Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-03-09
SAVED FROM HIMSELF.

ers, and a girl as rarely beautiful as
they.
But to-day Eunice 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 a girl of fif.
teen,) she had promised solemnly never
to wed one who was addicted to intern
perate habits.
When six months ago she had met
Claud Earle he had seemed everything
that was noble. The more she had
seen of him the more her heart had in
stinctively gone out to him, and at
length when he hGd 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 a 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 Eunice sat.
"Ah, here she isl My little queen in
the midst of her subjects"
Claude dropped, as he spoke, 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 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 a low voice, which gathered
firmness 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.
eff you tell me it is not true, Claude"
she concluded, al will believe you be-
yond all others. But if you cannot,
must ask of you to choose now between
your love of wine and your affection
for me; for, Claude, though it ruin my
LIES happiness, must keep my VOW"
A dark flush of anger sprang to
Claude's face as he rose to his feet, ex-
claiming:
81 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 jovial friends have once in
while overstepped the bounds of so.
brietyp 1t is only what thousands dc,
and think nothing of doing. Eunice,
thought that you leved me, but 1 see
was mistaken. No woman who truly
loved 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
pleadingly.
81 feared you would be angry, but
was forced to speak as 1 did. Oh,
Claude" she went on, "only promise
me that from this day your lips will
never again touch the inebriating cup
and we will yet be so happy"
He flung of her hand with a scorn
full laugh.
such lukewarm love as your ever,
word shows will not suffice for mef
he exclaimed. eff you desire our en-
gagement to be at an end, so be it.
will not demean myself to be hamper
ed by conditions"
. Without further words he strod,
away.
/, Hidden as she was by the screeninl
} foliage, Eunice had no need to feal
prying eyes. With pathetic cry sh,
covered her face with her slender
fingers and sank upon the ground.
"Oh, mother" she murmured. "a
have obeyed your wishes, but hav,
broken my own hearth"
The following day, without telling
anyone of his plans, Claude Erie LEFT
the village.
Three years rolled away, years which
had sadly changed the tenor of Eunics
Rays life. Her loving father, stricken
suddenly down in the prime Of his life
had died, leaving his young daughter
alone in the wide world. and not only
alone, but poor. Though he had al
ways been supposed to be a rich man
upon his death his affairs had beer
found to be in 3 deeply involved con
ldition.