The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-24
SAVED BY A SACRIFICE.


Tom asked me to become his wife. An,
how we'll do remember that happy
time We were sitting, he and I, in the
nrbor, amid The roses and purnle grapes,
Tom was handsome then (you would
scarcely think it now) and loved him
but as he asked me in that sweet, thrill.
ing voice to give my hand and heart to
him, felt IN unaccauntable thrill of
horror run through my frame.
II can4ot, oh, cannot, Tom !" cried,
II may ne foolish aud superstitious, but
must never marry, for If do shall
most certainly DO tho wife Of drunkard."
What nonsense il this, Mary ?" said
he. Have you ever seen me in bad
company, that you think I would be led
astray7 For you know thnt have been
strictly temperate since you have known
me-"
eyes, YES, 1 know ycu are nil could
desire my husband to be; but am sure
if / marry, no matter whom, misery fol-
lows, for there ia curae resting upon me.
Listen while tell you what mean:
"Threc years ago, before my father
died, he and I belonged 10 the tempe
rance order here, and me was the presid-
ing officer. We'll, one night we were to
try member for violating the pledge;
the case was very aggravated one, as
this was tho fourth 0ffcnse, and he had
lboas:ed that 1t made no difference how
often he drank, as the lodge would never
expel him. and he would be reinstatad at
the next mestiag with nothing moro than
II reprimand. These reports reached
fathers ears, and mada him very angry.
THE committee made their report, and
all were in favor Of expulsion, until the
poor wife arose, and in piteous words
begged us to give him one more trial.
When the votes we're cast for suspension
or eypulsion it was found 10 be o tie. In
that case the chairman cests tho decisive
ballot, and father decided he should be
expalled. For moment silence reigned
then the wife OF the diseraced man a1osc,
and raising her hand toward heaven.
cried, in o sharp, shrill voice: "a. n
May the curse of God rest upon Won
and youra, Mr. Weston / May your
daughter suffer as aufier May her
husband be 9 drunkard P'
/ she then hurried from the room, while
! shook ,as with the aguc.
Tom, dear Tom, / cannot get rid OF
the conviction that I am to know f.c....
experience just what that woman suffered,
and I am sure it would kill me to be a
drnnkard's WIFE,"
my darling" whispered lie, ''you
mead fear nothing, for I swear by all I
hold sacred, by tho memory Of my ange.
mother, and by the hope that God win
bless our union, never, no never, to touc,.
any kind of Intoxicating liquors. win
that satisfy you, Maryf You know I
am mot an intsnperate man, and snrs:s.
with you for my Iwifa, there Would be no
danger OF my my Ealing. ,nsist say 7 t::ink
yo,i tss o very foclish Il title Tile .s.sl TO heed
the s:Hings of an angry woman never
theiesg, 4 promise there shall never be
the gaoat of o chance for the curse to de-
scend.o n
OF coume ! accepted him, moi even
asking him what his paat life had been.
He told. naes he had belonged to the army,
md l5p sifen amEsad mo By relating In
isiei,fg cf his travels; |; but further than
shas e know nothing. My parents We-e
both dead, and I was alone, with no one
20 20 advise lpa !; but, Sos that. lnatter, all
5eenned 20 think ] was doing remarkably
well, for Tom ,Yaa o general favorito.
80 ye wese nanryiedy and commenced
housekeeping at once In q cnzy little cot,
taga s "a "a tho :ei,taksrta Of the town. Oh,
bSSp bsM pSssoaS aas sGbaI aape ysss My ha.
tomato, 81, ,sslss 4 lid all in5my bower Co
naata our homo an Eden. s1S'si Il
: have often thought I was too happy.
If such S thing is possible; at any rate.
my; happiness Whs Of short duration.
We had been married Eve Iaiorlths
when, enc evening at @ party, noticed
that Tom acted strangely; he apposred
rscEless, his taugh was loud and boistel
rous, and he q innnefa. ms At lertstli
some friends whispered that ] would do
we'll 70 gat him, home. aa no vas drinking
(, For a gmoments i Eazea ia wonder,
their, words had no meaning for ,na
then the aI7fsl trs.tsh burat, :spoIii me thss
Tom hesa fallen, and I moaned In agony.
he curse is upon mel Oh, Father
in heaven. why should 7 have to bear
this burden Oh, 4 pray thee, lot me
I persuaded him to take mo away. /.
pleading that / YVES not well, and my
white, terror -stTic ken .,-ese alarmed hin
60 laslch that he ipata ali ilasts % gat me
There were many days of sorrow and
nights of silent waiting after that. no
would pfioniiee 10 eloEne. a2d ut first Il
believed him; but the sSoS alsca krokota
could not be naeRdGd, and I enn found
there was no hops, I was d drupkard's
! 1is Eeilss ssl i laiuss ise aa long as we
EIptIl my los hatsass tilan, but as
yeslss Isisl led on; nd ck iitrsfs Sssga bora
= BID Indeed. 4 dared
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