The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-15
'SfialssaSDH :J1}aSFnigFa1sF. D
ON THE BRINK.

ON THE BRINK.
haveakneyn,eAsthNA GravelNsweh
and intimatASE 4 az paFtsof his histSfY
came 70 dy, gno vls.gatRt Rtpugh MI i
observation, and part he told me him
self.
Arthur came of an old, well-defned
and respectable stock, with just enough
of aristocratic pride inherited from his
progenitors to give him refinement and
self-reliance. At an early age he Was
left all orphan, aud received the most Of
his education aRa6fEhe care ofan ihcie.
When he was one-and twenty he was ad.
mitted to the employ of banker named
Vanderlain, and very soon took position
of trnstESand resh hGnsiHiliy inAthe house
AyearAateFF heStook forFhis %ife FANNY
Sommerton, one of the fairest and sweet
est of earthly treasures. He had loved
her long and truly, and her love in re.
.tdrR had dbeen simple and devoted!
Thus was life opened for Arthur Gravely
with bright and happy promises. aJIG {
One enemy. and one enemy alone, at
this time stood in Arthnr's path. His
wife did not see it then. She loved him
so fondlyapd -trustipgfy thatyhe; could
not sea 6ataalt.l- 49, a--.--
A few of Arthur's friends feared dan
ger, and one of them more bold than the
rest, spoke to him warningly, but kindly !;
.buti he. turned away! from the: warning
with sneer of derision.
From early youth Arthur Gravely bad
found the wine cup among the symbols
of likes social phase. He had used it
upon his sideboard and upon his table;
and he-had partakeu-freely -siToad. IN
the early years it vas wine and only wine
of the best. and the purest Latter
stronger liquors were required to Keep up
the tone. At the age of eight-and-twen.
ty, there had come an undue flush upon
Arthur's cheek, and there we're blotches
in the eye which ought not to have been
there. He now took brandy before
breakfast, and through tbs. day. he. vas
forced to supply fuel to feed FIRE which
else might haseeonsunfed siihodily e0Rn !
fort. As yet he had never peen hppeS
iessly intoxicated. He vas confident in
his own strength.
Alas! for the man thus falling! He
knows mot: that his powers of Understand
nss;s5ss ings55sdy1lEng ess as the body fades and
AT length Mr., Vanderlain called Ar
thur into his private closet, and told him
that.he was going to suspend business '
81 have money:enoughj said Mf: Van
derlain, "and l know that my close ap-,
piication' to, business is wearing upon me.
am growing gEeo9sMiMpg into years ears a3ds need rest.
think Of going to Europe" -,
.And of closing up your business r
"sYess" = RWtiKS; y =
aBut, sir, there is no need of that. If
yeu-will etrust, ,yourbank under the guid-='
auce of some responsible agent, with
yoafhameIat its;headsit might 30 pfps-
peroday on, and you could 60 upon your
trip at WILL"
A cloud came upon the bankers face
and he shook his head.
"Ie is too late" he said. "At some
titneaI may tell you more"
Shortly after this, in process OF closing
his business, Mr.. Vanderlain sent Arthur
to- distantcity to make some important
settlement. Arrived at his destination,
the young man called upon the cores
pondent OF the bank, and having made
the preliminary arrangements, he found
himself with few days upon his hands
which he might enjoy. On the very
evening, of his arripalss be- had zEaltef an
with John Hatton and William Roberts,
two friends and classmates of earlier
years. He was startled when he saw
them. They were evidently going down
hill-were drinking to excess: lHe,spent
first and second night in their company.
thisseeoBd-night, ,.forthe first-tirHein"
his life, Arthur Gravely drank to,a state
ofhelpisss stupe faction. Hg awokafh
next Aay sfeefipg saSk and h,nml lated:s
WEeHAesnfet His companions IN a private
parlor connected with their sleepiRgs
apartments, he found them with bowl of
hot brandy between them, A spirit Of f
true friendliness came upon him when he
saw the marks ofgthe' destroyer 80 deeply
f9ed, npon.the companions of his boy.
hood. ...-...-. ,....,,... .s.-,.,,.
"Boys; saia he, s1tbis won't do. You
They regarded him curiously and asked
him what he meant. 4:. q. &, nv: -, IT,
He told them what be meant. They
we're in dangerous way.
..eYou forget, old boyyA; said Hatton,
s'that you are in the same beat. If we took
passage before you, it is no less sure that
our route is now thesame. Don't preach
ARTHUR. Try a bit ofhot brandy.& :t.:.
"Let it alone" he said solemnly. 81
tell You Jack, and you Will, that you are
going down. You'can't last much longer
- sWaEf we lS sstdsgl Rob@bg g-tslthsaa}at-
tempt TO laugh, lit appears to me that
what is sauce for the goose is sauce for
the gander,; Had you not better try TO-
let it alone yourself?" 49,.
-aIf I try it, will you try it?" he asked.
"Will YOU try itS" demanded Hatton.
II will if you will join me-"
And they did it. They joined hands,
and promised one another that they
would be true and steadfast. .5g.
A new surprise was in store for Arthur
Gravely. BE found upon cutting off his
spirituous lianots' that his body weaken
ed, and his hands shook, as though with
palsy. He applied to a physician for
help. Fortunately be applied 70 a man
of sense and understanding.
"Can't you give me something to steady,
my nerves and restore my appetite 7"
Arthur asked, after having frankly stated
his Tsis fsss; shows j < you my da5sar das sir, said
the .physiciah, ssihto what q dangerous
state you have fallen. I can give you
something to steady your nerves, but
would mot help yon Id the end: If you
will Be bsays and irpe gSus viii come con out
Arthur said he should not, 90 back.
He wanted mo- stimulant Ano more OF
that. - =
The trial was q severe one, and it may
have been q blessed thing for Arthur
Gravely that it was so. He felt more.
heroism in the conquest, and he also saw
more2clearly how deeply the evil habit