Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-16
Why She never Drank Wine.


low perfectly shabby it would look -
The remark was made by beautiful girl |
rs she danced out of the conservatory with |
/ spray of pink blossoms in her hand. f" It is |
my first party, and want everything SPLEEN
lid. And, auntie," turning 10 sweet |
laced woman, with large, ove-gleaning eyes |
and all almost alabaster purity of complex
ion, "you must wear that rose-coored bro |
cade. 1t is just the rage now, and your hair
will trim beautifully. | am so glad we are
10 have plenty of flowers"
Helen Brayton was Just from school, |
where she had been since she was ten years
old. Of course, she knew little of life hut
her father was wealthy man, and her
dream Of everything splendid" was about
to be realized. Aunt Agatha was her moth
er's sister, a scholarly woman of whom she
knew little, save that she was trifle eccen-
trio, giving away nearly all of her income,
and never so much as touching wine.
Mrs Brayton leaned back in her luxurious
chair and rested her eyes with mothers
delight Oh IIeen's face
9" II we have wine, Aunt Agatha cannot
come" was said slow ".
"Cannot Why so 2" with shrug of her
pretty shoulders. " She will not be obliged
TO taste it,
Mrs. Brayton beat her satin-slippered foot
against the Persian carpet. II was ques-
ton she could not decide. Mr.. Brayton had
given her carte blanche. He had not time to
attend to it, he said. In calling in Agatha
she had not thought of wine. With exquis-
lite taste and wonderful tact in arrangement,
her service would be invaluable. All the
morning she had been trying to persuade
the really elegant woman TO consider this as
an exceptional case. Not that she herself
cared for it neither did Mr.. Brayton. But
what would people say? Mrs. Brayton was
not one with the moral courage to oppose
Madame Grundy. She could not endure to
be- called shabby, especially when the money
i'll hand would enable her to be profuse.
All the while Helen stood at the back of
Aunt Agathas chair talking of the pink
and silver brocade. Nobody will know it
was ever worn. am sure il never would
show a seam"
A servant entered bearing silver waiter,
and on it a small card Helen colored, and
Mrs. Brayton excused herself aud went down
to the parlor
:" DO say that you will not mind this time,
auntie ?" plead Helen
And thus break my promise %
Did you promise, auntie, never SO much
as to drink drop ?"
81 promised never so nuch as Ia drink A
drop; neither would | stand by and see
another drink"
That is going little too far, auntie If
another drinks. it will not hurt us"
81 aui'not so sure returned Aunt Agatha.
e Whose card was that Dick brought in p
Henry Fargo's," answered Helen, with a
vivid blush.
excess would il not hurt Won ?"
80 auntie he never could" with a face
from which all coior had aed
"If | have been rightly informed. one of
his brothers died ,lruukard." persisted
Agatha Fleming.
THAT was Win. He was always n little
wild Went to San Francisco. snent a GOOD
deal. and drank To drown his trouhle" was
Helen's answer.
The Farpos lived In The same souare. In
tha vacations Helen had seen a GOOD de.l of
Henry. and learned tbroupb him of wills
wand,.riugs. But ,h. did not connect i, with
vine. the latter was a mere accident H..
drank TO drown his trouhle.
The exnression of AGATHA Fle,niup's face.
crew tender, tears filed her ewes Ii WAS a
favorable moment IN saw IN Helen all tber,.
vas IN her heart tn sav.wbv She should uot
touch wine.
=. You have heard vour motber sneak of
Uarhar, Wv.burn ~ turnin,, nor gaga full
mon tho vo,,nr oirI
Yonr old fr,,,,d or aa,a J,,,, kno,,
,,b;cb o., ra,,,rnsd U.,l.,, uith L.,, msnaI OIL
vacity .Yes"
NV fri.nd 40 U.rry Iar,o /. vours
We lived in the same sonore and we loved
zach other with a love that grew stronger
as w.. gre,y old,.r Uerher, Vent IN collage
He was graudlv gifted Rnt he learned Ia
take wine il made him brilliant The head
of his class he was likewise the master of
oratorv. Bnt he could not sneak without
his glass then il reouired more-one two.
three at A time. when he returned he
brongbt the habit with him Ills manner
was no longer the same-at one time wild
and canr;c;ous at anotbar time gloomv and
morose Iexnostulat.d He was angry and
unhraid.d me- The next hour be was reaJy
~ bsg nv nardou aud forgove him 81
conrse he wonld meyer again give wav
Tins Il wont nm mill he yss resdv IN as.
tahEsh b;mseIf il, business and / was look-
inc forward 10 heoom;no bannv br;da
One v;cht tbere vas a 9narreI IN which
Uarhart s,rnct a hrotbar Io,,var and him.
self rece;vaJ fatal stah in retnrn Thav
had heen dr;nL;na to exces. hnt whom
reacbed usrhart T., wos ra,;onai Neysr
shall I forg,.t his face as he ssid .'rba doc.
TOR s.ys n,ust d;e II I had never t,sted
49, IT. ,b;s mould no, - hoo,
TbaS had NOR toIJ NM, Tho, th.. you,d
was fa,el hnr;aJ ms, faoa In tha n;lIo.
a,J snhhod ontr;rh, IN hat n,o,na,t
would aladIy bavs aiye, NV owr Tfe could
hv ~ 'S.a',s .sva uarbart Nv anony
mad. him worse Tbav took me- from hin
and only nermitted me- 70 return when
,rr,,,;an3 T. a',',a,,d ,,,Sois w I a.,
- 80, -. - H.; III III.
eyes sbn, A., I arnroaobeJ sas. ,hat HI
In r'a,,ad W. r. ,rrar;na tr;ad ,o
th;,,L so Co.. had hao,f hromrht ~, ~ hill
II was draadf"I th;na 10 a. without an
;ntara., IN Chr;s, As tnao,od hv his
hada;da ha =" nm, T" nnt b;s hand 81 hara taJ
81 ~" no P"t !, 49,, ~ Co. ,,o,, 49, "
u,ar,,ad r'', a,,a;nst All, hnt / J;d NOT sae
,ha - ,v "s' W. ,'nst 40 p,'t vo,,
~, ,h;IsI ,' ,.at;,.'as a,'a H. a.,
of ."'" 'o, Iii not faii 10 w." sarn n,herss
o,,a;,s, ,i - haJ nrn,,isaa w. la naIn,
al to ha cahn / triad 10 mint him ~
IN dsatb tbere was a sniIs on bis facs ~
,h,nah Of ihe last he had caught The clean
oI oa7sstiaI vines The tbief ON the cross
.aoa;raJ assuro9ca .Tbis day sba,t tbon Iva
';,h ,,a IN naraJ;ss trns; /, ,sss so u,;,h
LII =, "
SiIo,c. hroodad over tho room Ue,en
aid 80 M, nor boad Aa.tba snoL., Art
$3.50 49, -s'- r