The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-02-28
st. I keep only respectable COM

nonv,,
"Just now you do; but you will
change your habits by-and-by.
"Don't be too familiar, it you
please suggested, as the old chap
drew chair to my side. and seated
himself.
eve are bound to be friends, young
man. Did you ever read Emerson s
works!
''Of course l have
"Well, sir, am representative
man.
"You had better take yoursely off,
or shall be under the necessity OF
kicking you down stairs.
II don't mind that; am used to it. >
s'Be civil to him. interposed the
Demon. s'He is one OF us, and good
fellow in his way. He often brings
men to their senses when Nothing else
will, but you have another friend,
and again he waved his hand over the
cup.
Again the vapor rose from the glass,
and another form, more hideous than
either of the others, appeared before
me l was alarmed by his savage eX-
preston and glaring eyes.
s.Who are you!'' | inquired, shrink
ing back from the loathsome thing.
my name is Crime
ssThen you have been we'll named.
Il have work for you to do
II am too much engaged to assist
you,' l replied.
"Come, come, don't be too stiff
about it. I suppose you are not quite
ready to help me yet. but l blde my
time, for have mortgage on you
which in due season you must pay
up"
"How do you like my friends !" the
Demon asked.
Il don't like them
mop
1.-THE old fellow is an announcement
companion, and l dom like the morals
of the other chap. His notions OF
mine and thine are too indefinite tx
suit ideas.
..Indeed! You seem so mucl
inclined to make their acquaintance
that / supposed you were anxious tt
number them among your friends.
"Ip'
"Certainly; they belong to the cup
But there is one more that you mus
know"
AS he spoke, that smoke inferno
cruled up and resolved into the form
of woman. She was pale haggard
and almost skeleton. She wa
clothed in rags, and was a perfec
picture of wretchedness and despair
There was nothing really hideous il
her aspect beyond the marks o
poverty and want which she bore
She turned and fixed a glance of re
proach upon me--a glance which
thrilled me to the soul. pitied tn
poor wretch, and turned away.
| looked again. Those feature
were familiar to me. / was shocked
Mortified, as / recognized Lucy Shell
don in the dreadful figure before me
.sLucy - l exclaimed, with a star
of borrow.
sob, Robert - she cried in agony
as she threw herself upon her knee
before me. s'Pity me! Pity our poo
children They are hungry, they ar
perishing with the cold. am hungr
all lIccLlIlS, but eAi = NV Aoi III ,
self. Pity them, save them :!
"My God, Lucy J!
s.Drink no more, Robert. Yo
have reduced me to the most abjec
misery. Drink no more, as you pit
me, ii YOU do not love me y
"Oh. Lucy! Does she too, belong il
the cup!' l asked, appealing to tn
Demon.
..She does; but for the present W
, keep her down in the mint and sugar
She will be one of us by-and-by,' h
replied with a grin.
"Robert Robert y groaned Luc,
Promise me you will drink Il
, more y
LAS God is my Judge, / will not
: l cried springing from my chair.
| But there stood in my chambt
alone. and there on my table stoC
: the glass from which my dreamin
! fancy had conjured up the Demon {
the Cup and his friends.
!. | reflected for time and then thre
the balance of the sherry cobbler I'M
p the CRATE. Ii the cup was the abot
D of such Il wretched crew land dare yt
say it is notl determined not to me
r die with it again. and have not.
EulAlIA PEREZ.