South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-05-13

perhaps III You nau become my wife IL
would have saved me-
AS sat in the shadow ut the far.
Their end of the room the truth began
to dawn upon my mind. Merwin
paused, and then Lillian's grave, sweet
tones stirred the silence.
NO, Merwin; If to WIN me you
could not resist temptation, had be-
come your wife it would still have
been the same. But you may reeov-
er, and l know that if you pray TO
God, He will give you strength, and
yours will not be wasted life after
ALL
NO. he said, its too late. do
not blind myself know that am
dying. For the sake OF the days when
my life and lips were rs pure as your
own, kiss me-once-twicc-it is my
last request
She stopped and kissed him, then
with an uncomfortable burst OF sobs
she left the room.
When she had gone, in few pa
thetic words, my cousin told me the
sad story of Il life blighted with the
curse of intemperance.
He had begun by indulging once in
awhile, and the taste bad rapidly
grown upon him. Soon after their
engagement, reports of his intemper-
ancc had come to Lillian but rcfus-
ing to believe them she had gone to
him. 1t had been an easy thing,
through her entire confidence in his
truth, to deceive her, and assure her
that the rumors were only the fabri-
cation of some enemy. But the time
came when one evening, not master
Of himself or conscious OF what he was
doing, he had entered her presence
flushed with wine. What had passed
he had not remembered, but the fol-
lowing day Lillian had broken their
engagement. Then for while lie
did abstain, and once more he plead
cd with the girl he loved (and whose
love for linn, though 1t had received
a rude shock, still struggled in her
heart to forgive and forget what had
passed, binding himself by solemn
promise never to drink again. That
promise he broke, in an unguarded
moment and enticed by so-called
friends. Then finding by his fatal
weakness he had forever lost all hope
Of Lillian's becoming his wife, he had
sunk from worse to worse, till at length
the incurable illness from which he
was dying brought OH by his dissipa-
ted habits, had seized him.
Harold the poor fellow exclaimed,
as he finished, If ever you marry and
have son, when he is old enough
tell him my story. 1t will be n warn.
ing to HIM. Tell him if he values
his lfe's happiness, his peace upon
earth, and his hopes Of future saliva
ton, to beware of Satan's deadliest
agent the wine cup!'
A few days after my poor cousin
died. I was obliged to 90 abroad
again upon urgent business immedi.
ateiy after the funeral, and it was q
year before Isaw Lillian again. Then
| sought her, and, confessing how l
had misjudged her, asked her if she
could pardon and once more consid-
- NV -" - ~ n lliIii HUSH tiIi8ctl
her sweet face as she replied. The
Hush gave me courage, ami I used
my privilege of friendship SO well that
when another year had passed, and |
laid my heart at her dear feet, il was
not rejected
Thus l Won my precious wife.
Poor Merwin's dying words often
recur to nay mind, and whenever l
see youth taking the first careless
step on the road to ruin, cannot re-
FRAN from saying to him in tones
whose earnest warning will make
themselves felt:
IF You value your life's happiness,
your peace upon earth, and your
hopes of future salvation, beware Of
Satan's dcadliest agent-the wine
cup IN. Y. Ledger.