Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-08-22

Ii men will make beasts OF themselves,
that is not my lookout" and he turned
away with complacent air that said
plainly that further words were useless.
So the wine flowed freely that night,
and the fumes were almost maddening
to the senses of Henry Ashton, but he
kept his VOW bravely until the night
was far spent, when he went to the sup
per-room for a glass of water, where a
few Of the guests still remained. AS he
turned out the water, a companion Of
many wild revel called out gaily:
"What, Henry Ashton turned teeto-
taller? And on his wedding-night, too !
Here, let us drink to the health of your
fair bride;" and he held glass of ruby
wine temptingly toward him. But Hen
ry answered resolutely:
"No, thank you. Pray excuse me,
but can drink nothing but water to-
night" and he was turning away when
young and thoughtless woman, fair as
poets dream, said in most bewitch-
ing tone:
"Surely you will not be so ungallant
as to refuse to pledge your brides health
with a lady p
The eyes of the beautiful siren were
upon him, scornful smile wreathed the
lips of his old comrade, and the fumes
of the wine tempted him beyond endur-
ance. He grew desperate. but still he
hesitated the memory of his solemn
VOW was upon him. "It would be un-
gentlemanly to refuse lady," whisper
ed Satan. "You need only to taste the
cup, to prove your gallantry."
He raised the fatal glass to his lips !;
he tasted of its contents. Forgotten
then were love home or pride; forgotten
his lovely bride; forgotten that solemn
VOW made under the silent stars.
1t was not the only wine he tasted
that night; and when Marion Ashton
retired to her bridal couch that night,
it was to pass sleepless hours. for she
knew then, just as we'll as she knew
years after. that the very gall of bitter
ness was to be hers.
A horror of great darkness seemed to
fall upon her Eden of happiness. A
horror of great darkness loomed threat
eningly in the future. Oh, the agony
of that hour She neither moaned or
wept, but dumb, terrible despair, more
touching than any words, seemed to set
tie upon her.
Five years have passed away since
the opening of our little sketch, and
with every year Henry Ashton drank
deeper and deeper. Every year they
sank lower and lower in the social scale.
He had now become that most pitiful of
all objects, confirmed drunkard. They
had long since moved from their prince
ly home, and occupied plain but re-
spectacle house in the suburbs of the
city. 1t is now nearly three o'clock in
the morning. Restlessly Marion Ashton
PAGES the floor, with her only child, a
lovely boy of two years, pressed closely
to her breast, trying to hush its pitiful
cries of distress, for he is very i'll. Oh,
how eagerly she listens for the returning
footsteps of her husband How fervent-
ly she prays that he may return sober,
for she well knows that unless medical
aid is soon obtained her little one must
die. 1t seems almost impossible that
this weary, haggard-looking woman can
be the same who. only five years before,
stood at the altar in all her fresh, girl
ish beauty. Wearily pass the long.
lonely hours of the dreadful night. 1t
is nearly dawn when she hears his ap-
preaching footsteps. Eagerly she lis
tens-what despair seizes her when she
hears him reel in drunken haste against
the door.
ooh, God be merciful," she cries.
He enters. "What are you up for,
at this time of night? How often must
/ tell you not to burn out wood and
lights, waiting for me p he said harshly.
"Charlle is very sick, Henry, and you
must go after DR.. Temple as soon as you
can, or fear it will be too late"
sNonsense. You humor the brat too
much take him along to bed with you,
that is the best place for him.
Marion looked with loathing at the
debased being before her. Would it be
of any use to appeal to him again? She
felt that it was useless. Still, for hel
child's sake, she tried to awaken his hu.
manity. Vain effort He was crazed
with the demon alcohol, and was moi
sensible of human feelings.
"Here, give him to me, said the now
infuriated demon. .:l'll soon stop hi:
whimpering;;' and he attempted to seize
the little sufferer, but Marion clasped
him more closely to her breast, crying:
"No, no. For the love of Heaven le
me keep my child"
"Well, take that, then - and in {
drunken frenzy he raised his hand ant
struck the frail woman blow that sen
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