St. Landry democrat., 1880-08-07

rest mySel1. I've got so mucn TO JenC
to, Sophrony, can't stop to listen any
longer interrupted Mrs. Marbrook.
''But there is such telling para
graph, mother, just little way along
about there being only few steps for
the drinking man from mansion to the
GUTTER
Eyes, know but I can't stay to
hear it. I'll hear it all tomorrow nj gh1
perhaps"
"Why perhaps, mother?'
because l feel sure you'll break
down. Sophrony. And Mrs. Hodges
told me this morning that about all
Bennings was going to Newbury tc
hear you"
Eyes said Sophronia with height
ened color, "and l have induced
Joe Boone to promise to attend, though
of course will have to pay his car fare.
1t is my earnest wish to make hiIa a
better man for the sake of his wife and
children.
Poor little girl! She had really a sin
cere wish to do good, and no desire for
personal aggrandizement, save as it
would aid "the cause" Her heart
fiuttered sometimes with a nervous
dread when she thought of facing a
large audience, for she was naturally
very shy, but she would not allow her.
self to contemplate failure for an in
! slant.
The important night arrived, and the
town hall was full to overhowing. Never
before had the Newbury Sons of Tenn
perance been able to rejoice in such full
benches, and the president smiled in
the satisfaction he felt at having Sc
cured such an attraction as the young
lady from Bennings.
When Sophronia entered the hall with
her mother she was pushed back by the
eager crowd, and tripping ON a loose
fold of drugget, would have fallen had
not young man standing in the door
way started forward and caught her in
his arms.
He was young, well-dressed and very
handsome, but his face was haggard
from late hours and bore the marks of
dissipation, and Sophronia recoiled as
on his breath she detected the scent of
wine.
A ripple went through the audience
as the young girl made her way up the
middle aisle to the platform, and the
people from Benning, among whom Joe
Boone had a conspicuous seat, began to
whisper about the ragged school and
the Protective Association.
Sophronia turned pale as she gazed
on the sea of faces before her, and
caught the whisper Of sharp faced
woman from her native town. Some
thing seemed to rise in her throat and
choke her, but as the president intro
duced her amid a storm of applause,
which only added to her embarrassment
she made a desperate effort, and in a
faint, faraway voice began:
''My friends, l have come to speak
to you this evening, hoping to impress
upon you the terrible necessity existing
for active movement in the temperance
cause. We cannot be blind to the death
and destruction which rum is causing
in our fair country, and--and-
A mist seemed to come before the
young lecturers eyes, q ringing in her
ears, her brain whirled and she
stopped short in her speech
The president stepped forward to
hand her her notes, but she waved him
back and made desperate effort to pro-
coed. But in vain. She had not the
courage to 90 on and had forgotten
what she was to say. The people from
Bennings laughed out loud and poor
Sophronia, staggering back to seat,
burst in tears. The audience was sober
ed instantly and there were many
hearts which were profoundly touched,
many eyes which were sympathetically
wet. But Sophronia did not know this,
for her mother put her arm about her
and led her from the hall, when, for
the first time in her life, the young girl
tainted.
Mrs. Marbrook would not have known
what to do in this emergency had not
assistance been close at hand. The
young man who had saved Sophronia
from falling when she tripped on the
drugget and who had been an interest
ed observer of her sad failure, had fol-
lowed her out and now eagerly offered
his help in conveying her to hotel,
which was fortunately near by.
Mrs. Marbrook was only too glad to
have aid from any source whatever,
and was profuse in her thanks to the
young fellow when at last poor So
phronia was safely deposited on the sofa
of the hotel parlor.
Poor little lecturer! when she recov-
cred from her fainting attack and real
lied her complete failure, she sobbed as
if her heart would break, unheeding
the presence of the stranger, who lis
tened with compassionate face to her
laments.
g 0 mother! l shall never, never hold |
up my head again! | did not think it
would be SO hard to stand before an au-
dience; but I was fairly sick with fright
and the words of my lecture went right |
out Of my mind. And of course I have
done more harm than good. 0 dear, 1
said if could save the soul of single
man from ruin through drink I would
think had not lived in vain; but now
there is no chance of my doing even
that much; for [ shall never try to lee
ture again. and her tears fell faster
than ever.
Miss Marbrook," said the young
man, suddenly coming forward, and
taking her hands, "you have done that
much. Your noble effort, even though
uncrowned with success, your tears,
have done more for me than the coun-
sci of dear father, or the advice of
friends. pledge you my word that l