Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-09-22

~, my ioNe, your H'lbpuuu Will oppreCl
ate any delicate little attention now quit
as much rs in the days Of your engage,
life. But this is not all. Let me tel
you little experience Of my own.
had brother once-a very dear brother
He died Of delirium tremens."
"Oh, Mrs. Marleyp Clara Ardel
placed sympathetic hand in that Of hel
friend, for she saw that the pretty ole
lady Ind grown pale, and trembled.
eyes, my dear, went on Mrs. Marley.
che had gny, pretty, young wife, who
disliked the cares Of housekeeping--and
it was an understood thing between
them that any gentleman guests whom
it fell Clements lot to entertain should
be taken to some hotel or restaurant,
Well, my dear, you know how it was.
The wine flowed freely-there was no
feminine presence to restrain the false
idea of good-fellowship. Clement &C.
qnired the fatal habit of indiscriminate
drinking, and the upshot of it all was,
that he filled q drunkard's grave. Per-
haps I was uncharitable, but l have
always thought that had his wife made
her home agreeable to her husband and
his guests, things might have ended
differently"
"But, Mrs. Marley" cried Clara,
much shocked, this is quite different
thing &"
81 do not say that it is not, Clara. I
only want to warn you against the rock
on which my poor sister in-law's life
was wrecked. OF what use is all our
sad and hardly-won experience, if not to
caution Others little"
Clara was silent for minute or two,
and when she spoke again, it was on
quite a different topic. Mrs. Marley
stayed and dined with her of the cold
Joint and simple salad, and went home
at about eight o'clock.
And then came the long, lonely eve
ming, during which Clara sat by the
window, waiting and listening for every
sound, nervously impatient for her hus-
bands return.
"Of course, he is not the sort of man
to drink too much" she told herself,
over and over again "but-but am
almost sorry I was so obstinate about
not asking Mr.. Fenwick to dinner. 1t
would not have been so very much
trouble, after all, and 1 think Charley
was vcxed about it..
Nine o'clock struck-then ten-then
CLARA sprung mp and began
pncing the room in her nervousness.
II wish he would come 2" she cried.
her hands. 81 wish he would
come |"
Just then there was some disturbance
in the street and glad at all hazards to
escape from her own harassing thoughts,
CLARA threw open the window and thrust
out her head.
There was little crowd ut the corner
If the street, and she could distinctly
lear the jeering voices of some of the
title street Arabs crying out cts
'nly drunken mani Halo, mister,
'ou'll find your hat in the gutter Can't
'ou tell where you live? Go and ask an
,fficer."
Clara's head turned cold as ice. Gould |
t be possible? Was this poor, stagger- I
ng creature, whose uncertain step af- !
orded amusement to mob of boys, her I
oble husband? Had he so far forgotten {
himself and her? And if so, at whose q
oor lay the fault? |
Nearer and nearer came the little ,
rowd. Clara drew in her head, and f
losed the window. She could not bear
o have the dreadful probability con-
rmed. She stopped her ears; she
uried her face in the pillows of the sofa.
Why, CLARA, little wife, what's the
natter ?" !
1t was Charley's voice-not the maud !,
u accents OF semi-intoxication, but the
Ill, deep tones of the man she felt she =
ould yet honor, as well as love and I
hey. She looked up with little II
ysterical laugh. 9
"Oh, Charley, 1 was frightened A .
runken man in the street, you know - u
Yes, passed him. Apoliceman has :,
'st walked him off to the station-house. ~
o you were frightened, ell ?" :"
Clara's face was radiant Is she turned Z
p the low jet of gas. :.
" L am SO glad you have come, Char !,
"" said she. ~ have had great +
ANY computations of conscience this :.
ternoon, because I didn't make Mr.. :,
enwick welcome to the best I had in the
ouse, instead of sending you off to "
,staurant."
We went to Lemonde's," said Char =. r
y. "The dinner was stylish enough, y
ut nothing better than you could have :" .,
ven us at home" .
"And, Charley" added Clara, softly, .;
the next time you invite friend to =,
ne with you, You may be certain that ~ y,
y welcome will be ready" =,
"That's my own dear little Clara" y.
i'd Charley. And the hearty satisfac- =.
IN in his face was reward for any sac. "
ice she might be called upon to make.
A fellow likes to feel, you know, when
meets an old chum, that he has
ome to ask him to, and wife that will OF
eet him with SMILE" W
But 1 am sorry about Mr.. Fenwick." ne
" Never mind. He will be in town m
ain one of these days, and then we'll sc
ow him what home made dinner is m
], Clara ?" til
And Clara's smile answered him, or
She had had her lesson. She was not 10
,ely to FORGET it. m