West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-02-22

influence over him the anxious
mother relied, believing that all
other efforts for his reformation
were at present useless.
Kent had not tasted intoxicating
liquors for three months. During
that time he applied himself stead
lily to business, awakening hopes
in his parents breasts that his flu
ture would yet be creditable. Kent's
prolonged abstinence from the al
Turing cup seemed to she'd added
sunshine over the household. His
joyous disposition, no longer cloud
ed by sense of wrong doing, as
serted itself, and his merry laughter
rang like hopeful music on his
mothers ears. He was keeping a
promise won from him by Lila, to
renounce, for the time agreed upon,
not only all Intoxicating drinks
but the society of the youths who
led him into temptation.
1t was a wild, stormy night
in mid-winter. The clock had
struck the hour of eleven, and the
household had retired, and Lila
sat watching for her absent brother.
III and faint she pressed her fore
head to the cold window pane as if
to cool the fever that burned in her
flushed face.
Kent's term ofprobation was end
ed. When he was leaving in the
morning to 90 into the town Lila
followed him into the hall 4# a
"Well, Birdie" he said, laughing
ly, Il see by your anxious little
face that you are afraid of me.
You know my pledge expires to-
day"
"May | trust you? Kent, my
darling brother? Will you come
home as sober tonight as you did
every night for the past three
months ?"
Two little hands were laid en-
treatingly on his shoulder, the low
ing blue eyes looked into his be-
seemingly. At that moment, and
before he could answer her, Gregory
opened the library door and came
forward with letters of Importance
he wished his son to mail in town.
Restrainedly, as if before stran-
ger, brother and sister uttered some
commonplace remarks, and Kent
went on his way without giving
the promise that would have been
his safeguard
That night he came not home,
nor the next, nor yet the next. But
his absence was scarcely noticed
by the afflicted family, for the dar-
ling of the household lay dying.
She had been attacked with pneu-
monia even while she kept watch
on the first night Of Kent's alb
sence. The next morning she was
Frustrated, and many times through
the long day her eyes turned to-
wards the door as if yearning for a
face she was never more to see.
From the first the physicians saw
that the case was hopeless, but they
mercifully withheld their opinion
from the sorrowing family.
| Where was Kent while the being
| that he loved most on earth, loved
far better than father, mother or
self, was yielding up her young life,
perhaps sacrificed in her tenderness
for him?
On the morning when Lila said
to him, Kent, may | trust you ?"
he went on his way determined
that his sister should see that she
could influence him for good with
out the desired promise. AS he
fastened toward the depot that
evening to take the train for home,
he was suddenly surrounded by a
nu mber Of gay associates. After a
little persuasion the tempters led
him away to join them in a "quiet
game Of billiards." they said. Later
in the evening he was induced to
partake ola "little game supper"
where wine circulated freely. He
was soon as thoughtless and gay as
his companions. Hitherto be had
refrained from tasting the spark
ling poison that filled the glass
placed alluringly before him.
When his own health was drunk
amid hearty congratulations for
his presence once more among his