Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17
SAVED, YET lost.
ny ELLA WHEELER.
Chimney Corner.

MOuDieu eyes, Anu Sct WIG lcVlci siHh
ply announced proposed visit from
her mother.
From an adjoining room came the
sound Of heavy breathing--though it
was almost noon. Agnes listened, and,
rising, walked to the door of the room,
and looked IN upon its occupant.
A handsome man Of thirty lay
stretched upon couch in that deep
unconscious slumber that follows u
nights dissipation. Agnes pressed her
hands upon her breast in IN agony of
despair, and the tears rolled slowly
down her cheeks as she looked upon
her unconscious husband.
Then she went back and sat down
before the fire again
ooh, Oscar, Oscar" she moaned,
chow can / bear it2 How can ! have
my mother witness your disgrace and
my despair again.
Three years previous Agnes Holland
had married Oscar Monroe against the
wishes Of her parents. He WAS hand
some, brilliant, rich. but 80 addicted to
his cups that life Of misery was pre-
dcted for his wife.
Bu, Agnes married him, and for II
year he never drank drop OF liquor.
Then, during visit from his wife's
mother, and while left to his own de-
vices, he fell again, and for three
months Agnes suffered all the torturos
of the--drunkard's wife Why sock
for worse smiloY
Again he became master Of himself,
and promised ~ only reformed mon
cvn promise, and for almost another
year had kept true to his vows.
Now, for nearly two weeks he had
been drinking again, and three times
had returned home in II state OF lntoX-
iGation requiring nearly all the follow
ing day to recover from it, And upon
the forenoon Of the third day Agnes
Ind received the sudden announce
mont of her mothers intended visit tho
following week
''lIow cnn have her witness tho
mlGllment Of hor predictions" she
cried. "IIow can have her again SEQ
my unavniling tears and sorrow? What
shall doY
Suddenly thought seemed TO strike
her.
1T will do no harm to try" shc
said, aloud; and, rising, went to her
ebony writing-dcsk and wrote and
scaled note, and rang for II servant to
post it,.
The note rend ns follows;
"My DAaiiNU lIElGN i am ia terrible
trouble trouble that can share with no mortal
IN earth but Yourself you nlonc can help me
Come to me by the next train II possible, md
come to remain Ill summer More than life mud
1onth depends upon your compliance with my
request AGNrs MoSRor.'
Helen Tyler had been the one init
mate friend of Agnes Monroe's girl
hood They had been insepnrabl,
friends until n few months before
Agnes met Oscar Monroe, when Helen
had gone to Europe for prolonged
stay. She had been in America lcsS
than six months when she received
Agnes's letter
"Strange she said, rs she read il
over, feeling the intensity Of tn,
writer's mood, MS we always do
strange thut | have thought of Agnes
so much today, and had almost de-
odcd to write and tell her was coming
to visit her, Yes, will go, and N
once.
She telcgmphcd her reply, and thu
night the train bore her to her friend
from whom she had been separated fo
more than three years,
1t was three o'clock before Usca
Monroe awoke from his lethargi,
Il, IL Al l..
haggard, to partnko Of the dainty luncl
Agnes had prepared for him.
He found his wife fair and smiling
sitting beside the tea urn.
II have such nice news for you
dear" sho said +" Mother is coming
to visit us next week, ami cXpce
Helen Tyler perhaps this week. Iol
have heard mo talk 80 much abou
Helen, YOU will be quite like ol,
friends, for have written her reams
paper full of you. She is II magniti
cent girl, Oscar, and | want you TO Ell
terrain her to the very bcst Of YOU
ability. Mother will stay scvca
weeks, no doubt, and of course | vii
give my time to her. Helen will b,
len on your hands almost entirely til
mother finishes her visit, You vii
lind il mn easy task to entertain hers.
she is enc Of those people who enter
tnin their entertainers; and now, Will
three years of foreign travel TO tall
about, fancy you will be delighte,
vi Ii her
Agnes ratified on about hor mothe,
and her friend in the most oareles
and delighted manner, with no slight
est evidence in face or voice that
cloud was her heart and home.
By-andby Oscar rose and left her I,
80 down town to his office. He DIRE,
her to him and kissed her tenderly be
fere he went out, but lie did not spcal
one word, or make amy promise.
No sooner had he gone than Ague
dropped down in heap upon the floor
and broke into passion of tears.
God grant that she may comet
she cried ''and heaven give M
strength"
Oscar came home % dinner 1T seyel