Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-06
Saved.
A TEMPERANCE STORY.

nervous tread-battling with herself
What would she say to the man wait
ing so patiently for the answer to the
all important question? That she low
ed bin she knew right well, despite the
knowledge that he was drunkard.
II can hardly answer tonight, Tom,
for" "For what? But 1 know what
you would say, Lizzy, dearest I confess
to being weak-minded, but with you as
aright," and saying this, Tom Taylor
drew the slight figure toward him
"What is it, darling? Are you an
cry, that you will not kiss mel" he said,
as she attempted to withdraw from
| him.
Il cannot kiss you, Tom,'' she repli-
ed, "beeause you-you have been drink
ing, and I cannot kiss a man whose
breath is contaminated with liauor.n
The young man dropped his ewes, and
blush stole up to his brown cheek, and
then he offered the same excuse that all
me.1soffer when first they commence to
tamper with stong drink.
"That's all very well for you to say,
but if you love me you'll practice what
you now preach. If at the end of six
months, say the day before New Year,
you can come to me and honestly de
clare that you have signed the pledge,
and not taken drop of liquor mean
while, I'll marry you pext day." and
saying this, Lizzy Glase looked firmly
into the eyes of the man she eloved dearer
than life.
sThen you are going to break our en-
gagment because I drink occasionally 81
said Tom, a little disdainfuily.
mo, Tom, l love you, and I think
you will for my sake be abstemious in
future, and I wish you would sign the
pledge. You have drunk liquor often OF
late, though did not fully realize it
until to-day, and if you do not alb
stain from it now, I must refuse your
attentions in future"
"You profess to love me-" said he,
''but you do not, for love would induce
you to stand by me and try to keep me
from temptation but instead, you drive
nae to destruction"
Listen to me, Tom" said Lizzy, her
eyes glistening and her voice trembling.
"You say do not love you, because
will not sacrifice my happiness and
welfare and that of others for you when
you will not make the slight sacrifice
for me of signing the pledge Reason
is as necessary as love, and how could
keep you from destruction when you
are determined not to listen to me,
but to go in the very path which. I am
sure, leads to ruin and drunkard's
grave?"
"You know I love you, Lizzy, but
you are unreasonable. L am in no dam
ger, anu can govern my appetite. You
talk as though I was very near drunk
ARDS grave"
It was all in vain that careful black
eyed Lizzy pleaded with her lover, and
when she saw that pleadings were use
less, she said, in voice firm but full ot
anguish:
'Then, dear Tom. farewell; must
break my vow. I shall pray that you
may see the error of your ways-fare-
wellu
He walked slowly down the street.
More and more his feelings softened
and before he had reached his home he
said softly to himself: "a glass of
liquor shall not separate me from my
i darling LizZy. I can much easier dis
pense with that than with her love, and
l will sign the pledge tomorrow, and We
will be happy again"
He entered the house, and was pass
ing on to his room, but young man
opened door and stepping into the hall
said pleasantly: "That you, Tom
Walk in a moment, / want to speak tt
you.".
"It is too late," said Tom, passing on
but the young man urged, and finally
grasping his arm, half dragged him int
the apartment.
"You shall have a drink of thi
brandy" he said. ''the best you every
drank; here's glass ready for you"
''No, thank you," said Tom looking
as he said this, longingIy at the brandy
) "No, Charley, [ don't wish for an,
brandy tonight"
"Well, but taste of this" said Char
; ley "you can't object to that" Tast
and give me your opinion Of it. I sa,
it is the best brandy that eyer was
made.n
Tom drank. not only the first, bu
| more and more, until his good resolve
was forgotten, and he staggered to hi
room. The next morning he awok
: with a binding headache and guilt
conscience.
II cannot see Lizzy to- day." he said
"nor sign the pledge, while last night
indulgence is so near, but in a few days
when this has passed by, we will b
3 good friends once more, and will nc
: drink again."
Had he gone at the moment, confess
. ed his fault, and pledged himself to alb
r stain thereafter, he might have bee
: saved but he listened again to the voic
of the tempter, and fell, and the drunk
e ards seal was upon him. A few month
1 after he had heard LizZy Glase's fart
r well, he fled from his native town, d'
J, termined to change his course, and
v again man. A thousand times he ha