Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-07-03

Il AiC
kindly, and shaking his head.
Perhaps was brief reply, as
with shaking hand, he turned
over the papers, and handed him
the required packet.
s'Going Just as his father did,
the man muttered, as he left the
Office. strange how these things
run in families; and there's no use
in talking TO them. Blood will
have its way sa
That's the second case I've
lost, = said Edwin, as he watched
the man walk hurriedly down the
long street. "Well / don't care
much IL i never do win; all want
now is forgetfulness; and he
sprang TO his feet, opened cup
board, lifted a bottle and drank
directly from it. Then his eye
frightened, he dashed in among
his papers, tied and sealed here,
and wrote rapidly there, till the
force of the wretched liquor was
spent. Then he took up his hat
to find an eating house for DOW
he slept in his Office, and dined
where he could.
II saw Edwin Holbrook to-
day" said Aunt Jennie, over
whose plain-speaking tongue even
the rigid laws of fashionable ETH
quette had no control. They were
all dining at Mrs. Boyd's princely
table.
"What a rascal he has become"
said the latter, with disgusted
air. lin really ashamed that /
ever allowed him to come to the
house" .84 ...,.
Ibid you ever call at his office ?"
asked Mrs. Boyd, with what she
considered the proper amount of
lady-like sarcasm.
mo, indeed! There is the
place where he isn't often to be
found. He was in the grasp of
two policemen. You can't tell
how it shocked me-he, with his
sensitive. high-bred face, and still
handsome figure, in such a posi-
ton ~ 81 III t.,..,.. ,ses +.
81 suppose you spoke to him, =
said Mrs. Boyd.
He had sense enough not to al
low that, by feigning not to know
me-" was the reply; "but if ever
my heart ached it did then. Even
in his degradation, he looked SO
like his beautiful mother 7"
Attic first mention of his name,
Eta had crimsoned. Now she
idled with her fork, and the color
had gone out of her cheeks.
1--WE often heard him deprecate
the use OF intoxicants." said pere
Boyd, who like most wealthy
merchants, knew but little of the
outgoings and incomings of his
own family; "but, like father, like
son. What can you expect ?"
AZ expected great deal from
Edwin Holbrook," said Aunt
Jennie, her voice trembling.
why don't you try to save
him p t,.s-
"I did once" was the significant
reply. "I'm afraid there's no help
for him now" sle
Eta left the table; she often did
before the rest, but not with that
deadly pallor. Nobody noticed it,
however, but Aunt Jennie. 1t
was we'll that some remnant of
conscience remained. She had
long ago sent back all his presents
and his name was never meutiOn-
ed, but now Aunt Jennie's awful
words required to her--"the ruin
of a human soul.
II was only the next day that
Aunt Jennie uttered a panied ex-
clamation over the morning paper.
Then she put the journal in Etta's
hands, pointing to one brief para
graph: 9t'
g"Last night one of our most
promising young citizens was car
ried to the - Insane Hospital a
raving mailman. The strange
relapse OF this young man. his
downward career for the last two
years is now probably explained.
1t is said by those who understand
the case that he Is iDcurable. All
who knew Edwin Holbrook will
be grieved TO learn Of his sad
fate" 'Asl'''S ~a ls& et
All who knew! and there was
one who knew that but for heart
less couuetry and trifiing, the ten
dency in bis nature to a down
ward course might have been
averted. .,o~....,..,