Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-01
WINES WORK.
"Pro1nise me, Charlie"

"Promise me, Charlie"
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 after dinner
cigar. But Mrs. Gale had mischievously
snatched it from his hand, threatening
to withhold it until he gave her the de-
sired promise. And now she laid one |
hand caressingly on his forehead, 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, Virginia." And he tried
to put away her hand.
ooh. Charlie" reproachfully.
"Pshaw, do let me 60. You'll choke
me-" he said, half impatiently.
''And so l WILL" she cried, merrily,
s'if you don't promise me, this very min
ute, not to drink anything stronger than
pure cold water at Uncle Logan;s parry
to-night.''
Eyes, yes, yes! There, now, hope
I've promised often enough to satisfy
you" ~. ....,
s.On your honor?"
ssCertainly. Yes, of course"
"Oh, sir, I thought could bring you
to terms. Recollect, you have said on
your honor"
And then, while her face grew earnesS
in its pleasing exprc sion, she added:
"Oh, Charley, you do not know how
anxious I have felt about this party since
we decided 70 go. They always have
such gay times at Uncle Logan's. And
you know. dear, though you would ne;
do wrong thing yourself, how easy Z
is for your companions to make you go
too far, because you are such dear,
good-natured fellow. But now that you
have promised me, 1 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 to Un-
Gle Logan's was no small affair, consid-
ering that it was good five mile ride
from Glendale out into the country, 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
witn no town near where vehicle might
be obtained. Beside, Virginia Gale was
first-rate horse-woman, and feared
nothing on her own account That she
was thus rather rash and toolhardy, will
appear from the fact that she had resolv-
ed to cucumber herself with buro N,
though of a very interesting kind.
Lig hts were glimmering from the win
dows as they rode up to Uncle Logan's s
| a. ><>A mud
hicles already congregated around it,
showed that the invited guests OF, the
Christmas eve party were already be-
ginning to drop in. Aunt Lizzie came
out to the door to meet them, and took
the sleeping babe from Virgie's poor,
tired arms.
"Relnember, Charlie" she said i'm
ploringly. laying her hand on his shou'-
der, as they were on the point of separa-
tion-she, for Aunt Lizzie's comic. able
room absve stairs-he, for the society OF
his boon companions. ...
/ "Never fear me-" And he went gay.
ly away.
Alas! for the promise made to the fond
credulous wife, sitting up-stairs in the
quiet matronly circle, with her babe or
her knee. In less than half an houl
Charles Gale had forgotten his promise
wife, child, evsrythin g; and again anG
again his glass was'tilled, and his voice
raised in riotous chorus with the loudest
Thenight waned and the guests begar
to disperse. Virgie sat in the dressing
room, nli Iv'.'.J .l-.'-. I'LL, ce..
her lap what seemed to be huge bundle
of shawls, but which was in reality LITTLE
Charlie, who lay curled up in his warn
nest, fast asleep, with one little f;l
thumb in his mouth.
81 wonder what makes Charlie 81
late," she said, at last, impatiently.
"Aunt Lizzie, will you please send TO
him. and say I'm walting?"
He came at length. But tho frs
words he spoke told her all. She knew
at once that he was intoxicated, thougl
> to others only q very slight excitemen
was all that appeared unusual abou
. him.
Oh, the shame! She hardly dare'
speak to him. All her thought was t
, get him away before he betrayed hi
condition to other eyes.
GIVE me the child" he sad.
And as she did so, she felt that hi
arm was unsteady.
! Oh, dare not trust the baby witt
!, him, was her thought, but she was silent
She could not bear that those aroun'
should know the mortifying truth.
II do wish you would stay all night
; Virgie," spoke Aunt Lizzie, renewin,
D her entreaties. 1T is so late, and it i
growing colder"
Virgie thought of the dreary fiv
4 miles ride with a drunken husband-an'
> then the river! She had before refuse
to stay, but now she though, better of il
"What do you think of it, Charles
Hadn't we better stayp" she asked, pei
suasively.
q But liquor made him sullen.
"No; we must 90 home," he said, SUI
a lily:
She knew it would avail nothing t
- argue the matter with him, but only lea
:. paying her adieux.
e By dint OF gentle coaxing she induce
! him to give the babe to her before the
started.
e As they rode away, Uncle Loga
i shouted out to them:
Q "Look out for the river"
Yirgie's heart was too heavy for re
. ply, but Charles shouted back, wit
= maudlin cheertulness:
.'All right
k AS they rode on she saw that he wa
:, sinking into a drunken stupor. Oh,
. they were only safe at home, how glaG
$ glad she would be. And then sh
u Thought of the river yet to be forded ian
every breath was prayer. She deter
mined not to let him have the child whe
: they came to the crossing, but to trus
n to her own arm and courage to carr
8 herself and the babe through She hoI
ed he would not think to ask her for til
II child, and was nerving herself for rt
J, fusal in case he should, when they cam
q In sight of the water.
The moon shone down, making it a
n most as bright as day. Virsie thanke
heaven for that. But she shuddered q
!, the sweep of the waters tell on her ear
= and she saw 1t foaming white, in tn
moonlight, as it swept on in stron
q current.
Charles reused himself.
;. "Where's the boya" he asked
"Never mind. dear! he's asleep, and
don't like to disturb him. can carr
l. him over. I'm strong enough for it."
h Whats the woman thinking of