Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-03-02
SAVED FROM HIMSELF.

A beautiful garden, full of rare llow-
ers, and girl as rarely beautiful as
they.
But to-day Emice Rays lovely face
wears cloud, and the calm depths of
her blue eyes are troubled; for she is
waiting for her lover, and she knows
that the coming hour must decide for
veal or woe her whole future life.
Three years before, by her dying
mothers side, (then only girl of lif,
teen,) she had promised solemnly never
to wed one who was addicted to intem-
perate habits.
When six months ago she had met
Claud Earle he had seemed everything
that was noble. The more she had
seeu of him the more her heart had in
stinctiyely gone out to him, and at
length when he had asked for the prec-
ious boon of her hand in marriage she
had given him without hesitation the
answer he craved.
For a while the course of their WOO.
ing had run in the smoOthest, most
blissful of channels; but lately shad-
ow had come over the brilliancy of
Eunice's happy love.dream. For some
time reports had been brought to her
ears of her lovers gradually growing
dissipation. At first with an indignant
scorn she had refused to believe; but
too soon she had been forced to the
conviction that what she had heard had
some foundation in truth.
A step came up the path to the vine
wreathed nook where Emicc sat.
"Ah, here she isl My little queen in
the midst of her subjects"
Claude dropped, as he spoke, a hand
full of fragrant blossoms in her lap, and
then seated himself by her side.
Then, for the first time, he noticed
the troubled expression her face wore,
and attributing it to some trivial cause
which his presence would soon COM
fort, began lightly to question her.
For "A few mon ents the girl hesitat-
ed.
AS she gazed up into his handsome,
laughing eyes, she shrank from speak.
ing words which might drive him in
anger from her side, and separate her
for all time from him. She loved with
an intensity such as nature like hers
could feel but once. But at length she
began in low voice, which gathered
Iirmness as she went on. First she
told him Of her sOlemnly uttered vow
to her dying parent, and then Of what
she had heard concerning his intemper-
ate habits.
"If you tell me it is not true, Claude"
she concluded, 81 will believe you be-
yOnd all others. But if you cannot, l
must ask of you to choose now between
your love of wine and your affection
for me; for, Claude, though it ruin my
lifes happiness, must keep my VOW"
A dark flush of anger sprang to
Claude's face as he rose to his feet, ex-
claiming:
"I will not say that what you have
heard is false-I will not tell an un.
truth-but what matters it if in the
society of iovial friends / have once in
while overstepped the bounds of so.
briefly? 1t is only what thousands do,
and think nothing of doing. Eunice, i
thought that you leved me, but see l
was mistaken. No woman who truly
loved a man would impose conditions
upon him."
Eunice's face grew very pale as she
listened to the torrent of passionate
words his wounded pride had dictated.
She laid her soft hand upon his arm
plpadinply.
81 feared YOU would be angry, but I
was forced TO sneak as i did Oh,
Claude." she went on. "only promise
me that from this day your lips will
never aoain touch the inebriatinr eup.
and we will vet he so bapnyn
Tie flung off her hand With n scorn.
ful langh
"Suc6 Iukewarm love as vour every
word shows will not suffice for mel''
he exclaimed Mf Won desire our on.
garement to be at an end. SO be it, I
will moi demean mvssIf to he bamner.
ed bv conditions
without further words he strobe
awav
Hidden az she was nv the screenino
foliage. Eunice had no need to fear
prying ewes With a nathetic crv She
coyared her face with bar slender
6noars and sank npon tbe ground
aOb mother" She murmured "I
have obeyed YOUR wishes hut have
broken nv own hea,tw
The following dav without tell,no
anyone of his plans Claude Erie left
the village
Three years rolled away, years which