St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-09-08

MIR. lIavretield. If yom have no more
respect for me than to become intoXi-
Gated III my presence, apologies would
he thrown away" But please. Oracle.
hear me: did not intend it thought
could do as the rest. and not feel il
more than they. But it has been 81
long since tasted wine that it over
came me-. The Young lady shrugged
her shoulders. Il may as well say il
now and put an end to this. | wish for
II" apologies. but | wish you to consider
our engagement at an end. cannot
marry Il man who will disgrace me and
mine.
Her voice was cold and hard. and her
words drove every particle of color from
her lovers face. He started to his feet
and then sank back in his chair with Il
look of blank aStoniShment.
''O. Oracle. yOu cannot mean that -
he fairly gaSped. Il certainly do: for
| cannot think of marrying Il man who
Is :" weak as yon showed Yourself To
he last night. My mfher has drank
VINE for over forty years, and no one
ever saw him intoxicated" she said
proudly. Havreticld sat for some mo-
mcntS like one stunned. .'And this is
your answer. then ?" he said. rising and
standing before her. Il look of mingled
despair and anger in his face. Oracle
bowed c"ldly, at is. Mr.. Havrcticld."
He still stood before her his hand
some face twitching with restrained
anger. Half an hour before he would
have kmclt III his humility at her feet
AT last he said slowly: IF yon east me
nn | ,tIih.l I hal L.. l
wine. OF any other intoXicant. for two
Years. dnd no one bm you conM hare in
d"csd me to touch II. lou urged me to
drink. even in>inuating that was
AFRAID L" touch it. | Tds afraid
wish. in Gods name. that had been
man enough To leave it then But
perhaps it will comfort you to rcmcm-
her that it was your hand that poured
the glass of wine that awakened the
demon appetite. Judge Cowan will
east me off. no doubt and his daughter
breaks her plightcd faith becau>e her
intended husband cannot drink half aS
much wine ;iS her father without get
ting drunk" He had stepped to the
door while speaking. aud taking his hat
from the rack in the hall. and without
waiting fnI reply. went ont. When
the sound of his to"tStepS had died
away. iilacic Cowan went slowly To
her room. All the joy had gone from
hrr llt, in the last twenty tom hours.
Throwing herself on the bed. she wrpt
long and bitterly. Love. anger. and
wounded pride were struggling for the
mastery III her heart. Unfortunately.
pride and anger gained the victory. and
while conscience told hcr she WAS To
blame i'll causing him to sin. and love
dictated calling him back and giving
him one more chance to recover his lost
honor. pride held her back. though her
heart achcd over the separations. They
seldom met after their angry parting.
and it WAS only through her friends
that she heard that he WAS gradually
going down To certain ruin, and though
she appeared Indifferent. she WAS far
from feeling So. for his parting words
No onr bmt yoU coHld hare tempted me
to to"ch U'-rang in her ears. and
though she would not have ackn"wl-
edged ii. Vet she fclt that she WAS to
blame for his fall.
HaNrrticld made a few feeble efforts
I" reform. hut temptations were thick
around him. and east of hN the one
wh" had tempted him. he soon sank to
the level ot the common dIuukar,l, and
he who. with his splendid talents and
cducatinn. might have been among the
fist III his profession. went down. Il
ruined man. and ruined hN one. too.
whom he loved as his life. and who
loved HIM IN return. Vet with Il mis-
taken Id"a of tine manhnod. she had
lurrd HIM 1" his own destruction.
" 0nlnM'N IrmptLnnct Lnion.