Smyrna times., 1882-11-01
A Wife's Infunce.

Il w Il6 1uuuuCSI
So you don't want me to marry
Louis. Aunt Sophiay" came from the |
trembling red lips. Georgia Arnold,
the wilful young beauty was not in a
mood to appreciate the wise counsel Of
her aunt.
Il do not want to give my consent /
to union that would render you mis-
erable, Georgia. replied the lady,
firmly. land YOU woHld - would be
the wife of drunkard =
4" He promised me that he would
quit drinking" said Georgia, {. little
tearfully this time.
How long since. child:"
More than a month ago"
The lady was silent for few mo-
ments. then she said gravely:
Georgia, | told you at first that the
habit was confirmed with Louis How.
He was sixteen years old when first
saw him intoxicated. He Is now
twenty-four."
But he may have kept his promise,
Aunt Sophie.
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
/ il is true. If he was a 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.
\ long pause, during which Georgia
was endeavoring to restrain the tears
that would come. After while Miss
Chester continued, thOughtfully:
Il have known one instance when a
wife's gentle influence saved 4 noble
man from disgrace and miserable
death. perhaps. But he had only just
began to quaff from the poisoned cup,
and besides he was far superior in
character to Louis Howe. You re-
member that you were remarking only
the other day upon the happiness of
your cousin. Ada Melbourne and her
husband. They were married while
you were at boarding school.
Georgia looked up in eager eSpecta-
ton.
Il will tell you of it all now Not
because l believe that any pure in
fuence could actuate Louis, but be
cause it happens to be uppermost il
my mind. Ada was always strange
girl-reserved, modest and gentle, ye
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. One day
she came to me and told me that on,
of her admirers had proposed.
What was your answer, AGA ?
asked.
- rejected him decidedly, Aunt So
phia, she replied, would not MARI,
man who gave promise of filling
drunkard's grave.
a. He drinks moderately l sait
just for the purpose of trying her
Ny husband must be totally abstt
mious. she said firmly.
rejOiced at her decision, and wa
still happier when she gave her pre-
mise To Charley Melbourne to be h
wife. They were married, and, at tn
urgent request of both, | went to liy
with them in their new home. The
sky was cloudless for time, but aftC
awhile | saw that Ada was looking 81
and careworn. l did not question h'
about it but waited until she shOul
come to me which she did before Ion
90 Oh, Aunt Sophi, am SO miser
ble,' she exclaimed. l soo.hed h,
tenderly, and after awhile when 81
had become calmer she told ME a
That her rejected suitOr, from mOtiv
of revenge. probably, was endeaTOrir
. TO draw Charley away from the hon
influences. / have tried to warn hin
: she said, but he is generous to fau
and will not believe in the possibili
of such an act of treachery. He we
to the club last night with him. aI
was almost angry when | tried gent
to remOnstrate Oh ! what shall do
: Ada was almost despairing the
. and it was nearly beyond my power
> encourage her. At length, hOwev,
!, she arose, understanding that $
[ alone could save him, and determin
to do everything in her power.
THAT night Charley did not col
e home to tea. | knew that Ada anti
; pated repetition of the last nights {
perience. l could not sleep, and
r dreary hours / could hear her WALK
o restlessly up and down in her roo
r Just at twelve Charley came home.
u with wisdom which few perso
of more mature years seem to posse
she said nothing to him then.
voice floated into me somewhat hIlski
and feared the worst. An hour la
my door was opened softly and 4
came in and threw herself down on
: side of the bed, murmuring sadly:
oh, Aunt Sophie, it is just a
feared; Charley has been drink
He led him into temptation, and '
never be satisfied until he leads him
to ruin. He came to the door W
Charley l saw him waiting Ontsi
thinking, perhaps, TO hear my gr
Like the Indian at the stake, hOweV
l suppressed ALL
"FYOu have acted wisely, dear Az
~ / replied soothingly; but don't desI
~ yet. He has only just entered "a
the downward path, and you can 5
him, if any earthly power can"
: the al wish / could think So she
d in turned. But if you had only knC
As"'' my anguish when he entered the II
=, an hour ago. He has never tamlpe
Del with intoxicating liquors, and q Ii
has suffered to overthrow him c
Wall pletely."
"For long time she mourned ii