The Tipton advertiser., 1877-04-26

my feelings the second day; pom IN.
word, Fred, | caught myself crying il
the afternoon, just before dark, and
couldn't find out what for either.
tell goo, ! was scared, and things 20
worse as time spun along; the dream
| had that night made me howl and
felt worse yet when daylight cam'
along again. Toward the next .igh
| was just afraid to go to sleep; so
made up my mind to get we'll, go ol
duty, and dodge everybody that i
seemed ought to drink with. Why
the Lord bless your soul, the first tim,
we showed off from town, | wal Ike,
up to the bar, just rs always did al
ter leaving towns; the harkeeper Sc
out my particular bottle natural,
enough, knowing nothing about m,
little game; poured out a couple o
fingers, and dropped Il down rs limo
cent as a lamb before | knew what
was doing. by George. my boy, 'twa
like opening lock-gates; was jus
heavenly gay before morning. Their
was one good thing about ii though
never told Emily | was going t,
swear off; | was going to surprise her
SO had the disappointment all tc
myself. Maybe she isn't as happy a-
your wife: but whatever else I've done
or not done, I've never lied to her"
TITS a pity you hadn't promised he
then before you tried dtheeNperimeHt.'
said Fred.
The captain shook his head gravel,
and replied,
II guess not; why, I'd have eithel
killed somebody or killed myself if l.,
gone on a day or two longer. s'pos,
I'd got along better if I'd had nybed>
to keep me company, or reason with
me like a schoolmaster but hadn't
didn't know anybody that ] dared
trust with Il secret like that
81 hadn't reformed then, ELI ." que
ried Fred.
"fou" why your one of the very
fellows lodged ~
Fred laughed, but his laugh soon
made place for "A look of tender solici.
tude. The unexpected turn that had
been reached in the conversation he
had SO dreaded, and the sympathy
which had been awakened in him by
Crayme's confidence and openness,
temporarily made of Fred Macdonald
a man with whom Fred himself had
never before been acquainted. A sud-
den idea struck him.
sam" said he, "try it over again,
and RI stay by you I'll nurse you,
crack jokes, fight Off the blues for you,
keep your friends away. III even
break your neck for you, if you like,
seeing it's you, if it'll keep you
straight
"Will you, thought said the cap
tain with "A look of admiration undis-
guised, except by wonder. You're
the first friend ever had, then. BY
thunder. how marrying Ettie Wedge
well did improve you, Fred! But"
and the captains face heightened
again, there's fellows reputation to
be considered, and where'll mine be
when il gets around that I've sworn
off?n
"Reputation be hangedu' exclaim-
ell Fred. "Lose il for your wife's sake.
Besides you'll make reputation instead
of lose it: you'll be as famous as the
Red River Raft, or the Mammoth
Cave; the only thing of the kind west
Of the Alleghanies. As for the boys,
tell them I've bet hundred that you
can't stay off your liquor for year,
and that you're not the man to take a
dare"
"7hn sounds like business, ex-
claimed the captain, springing to his
feet.
Let me draw up a pledge" said
Fred eagerly, drawing pen and ink
toward him.
NO you don't, my boy" said the
captain gently and pushing Fred out
of the room and upon the guards.
Emily shall do that Below there !!
Perkins I've got to go up town for an
hour; see if you can't pick up freight
to pay laying-up expenses; Fred, go
home and get your traps; 'now's the
accepted time, as your father-in-law
has dinged at me, many a Sunday
from the pulDit.'