Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-16
Wrecked.

Wrecked.
"You are running a fearful risk,
Ruth"
Mrs. Darrell sighed as she said it,
and looked at the girl standing at the
window, with troubled expression in
her eyes.
But love him, mother"
That was all Ruth answered just then,
and soft color, like that in the heart
OF the roses by the gate, crept into her
cheeks, and made her eyes tender with
emotion.
"Yes, 1 suppose you do, her mother
said. by and by. But have you
thought it all over, Ruth? Archie
Cavert is too apt to get the worst for
liquor to be trusted with a woman's
happiness. He is not strong enough
to stand alone, Ruth. He is easily led
away. and before you take the step you
are thinking of, be sure of your own
heart, and be careful"
81 know what you say is true,
mother Ruth answered, with a little
shadow on her face. IL have thought
it all over. Because he cannot stand
alone, he needs me. He loves me, and
I hope to keep him from giving way to
the influence of bad companions. A
wife's love ought to be more powerful
than the influence OF such men as these
he is thrown in contact with now. He
has promised to let liquor alone, and i
am sure he means to keep his word"
Yes, he may mean to, Ruth" her
mother said, "but-he is too weak,
too easily Influenced to always do what
he means to now. A wife's influence
is powerful, and the appetite man
forms for liquor is powerful, too. II
you could be always with him it would
be different, but when he is among old
friends, the temptation to drink will be
irresistible. / have seen more of the
world than you have, Ruth, and have
found that when man forms the habit
that Archie Cavert has, and it has be-
come so firmly fixed upon him that it
has become almost q second nature, not
one time in ten does he break it off
after marriage. Woman's love is strong
and powerful, but the habit is stronger.
And when q man is weak as Archie is
oh Ruth, Ruth It seems to me you
are wild to think OF marrying him,
but you must do what you think
best"
She loved him Whenever she
thought it over, it always shaped itself
into those three words. And, hoping
much, and trusting him with the faith
born of love that only q woman can
know she married Archie Cavert.
g drank lny last glass with the boys
to-day" he said, the day they moved
into the pretty new house he had built.
"I hope I shall never touch it again,
for your sake, Ruthie."
And for your own sake" she said,
earnestly, and kissed him, with prayer
at heart that the promise he had given
would never be broken.
Six months went by, and happy
months they we're to Ruth and Archie.
All that time be had kept his promise.
BE had avoided his old friends, and
Rnth's winsome face had kept him at
her side through the,pleasant evenings,
and her love had strengthened him.
he began to feel strong. He had felt
how weak he was before. But he
argued with himself, if he could let
liquor alone for six months, he couldn't
be 30 very weak after all.
One night there was public meet
ing at the village. Ruth urged him to
stay at home with her. But he went,
and she sat by the. window, looking
down the road, and waiting for his
coming home, while the hours went by.
Ten and eleven struck, aud her heart
was full of nameless forebodings. Why
did he stay so late? She put shawl
about her and went out to the gate to
watch and listen.
1t was midnight before he came. And
when she SAT- him coming mp the hill
she knew that he was drunk.
She helped him into the house with.
out a word of anger or reproach. She
got him to bed at last, and sat beside
him while he slept his Eeavy drunken
sleep. 81
He awoke at morning to find her sit
ting there, pale with her nights watch.
ing, with grieved, reproachfu1 ex.
preston in her eyes. He expected hot
and bitter words, but he was disap.
pointed in his expectation. as-
Ruthie," he said, by and By after
he had waited for her to say something
about what had happened. Ruthie,
I'm sorry. but I didn't mean to-"
Then she burst into tears, and threw
her arms about his neck; and lying on
his bosom she sobbed ont much of the
depressed trouble the night had held
for her. H.. se f7ttl ~
"I'll keep away from the boys after
this" he told her. They urged me
TO take drink with 'em, and I thought
I could stand one glass we'll enough,
and didnt mean to take MORE. But I
wasn't strong enough to stop when