple
river-swollen by recent rains-to be
crossed. For this was In a remote and
secluded part of England, distant from
any railroad, and no town near where
vehicle might be obtained. Besides,
| Virginia Gale was a frst-rate horse
| G. 1aa~ IL
count. That she was thus rather rash
and foolhardy, will appear from the
fact that she had resolved to cucumber
herself with a burden, though of
very interesting kind.
Lights were glimmering from the
windows as they rode up to Uncle Lo-
gan'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 beginning 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, Charlie" she said i'm
ploringly, laying her hand on his
shoulder, as they were on the point of
separating for Aunt Lizzie
comfortable room above stairs-he, for
the society of his boon companions.
Never fear me p and he went gaily
away.
Alas for the promise made to the
found, credulous wife, sitting up stairs
in the quiet matronly circle, with her
babe on her knee, so proud and hap
py-f6r it was her first child. And
what young mother ever failed to ap-
preciate the dignity of her position at
such time
In less than half an hour Charlie
Gale had forgotten his promise, wife,
child, everything; and ag ain and again
his glass was filled, and his voice rails
ed in riotous chorus with the loudest.
The night waned and the guests be-
gan to disperse. Virgie in the dressing
room all ready for ride, holding in
her lap what seemed to be huge bum
die of shawls, but which was in reality
little Charlie, who curled up in his
warm nest fast asleep, with one little
fat thumb in his mouth.
II wonder what makes Charlie SO
late ?" she said, at last, impatiently.
Aunt Lizzie, will you please send
for him, and say I'm waiting
| He came at length. But the Grst
word he spoke told her all. She knew
at once he was intoxicated, though to
others only very slight excitement
was all that appeared unusual about
him,
Oh the shamel She hardly dared
to speak TO him. All her thought was
to get him away before he betrayed his
! condition to other eyes.
Give me the child" he said.
And as she did so, she felt that his
arm was unsteady.
"Oh! | dare not trust the baby with
him. was her thought, but she was
silent.
She could not bear that those around
should know the mortifyiGg truth.
Il do wish you would stay all night,
Virgie, spoke Aunt Ligzie, renewing
her entreaties. 1T is so late aud it is
growing colder"
Virgie thought of the dreary Eve
miles ride with drunken husband
and then the riverl She had refused
to stay, but now she thought better Of
it.
"What do you think of it Charles !?
Hadn't we better stay?" she asked,
persuasively.
But liquor had made him sullen.
No, we must go home, he said sur
lily.
She knew it would avail nothing to
argue the matter with him, but only
lead him to painful exposure, SO
she commenced paying her adlenx.
BY dint of gentle coaxlng she in-
duced him to give the babe to her be-
fore they started.
As they rode away Uncle Logan
shouted out to them
Look out for the river
Virgie's hearE was too heavy for