The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-01-31

that told tho story of deep drink,

| For hor own part, the pleasure
she had anticipated proved far
greater in imagination than in fact
Il was not pleasant, when her
friends came to spend an evening
to have them comment pityingly
upon the fact that they never saw
Mr.. Gordon. 1t became annoying
to depend upon other escorts than
her husband when she wanted to
go out, and sho was thrown into
companionship with boarders that
was fur from pleasant.
Although the housekeeping had
been somewhat exLravagant, there
were but three to provide for, and
after .ix months Harry found his
balance at the bank was smaller
than it had been before since ho
was married. Becfsteak, did not
cost as much US cards, and his
pretty knick-knacks did not involve
so great an outlay as Lulu's dress
was costing 10 keep pace with the
others in tho house. \ dinner
party 10 few friends waa given al
less expense, than the treating
for one evening at the billiard.
rooms or bar-rooms,and Lulu could
but acknowledge there was certain
| " no saving, SO far.
Her own neat chintz or gingham
dress, that was 30 suitable for Il
morning in her little, quiet home,
looked cheap and common beside
the elaborate Cambrics and frillcd
pcrcalcs of til. other ladies, and
her best dresses were soon worn out
BY the constant shopping and vis-
iting, undertaken to pass the time
Too late the young wife realized
that her husband was yielding to
temptations that had not prcscntad
themselves to him in the first years
of their married life, and regretted
the stop she had taken: :.
You were right, Aunt Lucy,
she sobbcd ono morning, when
Mrs. Henderson was in her room;
"Hurry seldom comes home per-
feclly sober, and he is unkind TO
me, az ha never was before. When
| reproach him, he tells me it is
all my fault; that he never was
drunk when ho had home to come
to-
"Can not you go back?"
"No. Father says he cannot af-
ford to furnish house for me
again, and certainly Harry can
not. Indcsd he would not, for he
is still sore about the contemplate
prics the goods brought at auction.
oh, Aunt Lucy, what can I dO?"
"You must try 10 coax Harry 10
,tay more with you. And, Lulu,
YOU might soon save money for III
expensive furniture. If Harry saw
YOU wore in earne,t, he would soon
feel the old interest again"
But thu advice was never 10 be
followed. Just after Christmas
festivities were over Harry Gordon
WAS seized with delirious fever.
brought on by the sudden change
in all his habits. lie had u dis
gust for boarding house cooking,
sven of the hest, and had neglected
regular meals to satisfy his appo-
tite with late suppers on stimulant5.
The fever finding q weakened sys-
tenn, was very violent, and Lulu
found every hour taxed with nurs-
ing duty. Aunt Lucy camc at
once to the assistance Of the young
people who filed the warmcst place
in her kind heart, sharing Lulu s
watching and care, Eer fears and
hopes. She could not share the
agony Of self.reproach with which
Lulu heard the doctors opinion Of
the cause of lTarrv's illness, but
only sooths it as far as possible.
Six weeks Of alternate hope and
despair. OF wild delirium or stupor,
followed the first anxious hours
and then, without knowing his
danger, ignorant of Lulu's agony,
of Aunt lucy's tears, Harry Cor
don passed from life TO eternity.
Just Il Year ago this May day up
OH which | write, attended the
auction where poor Harry Gordon's 5
household goods We're ruthlGssly
scattered, and saw the house closed
after the Young couple took final
leave of the bare walls. Only to-
day | saw tho pale, rsnorsefil lit
tic widow making her pilgrimage
10 Greenwood to plant flowers up.
on the graves Of her husband and
child.
"But for my selfish persistence
shc told inc, weeping bitterly, ~
might to-day have happy home,
loving husband, instead Of weeping
Il widows tears over the graves
here"
And while I spoke words ofcom'
fort, knew that the self.rcproacl
was bitterly truthful. Her punish
msnt was sudden and ovcrwhelm
ing, hut the danger Turks more ol
less wherever the liome-love is de
slroycd, tho home interest weak
enrd. No matter how poor tht
house. how mean the surroundings