The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-14

"Ca'mes old fellow" said he; "a, viii
put hfe Into yoa You will look like
another man. and feel like one too, with
sn'ne of this generous stufl 70 drive dull
ear, away. There's not warmth enough
ia that glass Of sherry you slipped to do
anybody any good. Now, this glorious
old Coguac will make you feel like a
jolly prince, my boy. Try il, aud see II
Il doesn't" " aud lac pushed q elars over
70 Frank, and continued chanting iis
praises, while our friend gazed upon the
treacherous liquor with strange sort Of
fascination, while the penetrating fumes
rose and entered his brain, producing a
kind Of sensation he had never expert
enced before. He seemed to be soothed,
aud still gently, pleasurably excited. He
more nearly forgot his trouble than he
had before. E1ertion seemed unneces-
sary, and quiet, languid ease a prime
necessity. His friends half mauilin
talk did not seem very foolish TO him
now, and he felt no disgust to see him
drinking so much, though in old times
he had often reprOved him for his con-
vivial habits and had always done all
he could to restrain him. He himself
had never had any desire for alcoholic
drinks, and had always confined him
self to drinking little wine, for polite
ness sake, when it was offered by
friend, and had never perhaps more
than tasted brandy a very few times.
But nov his whole system seemed to
crave stimulus. He felt the lack Of
accustomed food, and the nervous ex-
citement OF the last forty-eight hours
was beginning 10 be succeeded by re-
action, which was leaving him more
aud more gloomy aud dependent as the
minutes passed, and no strong mental
or moral support was offered. He was
left to himself, as are thousands whose
prospects are as bright as his, but whose
destinies are unutterably mournful from
the time they take the first fatal glass,
whose slow poison never ceases its in-
sidious work till the victim staggers
into drunkard's grave.
Frank Stoddard sat for more than
minute inhaling the fumes Of the
brandy, aud experiencing that strange
sense Of relief from care and distressing
thoughts, aud hearing, as in half
dream, the silly words Of poor Jack.
who thought he was charming his friend
by his brilliant wit. At last Frank
slowly raised the glass and tasted the
fiery liquid, which seemed to course
through his veins like an electric flash.
Again he drank, aud again, his spirits
rising and his heart growing bright and
oare-fIee. His thoughts aud feelings
were like those OF one in a gay, bright
dream. Everything practical and real
seemed to fade into indistinctness, and
Imagination was supreme-conscienee
was hushed. Duty no longer stood in
his path. In a few minutes the two
men went out, and Jack continued his
/ ineessant talk, while Frank, DOT hear
/ ing halt he said, walked along with him
silently, feeling as he had never before.
He had no desire to talk, and there was
no need, for Jack had no desire to listen
so together they strolled about for a
while, until Jack proposed that they
should go into n saloon aud 'get some
thing to drink"
There they parted, for Jack was benz
on a carouse with some cOngeuial spirit;
he met at the door, and Frank would
not Join him. Tie stimulus was already
4 beginning TO be exhausted, and bis head
was beginning to ache. Rose color nc
longer tinted everything, and, though
his moral vision was still beclOuded, be
knew that Lawton ought not to drinl
any more. He did his best 10 persuad,
him Of this, hut to no purpose. JACKIE
faculties we're too babitually dulled by
alcohol to have any keen moral sense
about the subject, aud just now he wa
sufficiently under It's baneful influence
to be utterly foolish.
Frank was at last compelled TO leave
him, and, after a lonely and miserable
evening at his Office, slowly and reluct
antly turned homeward. He dreade'
to meet his mother again. He felt al
though he had no home. Bite
thoughts Of Elinor floated across his dis
turbed brain.
81 am wasting my love; she doesn'
care for me enough to brave my moth
er's anger" he said to himself.
affection never WAS wasted"-th'
words Of the good priest came to mind
but he put them aside and went on:
"She will spend her life working 70
poor wretc4les that don't care for her
: and let me go to destruction. II she cal
- only carry out her absurd ideas Of wha
! is right, she doesn't care how she /
: slandered-never thinks how have {
suffer on her account. II is too muc
s for one man to endure from the tw
b women who, Of all the world, ought {
i make him happy"
1t Thus the young man "chewed the Gu
1t Of bitter fancies" as he approached HI
10 home, feeling more estranged from i
if and more disposed to yield to evil Unfit
ID ences, than ever before in bis life.
a The miserable, sleepless woman wi
re was listening for his footsteps heal
D. them at last with an indefinable drea
ID for they sounded like echoes from a su
lI len, reckless heart.
D. The young man laid his aching hei
u upon bis pillow, feeling that for him,
le well as Hamlet, "the times were out
er joint" aud that he could not 'set the
er right" against the combined wills Of q