Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-12-14
A WIFE'S INFLUENCE.

$50 you don't want me to marry
Louis, AuntSophia?" came from the
trembling red lips. Georgia Arnold,
the willful Young beauty, was not in a
mood to appreciate the wise council
of her aunt.
81 do no. want TO give my consent
to union that would render you mis-
cradle, Georgia" replied the lady, firm
ly; ''and you-would you be the wife
of q drunkard?'
'He promised me that he would quit
drinking, said Georgia q little fearfully
this time.
Glow long since, child?"
"More than month age"
The lady was silent for a few mo-
moments; then she said, gravely:
Georgia, told you at first that the
habit was confirmed with Louis Howe.
He was IL years old when first saw
him intoxicated. He is now "a"
"But he may have kept his promise,
Aunt Sophia"
Don't delude yourself with that be-
lief, Georgia. Louis Howe passed by
here last night so deeply intoxicated
that he could scarcely hold the reins.
You need not look incredulous, child; it
Is true If he was man of high moral
principle would hope that u 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
continued tbn,,o,ktc.,II,,
81 have known one instance when
wife's gentle influence saved noble
man from disgrace and miserable
death, perhaps. But he had Only Just
began TO quatf from the poisoned cup,
and besides he was far superior in char
acter to Louis Howe. You remember
that you were remarking only the 9th
er day upon the happiness of your
cousin, Ada Moulbourne, and her nus
band. They were married while you
were at ..boarding-school."
Georgia looked up IN eager expecta-
tion~
81 will tell you of it now. Not be-
cause believe that any pure influence
could actuate Louis, but because it
happens to be uppermost in my mind.
Ada was always a strange girl-reserv-
ed, modest; and gentle, YET very firm
and decided sometimes. | was never
tired Of watching her isce-she lived
with me then, you know. She was in
all respects such woman as is rarely
to be found.
"One day she came to me and told
me that one of her admirers he'd pro
posed"
"'What WAS YOU answer, Ada?' |
asked.
'"I rejected him decidedly. Aunt
Sophia, she replied. Il would not mar
ry q man who gave promise of filling a
drunkard's grave
"He drinks moderately l said,
just for the purpose of trying her.
"'My husband must be totally alb
stemious,' she sad firmly.
II 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 time, but after
while / saw that Ada was looking sad
and careworn. / did not question her
about it, but waited until she would
come to ME, which she did before
long.
ooh, Aunt Sophie, am so misera-
blep she exclaimed. | soothed her ten
derby, and after a while, when she had
become calmer, she told me all. That
her rejected sutton, from motives of re-
venge, probably, was endeavoring to
draw Charley away from the home in
fluences. / have tried to warn him,
she said, but he Is generous to a 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 / tried gently to re-
monstrate. OH what shall | do?
''Ada was almost despairing then and
it was nearly beyond my power to en-
courage her. At length, however, she
arose, understanding that she alone
could save him, and determined to do
everything in her power.
"That night Charley did not come
home to tea. | knew that Ada sntic-
pated repetition of the last nights ex-
perience l could not sleep, and for
dreary hours could hear her walking
restlessly up and down in her room.
Just at II Charley came home.
"With wisdom which few persons
of more mature years possess, she said
nothing to him then. His voice iloated
in to me somewhat huskily, and fear
ed the worst An hour later my door
was opened softly and Ada came in and
threw herself down on the side Of the
bed, murmuring sadly;
"Oh, Aunt Sophie, it is inst as fear
ed; Charley has been drinking, He led
him into temptation and will never be
satisfied until he leads him on to ruin.
He came to the door with Charley, |
saw him waiting outside, thinking, per.
haps, to hear my reproaches and my
grief. Like the Indian at the stake,
however, / suppressed ALL
"You have acted wisely, dear Adap
| replied. soothingly; but don't despair
vet. He has only just entered upon the
downward path, and you can save him,
if any earthly power can
ttT vviah I could thiuk so she retllrp