The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-12-23
SAVED, YET LOST.
BY ELLA WHEELER.


| From an adjoining room came tne
sound of heavy neutrality-suspicious. 1t
was almost noon. Agnes listened, and,
rising, walked to the door of the room,
and looked in upon its occupant.
\ handsome man of thirty lay
stretched upon a couch in that deep.
unconscious slumber that follows a
nights dissipation. Agnes pressed her
hands upon her breast in an 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.
oh, Oscar, Oscar she moaned,
'.how can l bear it? 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 SO addicted to
his cups that a life Of misery was pre-
dicted for his wife.
But Agnes married him, and for a
year ne never drank a drop of liquor.
Then, during q; 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 tortures
of the-drunkard's wife. Why seek
for worse smile?
Again he became master OF himself,
and promised as only reformed men
can 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 a state OF lntox-
lcatlon requiring nearly all the follow,
ing day to recover from it. And upon
the forenoon of the third day Agnes
had received the sudden announce
ment Of her mothers intended visit the
following week
How can l have her witness the
fulfllment of her predictions? she
cried. How can have her again see
my unavailing tears and sorrow? What
shall l do?"
Suddenly a thought seemed to strike
her.
1T will do no harm to try" she
said, aloud; and, rising, went to her
ebony writing-desk and wrote and
sealed note, and rang for a servant to
post it.
The note read as follows:
Ny DARING HELES-I in terrible
trouble-trouble that can share with no mortal
on earth but yourself; you alone help me.
tome TO me by the next train, If possible, and
come to remain ali summer. More than life and
death depends upon your compliance with my
request AGNES Monroe
Helen Tyler had been the one init
mate friend Of Agnes Monroe's girl
hood. They had been inseparable
1 friends until a few months before
Agnes met Oscar Monroe, when Helen
had gone TO Europe for 4 prolonged
stay She had been in America less
than six months when she received
Agnes's letter.
Strange" she said, as she read it
over, feeling the intensity OF the
writer's mood. as We always do
strange that | have thought Of Agnes
so much to-day, and had almost de-
cided to write and tell her I was coming
to visit her, Yes, I will go. and At
once
She telegraphed her reply, and that
night the train bore her to her friend
from whom she had been separated for
more than three years.
1t was three o'clock before Oscar
Monroe awoke from his lethargic
slumber, and came out, pale and
haggard, to partake of the dainty lunch
Agnes had prepared for him.
He found his wife fair and smiling
sitting beside the tea urn.
4 have such nice news for you
DEAR" she said. g Mother is coming
to visit us next week, and l expect
Helen Tyler perhaps this week. You
have heard me talk so much about
Helen, you will be quite like old
friends, for l have written her reams q
paper full of you. She is magnii,
cent girl, Oscar, and I want you to en-,
terrain her to the very best of youl
ability. Mother will stay severa
weeks, 10 doubt, and Of course | vii
give my time to her. Helen will be
left on your hands almost entirely til
mother finishes her visit. You vii
find it an easy task to entertain her
she is enc of those people who enter
tain their entertainers; and now, with
three years of foreign travel to talk
about, | fancy you will be delighted
wi her
Agnes ratified on about her mother
and her friend in the most careles:
and delighted manner, with no slight
est evidence in face or voice that a
cloud was her heart and home.
By-and-by Oscar rose and left her tC
go down town to his office. He drew
her to him and kissed her tenderly be
fere he went out, but he did not speak
one word, or make any promise.
No sooner had he gone than Agne:
dropped down in heap upon the floor
and broke into passion of tears.
God grant that she may come
she cried land heaven give me
strength
Oscar came home to dinner at sever
that evening, and did not go out again
Agnes slept her peaceful sleep fol
many weeks that night.
The next day she received Helen:
telegram.
Helen starts to night" she said, t.
her husband as he took his hat to &C
out. ''She will arrive here tomorrow
noon. Be sure you are at the depot te
meet her, Oscar"
Oscar was at home and asleep at ter
o'clock that night. And he met Mis-:
Tyler the next noon with clear head
and a breath free from the fumes o
liquor
II have seen few finer looking mer
iii ali my travels than my friends hus
band" thought Miss Tyler, as he gave
her greeting.
''What a sunerb womann' was Oscar
Monroe's mental comment. as he look
ed on his wife's friend.
!, The two women met with kisses and
fond embraces. Agnes was flushed
and radiant with JOY and excitement
and seemed to Helen the same fair
joyous girl she had parted with. But
after dinner that night, when Oscar had
gone out, and the two women set alone
Helen saw the trouble in her friends
face, and the worn look creep about
the mouth and eyes.
"What is it all about DEAR she
asked, tenderly.