Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-02-03
THE FIRST GLASS.

THE FIRST GLASS.
I had often noticed when we were Ill
anv party of pleasure amongst our own
cdn.nanions. how Cyrus Greyson avoided
Honor The merriesr occasion, the hot
fest dav. or the coolest evening. found
him ever strictly temperate-acoldw water
man of the most rigid type. And yet. he
made no strong professions Of temper
auce. and in his life there was every temp
ration to mere pleasure-seeking.
He was wealthy, an artist of no mean
standing, a favorite in society. and would
have been eminently handsome, but for
an expression of sadness that never left
his dark eyes, a reserve that hung over
his speech on all occasions. But that ne
loved me, tina. we had become like protn-
ers in five years of close Intimate irienu-
ship, should never have learned the Sc
cret Of his sadness or the CAUSE VI h's
strict practical temperate haoi's.
remember well the morning wiiele ns
came into my studio quite e"iis' " liz
mo lv;ny upon lounge, nursing Il split
,;,r hsadache. instead of finishing the
picture upon nv easel.
II ,vas hut seldom L allowed good COM
Many ar great occasions to lead me into
iiI ~" but my headache that day was
,,ost certainly attributed TO free HOW
81 champagne on the previous evening.
I'D CYRUS knew it. He made no COM
,nent. passed around the room little,
ond then sitting near me, he SAID. In a
voice that. to me. proved that he had
norve.l himself to some great effort:
..Will. old fellow, am going to make
,ou NV father confessor, TO tell you the
story of my life."
His tace was so deadly pale. and his
whole appearance SO shocked me- that
cried: ~. ;.
Not if il troubles you to tell it, Cy.''
..Never mind that l want to tell IT.
you will respect my secret, Will, l know
w,s a HOY of five years old, think.
when my father suddenly disappeared
from onr bomi L cannot tell you what
his business had been. l never knew. bat
we had ALWAYS lived in comfort anu my
vague memory of father recalls Only
Kindness and love for my mother and
myself, the only chilli.
After he left us, my mother sank lnto
most despairing sorrow. weeping con
vnIsiyelv at all times, often praying Ter
yently. wasting away TO mere snato"
of herself. She was absent from nome
rreat deal, and my grandmother came Il
care for me. They would be gone alter
nate DAYS for hours ut time, AWAY
coming home weeping ana prostratet
by sorrow. l cannot tell how long thu
lasted, but one day they went out 10
yether. and were gone till late at night
leaving me with the servant. Wheh the
came home mother was carried INTO TN
house inSensible, and my grandmothe
seemed scarcely more conscious. Al
night. from my little crib. could hea
them sobbing and praying III what. eve
my childish comprehension told me. wa
Jhe extreme agol.y of despair and griel
rrhe next dav nv father was brough
home dead i'm his coffin, and L kissed hin
tor the last time.
~ remember a long illness of m
mothers. and her death. Then we tray
eled. grandmother aud l, long, lon
distance to- a new city.
Here | was sent to school. and for tn
first time heard myself called by LII
maine [ now LeIr, Cyrus Greyson.
questioned my grandmother about thu
remembering my mother had alway
called me her darling Freddy. but sll
said. sadly. 1 must try to forget my Oh
life. my old name. and something in he
white face and huShed voice compelled
my awed Submission.
These are my childish impressions
sorrow. soon forgotten i'll my happy HE
Enr i'm spite of the unalterable sadness
nv praliinother's face, was very hap
nv. NV home was very pleasant, VIII
every comfort wealth could give. and
was allOwed all chiidlike indulgences
while my restraints were only iudiciou
ami kindly ones. | went TO good schools
aud when [ wished to be all artist. ever
advantage of study and travel was give
me. till. ut tweny-One, WAS legally pu
into possession of my fathers share o
my grandfather's property, and learned
Here Cyrus paused, great beads OF per
spiration standing on his lace, out AFTER
moinentary struggle, he said:
The night before | came OF age, WI
some of my friends were i'll my studio
and we sent for champagne to celebrat
nv birthday. had, many years before
promised my grandmother never TO touc
liquor, but, carried away Dy my cOmpal
ions urging and example, took, on tina
nivht. nv first glass Before the part
hr1ke ND was Intoxicated. for the 0nl
time i'm INV life. | have dim recollc,
ton of my grandmother's cry OF hOrrO
as reeled upstairs, after my friends lie
me. and my only pang OF shame as
heard il, but slept heavily, and awob
late the next day.
Il expec. ed a reproof and lecture whe
Invent to my grandmother's room, bl
she did not speak one word referring
nv condition the previous night.
..Cvrus." she said. sadly, before you 9
TO the lawyers wish you to read son
papers have here
"Old newspapers they were, dated 81.
teen years before, and the columns II
tended for nv reading were heavi
marked i'm pencil. My grandmother lie
me- alone. and read all she had marke
Ir was the history of murder commi
ted i'm the heat of passion, and while tt
murderer was under the effect OF strOn
drink. He was described as handSon
man. under thirty years OF age, OF taller
and promise and not addicted TO liquo
At some festive gathering he had bee
led into intoxicatiOn, and while Graz
with drink had become involved in
quarrel, striking his opponent with
poker, killing him instantly.
IL read every word Of the long trls
where the best talent of the country q
Tended the criminal, where money WI
freely spent, and every effort made
save the guilty man. read the appea
to the Governor for pardon, after he w
convicted and sentenced, praying I
nitv i'm consideration of his youth, b
previous good conduct, MS position al
his family. | read his own letter, plea
inc his bewildered brain at the time
struck the fatal blow, and the entire a
sence of any intent to kill the man wi
had been an utter stranger TO him ty
-. hoforo he law dead at his feet.