The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-09-01
silenced him and set his heart to humping

1
suasively we will not drink the poison
that has driven SO many noble souls to ruin,
and has broken 60 many fond women's
hearts. will throw it out of the window,
and then we will eat as many philopenas as
you please. I've pocket full of almonds,
and you'll find them much nicer than this
Major Dukehart, may take the glass !"
The major let her take it. It seemed to
him that he could not have refused her if his
life depended on it.
She turned to the open window and tossed
out the sparkling wine.
There, now," she said. Oh, how
wish could empty the whole world Of the
curse as L have emptied this glass. Now,
major" linking one white hand in his arm,
and putting the other in her pocket, Pm
ready for the phiopena. See what large al
monds every shell contains double nut"
The major ate the philopena and lost his
heart irretrieyably at one and the same time.
She was so fair, SO sweet SO womanly aud
winning, he had no power and indeed no in
clination, to resist her. And that pretty blue
ribbon on the shoulder of her white dress was
so becoming.
Major Dukehart forgot the club, forgot his
boon companions, forgot his wager forgot
everything but the dove eyes and smiling,
girlish face beside him, and before the even-
ing was over be popped the question"
Miriam, sitting under the trailing vines,
with the moonlight on her fair young face,
/ listened to his ardent words with downcast
eyes and blushing cheeks.
" Yes, l love you," she answered frankly,
when he had finished. am sure that l
shall neveraove any one else half so we'll"
The major leaped to his feet, with cry of
rapture, and would have caught her to his
breast, but she drew back.
!" No, no, she said, you must hear me
out love You as l have said, but can not
consent to become your wife unless you join
my order,v and she touched the blue ribbon
on her shoulder. believe in the temper
ance reform. and intend to labor to promote
it as long as live. A husband and wife, to
be truly happy, must be of one heart and
mind. can not come over to your way, ma
jor, SO IL you really are in earnest you must
come over to mine."
The young man was little startled at this
firm stand on the part of such a yielding,
tender, womanly little creature. He stood ir-
resolute, a hot flush rising in his cheeks.
:" / am not drunkard," he began, stam-
mering and embarrannds g there is no need
of all this"
Perhaps not" said Miriam, her hand
clasping his arm, /" but we want you over on
our side. We want your influence, your help,
the power of your name. When your friends
hear that Major Dukehart has Joined the
good cause of temperance and Christianity
they will be induced to do likewise"
They will laugh at me for fool"
thought Dukebart, and the girls bright eyes
read the thought In his irresolute face.
She came closer to him, so close that her
hair rippled across his shoulder.
" You are soldier and brave man." she
said, her dove eyes flashing. :" Do not fear
the ridicule of those whom you should labor
to save 1t is little thing I ask you to give
up for my sake would sacrifice much more
to please you. Do you really love me Are
wo to walk side by side and hand in hand all
the rest of our lives? Then you must decide
now and for all coming time. Which viii you
give up, the wine cup or the hand of the wo-
man who loves you?o
"rll give up the whole world for you, he
said, hoarsely, and caught her to his heart
She let him hold her thus minute. and
then drew back and disengaged the blue knot
from her shoulder
"May fasten it on your breast ?" she
asked, looking up at him with quivering lips
and tear-illed eyes.
He stopped down and kissed her.
" You have conquered me" he said. Yes
fasten it on
Aud with shining eyes she fastened it on
his breast.
/" Boys. look at Dukehart, will you 2 He
wears the blue badge of the ORDER"
Every man in the club room leaped to his
feet as the major entered with the blue rib.
bon in his button hole.
Dukehart, old fellow, what does 1t mean
Didn't tell you how It would turn out ?
said Miss Tolbert would reform you. You've
lost your wager"
humored fashion, as these EXPLANATIONS,
mingled with uproarious laughter, assailed
him.
g Yes, boys, I've lost my wager" he repli
ed. "Eastmau's words have come true. The
woman love has reformed me. She would
not come over to me, and had to go over to
her. Aud now, comrades" he added, his
fine eyes growing misty with tender feeling,
chow is it to be with us We've spent many
pleasant hour together, but we've como to
a part in the road of life just here. Win you
come along with me, or must we shake hands
and part -
They laughed at him, and be shook hands
with them and went his way.
A month later he made Miriam his wife.
!. A year later found him an eloquent and en-.
ergetic header in the cause of temperance, Will
his old club companions clustering aboat him
And this came about through the influence o.
one brave woman.
If You have a friend who loves you, who