The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-08-03

that might have been easily won.
Debts grew and credit lessened the
handsome suit Of rooms were ex-
changed for one quite shabby. Ruth's
dress became poverty stricken her
husband was out at the elbows be
was intoxicated from morning till
night, and yet she cluDg TO him, and
in sober moments he loved her as
fondly as ever. Sometimes the Old
strength and the old hope would be
aroused in him, and he would strug-
gle to gain his lost position, but 1t
was in vain gin triumphed, and five
wears from her wedding day Ruth
found herself with her one remaining
child (the first had died within q
year OF its birth in the dingiest OF
wretched houses, in q state bordering
on beggary.
Edward had been more madly in-
toxicated that day than ever before !;
he had given her q blow, and now, rs
the night wore on, he muttered and
raved, and called for gin, and cursed
her and himself, until she trembled
with fear. At last, as tine clock struck
ten, he started to his feet, aud stag.
gered out of the room, vOWing 10 gel
drunk somewhere.
Poor Ruth stood where he had left
her for q few moments. The mem
ory Of the past was strong on her that
night. On that day, five years before,
they fed from her fathers home to-
gether. How tender he was, how
loving, how gentle! How be had
broken every vOw-he neither cher
isbed nor protected her. His worldly
goods be had given to the rayenons
demon, drink his love had become
something scarcely worth having
and vet she loved him and clung to
MIN. she tried to feel cold and hard
to him, but she could not she stroye
to remember the blow he had given
her. the osths he had uttered, but she
answered herself as she did soV'lt
was not he who did tit was drink
She listened to the uncertain, reeiing
foOtstep in the street below, and burst
into tears. -
"My poor darling 2'' she whispered,
as she thought some grievOas caiam-
lily had smItten him into the thing
he was. and he had not himself "put
an enemy into his mouth to steal
away his brain," unmiDdful OF her
pleading, unmindful OF her wOe and
shame. She thought OF him reeling
helplessly along the street, and feared
that some harm would come to him.
He might iniure himself, or some one
might injare him. He might fall IN
some out-of-the-way place, and lie
there undiscovered, and so freeze "a
death that bitter night and ia heI
agony of terror, poor Ruth could not
restrain herself from following him.
Her poor, weakly babe slept she
wrapped il in q blanket and laid it IN
its poor cradle. Then she threw her
warm shawl over her head and
FASTENED down the street, busy this
Saturday night with market-going
people OF the lower classes.
A little way before her reeled the
handsome, broad shouldered figure OF
her husband ard she, q lady bred
and born, fastidious, elegant, accom-
plished, reared in luxury, heard pool
laborersl wives warn their children to
beware OF that drunken fellow"
She heard coarse laughs at bis ex-
pense, and under the shadow of bel
shawl, her cheek burnt hotly but fol
all that she never thought of going
back and leaving him TO himself AS
soon as she could, she gained his side
and called TO him by name, "EdWard
Edward :" -
He turned, and unstesdily looked al
her, in q bewildered way.
"You - he said, "YOu ought to be
at home at this time Of night. -
$50 ought we both," said Ruth.
GGTtzaaIo.r
He threw her hand off.
"Pm my own master, =" De SAID
"I'm not tied to Rny woman's apron
stringsi" and stsggared away again
Ruth following, through the LONG
street, with every face turned toward
them as they passed-sOme laughing,
some .cOntemptous, some terrified
out at last upon the wharves, and
there the besotted man sat down more
stupefied by the liquor he had sWai-
lowed, in that fresh, cold air.
Ruth was thinly clad-the chill Oi
the night wind seemed to reach her
yery heart, She thought of the babe
at home, and tears coursed down he
cheeks. Again and again she tried
to bring TO his mind some lingering
memory Of the past days when hi
love and protection had been hers
In vain wild faucies filled his brain;
demons, born of the fumes of strong
drink, had possession of his senses
Sometimes he thrust her from him
sometimes he gave her a maudllI
embrees, and badee her bring hin
more fiqnOr but1go home he We1id
not. -
The hum of the great city died on
at last all was still with the strang'
stiffness of g city at night. The frosty
stars twinkled over head. Now and
then a boat passed up the river, VIII
measured beat and throb. Once
rough looking fellow sauntered pas
them or. the wharf but Though h'
flung her an ins0Ient word, and yet
more insOlent laugh, and went away
singing yet mOFezinsoleDtiy, he dit
not approach them So benumpee
had Ruth grown, 40 cold to the verl
heart was che, that the power o
motion sad almost deserted her, When
at last, as the church clock not IA
away tolIed the hour of four, tue de
graded man staggered to his Test anl
Teeled homeward.,- - She follower
| feebly. Only IEy=elinging to th'
balustfade could she mount tn
wretched stairs. lt was bitter col,
1 within as without, but she was glad
to find herself at last under shelter
Her babe still slumbered, aud she di'
not awaken 1t. Her frozen bosom
couId hsve only CHILLED the littl
creature. There were few bits 0
broken wood iu q corner and With
these she made 3 IRE, and crouche'
over It, striving to gain llbti
warmth while beF husband slumOere'
heavily upon the bed in the corner, t
which he had staggered on his e1
trance. E8
Thus an hour passed by, and Rutt
also fell asleep The silence, III
nlessant warmJh-Gt her feet to
fency that all her trouble was over 70
the night, luIled her to pleasan
dreams. From them she was awak
ened by the loud ringing Of neigh
boring factory bell, and the sound o
cries and shouts in the street below
She east her eyes toward the bed-he
husband was not there! toward tn
cradIe-it was empty She heW
the windOw-the street below Ws
full of factory boys.
Some great jest amused ther
nightly. They roared, they dance
they tossed their ragged caps on hief
they shrieked in lnmusical laughter
and the object OF all this mad D1irt
was only too evident.
, On the steps of the public house Of
posite stood Edward Holly, h0idIn
, his child in his arms, and exhibitin
for the benefit of the delighted crow
all those antics OF which an intox
} Gated man alone is cspablei Is
, called on the grinning landlord of u
gin shop to "give this child SON
brandy, and turning the screamin
infant about in q manner that le
no doubt that he would only end b
dropping it upon the pavement.
wild with terror, Ruth rushed ini
! the street, and made her way throng
the crowd to the spot where her hu
; hand afoOd hefOra she reached hi