The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-10-25
A WIPES INFLUENCE.

:
Louis, Aunt sophie?" came from the
trembling red lips, Georgia Arnold,
the willful young beauty, was not in
mood to appreciate the wise coun-
sci Of her aunt.
81 do not want to give my consent
TO a union that would render you
miserable, Georgia, F" replied the lady,
firmly; sand you-would you be the
wife of a drunkard?"
"He promised me that he would
quit drinking" a little fearfully this
time.
GLOW long since, child2"
"More than a month ago."
The lady was silent for a few mo-
ments, then she said, gravely:
Georgia, l told you at first that
the habit was confirmed with Louis
Howe. He was sixteen years old
when | first saw him intoxicated
He is now twenty-four."
"But he may have kept his prom
Use, Aunt Sophie"
"Don't delude yourself with that
belief, Georgia. Louis Howe passed
by here last night SO deeply intoxi-
Gated that he could hardly hold the
reins. You need not look incredu-
lous, child, it Is true. II he was a
man of high moral principle, would
hope that wife's gentle influence
would save him. But l think there
is no human help for him."
A long pause, during which Geor-
gia was endeavoring to restrain the
tears that would come. After a while
Miss Chester continued, thoughtful
ly:
81 have known one instance when
a wife's gentle influence saved q no.
Bile man from disgrace and a miser-
able death, perhaps. But he had on.
ly just begun to quaff from the poi
soned cup, and besides he was far su-
perior in character to Louis Howe
You remember you were remarking
only the other day upon the happi.
ness of your cousin, Ada Melbourne
and her husband. They were mar.
Rod while you were at boarding
school,"
Georgia looked up in eager cxpec.
tation.
81 will tell you of it all now. Not
because that | believe that any pure
influence could educate Louis, but
because it happens to be uppermost
in my mind. Ada always was a
strange girl-reserved, modest, and
gentle, yet very firm and decided
sometimes. | was never tired of
watching her face-she lived with
me then, you know. She was in all
respects such a woman as was rarely
to be found"
Zone day she came to me and told
me that one of her admirers had pro.
posed"
"What was your answer, Ada?"
asked.
81 rejected him decidedly, Aunt
Sophie" she replied. 81 would not
marry man who gave promises of
filling drunkard's grave"
"He drinks moderately" I said,
just for the purpose Of trying her.
"My husband must be totally alb.
stemious," she said, firmly.
81 rejoiced at her decision, and was
still happier when she gave her
promise to Charley Melbourne to be
his wife. They were married, and
at the urgent request of both went
to live with them in their new home.
Their sky was cloudless for a time,
but after while | saw that Ada was
sad and care worn. did not ques,
ton her about it, but waited until
she should come to me-which she
did before long.
"Oh, Aunt Sophie, I am so miser.
able!" she exclaimed. soothed her
tenderly, and after a while, when she
had become calmer, she told me all.
That her rejected suitor, from mo.
tives of revenge, probably, was en-.
deaVoring 20 draw Charley away
from the home influence. II have
tried to warn him." she said, "but he
is generous to fault, and will not
believe in a possibility of such an act
OF treachery. He went to the club
last night with him, and was almost
angry when tried gently to remon.