Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-10-27
A NICE LITTLE GAME.

NICE LITTLE GAME.
Frank sat before the glowing CRATE,
his feet on one corner of the mantel,
his chair tipped back. His young wife
looked at him, and her pretty black
eyes, which only minute before had
been brimful of tears, emmited sparks OF
fire. Her rosy mouth closed with a firm
expression, and her dainty foot came
down upon the rug in a very decided
manner
"I won't stand it," she said, under
her breath; 81 can't-'twill kill me to
see him night after night besotted, de-
graded, running both soul and body. L
must do something-I must save HIM,
for my baby's sakel'
Then she sat down and meditated.
They had been married little over two
years, and the babe in the wicker cradle
was thriving boy. No happier woman
than Dolly the world held, but for one
thing. Her young husband would drink.
He loved his social glass, his wine sup
pers and club dinners. He did not neg
lect his wife, but often he came home in
| the small hours III rather an unsteady
condition. Dolly tried everything
tears, entreaties, persuasions-but he
only laughed her off.
"Where's the harm, Dolly ?" Can't
fellow be merry now and then with
his friends?"
But Dolly saw the fatal evil growing
upon him day by day, and knew what
the end would be. She shuddered, and
her eyes filled with tears. but the
minute after they flashed fire, and she
smiled.
'Tn try it," she said to herself; 'if it
does no good, it can't do much harm. i"
Then she said, Frank"
Her husband reused up, and, open
ing his eyes with an imbecile stare, re-
piled:
"AIl right, Dolly"
Frank, you believe that wife
should follow in her husbands's foot
steps, don't you?"
''To be sure. You're a sensible
woman, Dolly"
"And you're sensible man, Frank.
What's right for you to do is right for
me, isn't it?"
Precisely! Just so, DOlly-exactly.
You're wise woman, you are"
Dolly smiled quietly.
every WE'LL, Frank; if you go to the
tavern any more nights, I'm going, tooP
Her husband looked up half sobered.
Nonsense, Dolly! he said; "that is
running the thing into the ground. You
| will do no such thing"
you'll see that / will, Frank" she
answered. resolutelv. 'I love you. and
what you do shall do tool If you see
fit to ruin yourself, soul and body, and
shame your son, 1 shall follow your ex-
ample. 1 care for nothing that you can
not share. AS you do, so will I. y
His cheek paled and his lip quivered.
He sat silent for a minute, then got up
and said:
Nonsense, little girl! Come to bed,
Dolly"
She followed him obediently, and no
more was said on the subject. For three
or four nights Frank came home pune
tually, then his old habit mastered him.
Dolly had his supper all waiting, and
his slippers and dressing-gown before
the fire, but he did not come. She
waited patiently till 10o'clock, then put
ting wrap about her, she called the
housemaid.
''Sit by baby's crib, Mary, when Mr..
Mayfairs comes, tell him have gone to
the Reindeer. Askno questions, and take
good care of baby, and you shall have a
dollar extra this month.
every well, ma'am, with wondering
looks.
Twelve o'clock-one!-and then the
Young husband let himself in with his
night key, and came reeling into the
sitting room. There sat the maid beside
the sleeping child.
Frank looked about him little anx-
iously.
"Fast asleep! Fine little fellow!' he
said, bending over the crib. MARY,
my girl, where's your mistress-gone to
bedP"
mo sir; she's gone to the Reindeer
hotel"
He stood and stared.
"What do you say, girl?"
"She went out at ten, sir, and bade
me tell you when you came that she had
gone to the Reindeer"
The young husband stifed something
like an oath, and sat down before the
hearth. Half an hour went by, then
he started up aud glanced at the clock.
"Great heavens! 1t is nearly two and
she's not here -
] He seized his hat and rushed from the