St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-07-30
The Man-Trap at Ashdale.

ened the dOOr-sOme one entered-but
Mrs. Pratt did not look up nor pause in
her work. The sun had gone down,
and twilight was gathering dimly.
Mrs. Pratt leaned closer to the window
that she might catch the fading rays,
and little while longer continue her
work.
"Sarah ~
"Well?"
Mrs. Pratt did not turn nor look to-
ward the speaker. Her voice was a
low, sad murmur.
"Sarah ~
The hand of the speaker now rested
lightly on her shoulder.
With a quick movement and with
some surprise in her manner, Mrs. Pratt
turned herself from the window.
nOh Edward !"
81 voice chOked and her eyes filled
Sarah !" and Mr.. Pratt seated him
self beside his wife, placing his hand
gently on hers as he did so, and looking
earnestly and tenderly in her face
''Sarah, | have little good news for
you, if good news can come in Just such
"a shape. Old Killigrew is dead.n
dead 7"
Light and shadow were blended on
the face of Mrs. Pratt. Death is an
awful thing, come in almost any shape
it will, and in the case of a man like
Killigrew it was awful in the extreme.
Yet the intelligence caused throb OF
pleasure in the heart of Mrs. Pratt.
Eyes; he fell dead about two hours
ago, while standing behind his bar. He
died with the toddy stick in his hand
and glass of whiskey before him. ]
wouldn't like to go into eternity with
all the sins against humanity that lie
on his conscience. The very thought
makes me shiver."
And Mr.. Pratt shuddered as he
spoke.
sis the tavern to be closed 2" asked
Mrs. Pratt, hope and anxiety blending
in her voice.
81 saw Parker, old Killigrew's son-in-
law, as l came along, and lie told me
that not another drop of liquor should
be sold there while he lived He means
to farm the place himself. It's first
rate land, though neglected and run
down.
"Will he keep his word 2"
"Parker? Yes, indeed. If he says a
thing yOu may depend on his doing it.
He has always been opposed to the old
mans keeping bar"
''And what a curse to Ashdale that
bar has been oh, Edward !"
No wonder Mrs. Pratt was overcome
by her feelings; no wonder she said
that bar had been a curse. Ten years
before, as she stood beside her young
husband, she had the proudest happi-
est heart in AShdale. Since then, alas
none were so humble and grief-strick-
ell for in that bar her loved and hon
ored husband had trailed his manhood
In the dust of debasing sensuality.
Than Edward Pratt, kinder heart
ed man could not be found. But he
had neither decided will nor strength
of purpose. The current in which his
life boat happened to be, usually bore
him inn1. o1d nunn when conscious
that 1t was gliding towards IL dangerous
sea, he opposed to it a slight resist
ance.
Very soon after their marriage Mrs.
Pratt discovered in her husband a fond
ness for stimulating drink. Her prompt,
yet gentle and loving rebuke accom-
plished all she had hoped to gain-the
dangerous tempter was banished from
the house. All would have been we'll
from that time forth had not the tavern
of old Killigrew, the only one in Ash
dale, stood directly on the way along
which Mr.. Pratt daily went to the store
where he was employed as a clerk.
Often when returning home he would
be IN company with young men who
never passed Killigrew's without a
word with the cOmpanionable landlord
and taste of his we'll mixed liquor.
1t was not in the amiable and compli-
ant MIR. Pratt to say no ON these occa-
siOns.
Soon his wife became aware of the
temptation that was in his way, and of
his almost daily yielding to its entice-
ments. She talked with him soberly,
yet gently and lovingly as before. Her
words aroused no mpatience-no an
ger-nO stubbornness, no self will. He
loved her too well to pain her with
even frown.
"rll not darken old Killigrew's door
again if it troubles you, Sarah. don't
care for his liquor. As you say, it does
me no good"
81 shall be so happy !" sobbed Mrs.
Pratt, leaning her fearful face on the
breast of her husband. "There is moth
ing else in life to trouble me-"
On the next morning as Mr. Pratt
was passing the tavern, old Killigrew-
who if not behind the bar mixing up his
compounds, was sure to be at
his door watching for his customers
called OUT
"Hey! Neddy, my boy what's your
particular hurry ""
"Tm little late," replied the young
man, evasively, keeping on his way.
'Stop, stOp!" cried the landlord,
=" Here! Why my dear fellow, one
would think you had the business of
the world on your shoulders. A man
should never be in too great Il hurry to
speak a word with an old friend. What
has become of Philip? | haven't set my
eyes on him for a week."
1.-The truth Is," said Pratt, who now
paused, sit is the opinion of his friends
that he has been coming here little
too often"
''POoh! Nonsense Too often l |
never saw him when thought he had
been drinking too much. 1t is ridicu-
lous. And he's silly enough to mind
them Well, well, if he thinks he's in
danger he'd better stay away. He must
have weak head.n
hlllIgrew spoke contemptuously.
Pratt felt the landlords sneering man
1er almost as much as if it had been
applied to himself. 1t cost him no light
effort to say good morning, and pass on
taking drink at the bar.
81 wish this old man-trap was on the
1ther side of Jericho !" he murmured
rs soon as be was fairly beyond the
sphere of its dangerous attractions, cor
hat | didn't have TO mass If three or