Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-06-13

DIVORCED.
"Ho'll go to The dogs, now. y
"Of course he will

"Of course ho will
"By all means. Only see how no
acted when his wife lived with him
Now, that she's left him, and all restraint
removed, he'll 60 tho rest Of the down
ward way in no time. Poor Motto I
wonder she stood it so long p
'Pll give him just year to be
buried"
"Pshawl Half that time will finish
him."
"Well, pity him, too but pity her
more. Ho brought misery on both"
Such was the gossip of half dozen
villagers, who stood in front of the princi-
pal store, one summer evening, while the
subject of their remarks went staggering
along on the opposite side of the street.
1t was evident that he was trying to
walk straight, and not TO appear intoxi.
Gated, but such endeavors always seem to
make such drunken man walk more
crooked. Well, it proved one thing !;
that he was not yet lost to all sense of
shame--that he still retained Il little
pride, and lingering aversion to being
ridiculed and despised
But Harry Rogers had carried on ut
fearful rate for year or two past. He
had just one vice--drink- that was
enough. He had become an actual drunk
ard by degrees, and was every day
| growing moro abandoned. He married
a worthy farmers daughter. Nottic Ray,
only a.fcw years s,,ss=ssicusly, and such
had been his conduct during more than
a year past that she, seeing no hope of
his reform, had been obliged to cast him
loose, to pursue his proaigate course
alone; and legal separation had just
heen effected. 1t was sad, indeed, but
no other course seemed to be left her.
Harry's home was little farm a mile
from town. lie owned it, but then it
was heavily mortgagcd, and in another
year foreclosure was certain It was not
likely his creditors would spare him,
when be made no effort to meet his OBJ
legations, and spout his time in riotous
and disgraceful conduct.
A week passed after that summer
evening on which all had agreed in pre-
dieting his early ruin two weeks--three
weeks-a month or two What strange
mystery is here I To the utter bewilder-
ment of the prophosying sagcs, Harry
discontinued visiting the tavern, and was
rarely ever seen in the village. When
he did come TO the store, he speedily
transacted his business and went home
SOBER
But wonders never cease, when they
get start. He WIS next reported as
actually at work on his farm. Had but
ono man seen this and told it in the vii
lage he would have been marked as
man lacking yeracity; but number Of
neigbbors saw it and told it, and their
combined testimony was worthy Of all
credence.
The little farm began to look healthier,
as the summer wore on. The fences
Strengthened up the weeds disappeared
the corn grew maryelousl y the briars
and elders were rooted up from the
fields and fence-rows; the animals looked
iattcr, slecker and happier; the little
cottage looked neater.
Time wore on, and the great change
was the moro strongly marked each day.
llarry's creditors called and told him
they would not be hard on him, seeing
that he was doing bis best, and he might
have his own time about paying bis debts
and clearing his farm Of tue mortgage.
The fall came, and tho farm yielded
an abundance of golden corn and fruit
such crops, indeed, as it had never pro-
duced before, and Harry found himself
beginning TO drift along with a lido Of
prosperity.
And Nettio Ray had begun to live her
young girlllood over again, as it were,
undor her fathers roof; but, somehow,
it was not like tho happy joyous girl
hood Of memory. II was sober and quiet
now, aud Nettic fell into trains Of mus
ing, and every nov and then passed
through her mind certain sad
thought-sho was neither maid nor wife.
She avoided the vicinity Of her late
home, nor had she once seen Harry since
the separation but she had heard Of him
occasionally, and know that he was
changed man. Still, this knowledge
brought her but a melancholy satisfac-
ton. The reform had come too late
too late. There was wide gulf be-
tween them now.
But Quo evening. in the golden Octo-
Der, Notiio found herself rather Obliged
b pass llarrys farm. II lay between her
fathers house and the village, bat she
bad heretofore taken a roundabout raol
~ g0.ag " AID retaining from the VII