Daily Republican., 1882-08-24
A WIFE'S IhFnUANCF.
BY HORTENSIA.


Aunt Sophia ?" came from the tremb
ling reu lips OF Georgia Arnold, the
willful young beauty, who was not in &
mood to appreciate the wise counsel o
her aunt.
81 do not want to give my consent tt
a union that would render you misera
bic, Georgia, replied the lady firmly
"and you-would you be the wife of &
drunEard ?"
HE promised me that he would qui
drinking" saId Georgia, q little tear
fully this time.
"How long since, child ?"
more than month ago"
The lady was silent for few mo-
ments ; then she said, grayely:
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 TWEEN
| ty-four."
But he may have kept his promise
Aunt Sophia"
"Dont delude yourself with that
belief, Georgia. Louis Howe passed by
here last night so deeply intoxicated
that he could scarcely hold the reins
You need not look incredulOus, child ;
1t is true. If he was man Of high
moral principle, would hope that a
wife's gentle influence might save him.
But think there Is no human help for
him.
A long pause, during which Georgia
was endeavoring to restrain the tears
that would come. After a while Miss
Chester continued, thoughtfully:
~ have known one Instance when a
wife's gentle influence saved a noble
man from disgrace and a miserable
death perhaps. But he had only just
began to quatf from the poisoned cup,
and besides was far superior in char
acter to Louis Howe. Do you remem-
Der that you we're reparking to me the
other day upon the happiness OF your
friend Ada Melbourne, and her hus.
band. They were married while you
were at boarding school"
Georgia looked up in eager expecta-
Cion.
81 will tell you of it all now. Not
because believe that any pure intiu-
ence could actuate Louis, but because
it happens to be uppermOst in my
mind. Ada was always strange girl
reserved, modest and gentle, yet very
firm and decided sometimes. l was
never tired of watching her face-she
lived with me then, you know. She
WIS In all respects such O woman as
was rarely to be found.
zone day she came to me and told
me that one of her admirers had pro-
p rOpOsed.
"What was your answer, Ada ?" I
asked.
'T rejected him decidedly, Aunt
Sophie she replied, Il would not marry
a man who gave promise of filling a
drunkard's grave"
"He drinks moderately I said, just
for the purpose Of trying her.
"My husband must be totally abste-
mious, she said, firmly.
"I rejoiced at her decision, and was
still happier when she gave her prom
ise to Charley Melbourne to be his wife.
They were married, and, at the urgent
request of both, 1 went to live with
them in their new home. Their sky
was cleudless for time, but after a
while l saw that Ada was looking sad
and careworn. did not question her
about it, but waited until she should
come to me-which she did before long.
ooh, Aurt Sophie, am so misera-
BILE she exclaimed. soothed her
tenderly, and after while, when she
had become calmer, she told me,
all. That her rejected suitor
from motives of revenge, probably
was endeavoring to draw Charley away |
from the home influences. L have tried |
to warn him, she said, but he is gen.
erous to fault, and will not believe
in the possibility of such an act OF
treachery. He went to the club last
night with him, and was almost angry
when l tried gently to demonstrate.
Oh what shall do
"Ada was almost despairing then,
md it was nearly beyond my power to
encourage her. At length, however,
The arose, understanding that she alone
,ould save him, and determined to do
in her power.
"That night Charley did not come
lome to tea. l knew that Ada antici'
,ated repetition Of the last nights
I could not sleep, and for
lreary hours 1 could hear hear her
restlessly up and down in her
oom. Just at twelve Charley came
lome.
"With wisdom which few persons
# more mature years seemed to pos
ess, she said nothing to him then. His
'oice floated into me somewhat huskily
nd l feared the worst. An hour later
nv door was opened softly and Ada
anne in and threw herself down on
he bed murmuring sadly l.
ooh, Aunt Sophia, it is just as l
cared Charley has been drinking. He
cd him into temptation, and will new
r be satisfied until he leads him on to
min. He came to the door with Char
ey. I saw him waiting outside, think
no, perhaps, to hear my reproaches
nd grief. Like the Indian at the stake,
owever I suppressed ALL" II
"You have acted wisely, dear Ada !" II
replied, soothingly but don't despair f
ct. He has only just entered upon l
be downward path, and you can save t
i'm, if any earthly power can
"I wish 1 could think so, she re-
urned.
TBut If you had only known my an
uish when he entered the room an
our ago. He has never tampered with
liquors, and little has
nfficed to overthrow him completely. :
"For a long time she mourned thus; =