The Worthington advance., 1882-09-07
A WIFE'S INFLUENCE.

n WIFE y lNT1UENCE.
$50 you don't want mo to marry Louis,
Aunt Sophia?" came from the trembling
red lips. Georgia Arnold, the willful
young beauty, was not in q mood to
appreciate the wise counsel Of her
aunt.
II don't want to give my consent to
union that would render you miserable.
Georgia" replied the lady, firmly;
''and you-would you be the wife of a
drunkard?"
"He promised me that he would Quit
drinking" said Georgia, little fearfully
this time.
"How long since, child?"
More than month ago"
The lady was silent for few moments;
then she said, gravely:
:'Georgia, told you at first that the
habit was confirmed with Louis Howe.
He was Is 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 incrcdulous, child; it is
true. If he was man of high moral
principle l would hope that wife's gen.
tie influence mig INT save him. But l
think there is no human help for him."
A long pause, during which Georgia
was endeavoring 70. restrain the tears
that would come. After a while Mrs.
Chester continued, thoughtfully:
.:s, i have known one instance when u
man from disgrace and miseablc death.
perhaps. But he had only just begun to
quan from the poisoned cup, and be-
sides, he was far superior in character to
Louis Howe. You remember that you
were rcmarking only the other day up
on the happiness Of your cousin, Ada
Melbourne, and her husband. They
were married while you were at board
ing school"
Georgia lookcdup in eager expecta-
ton.
II will tell you of it now. Not because
be!!vc that any pure influence could
;,ctuate Louis, but because it happens to
be uppcrmost in my mind Ada was al
ways Il strange girl-reseryed, modest.
ana gentle, yet very firm and decided
sometimes. was never tired of watch
ing her face-she lived with me then,
YOU know. She was in all respects such
awoman rs was rarely to be found.
Zone day she came to me and told me
that one OF her admirers had proposed,
What was your answer, Ada!" l
asked.
"'I rejected him decidedly, Aunt So
phie,' she replied Il would not marry
:. man who gave promise Of filing u
drunkarps grave
lie drinks moderately said, Just
for the purpose Of trying her.
My husband must be totally abstem-
ious,' she said firmly.
~ 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 urgeht
request of both, went to live with them
in their new home. Theirsky was cloud
less for time, but after awhile l saw
that Ada looked sad and careworn.
did not question her about it, but waited
until she should come to me, which she
did before long.
she exclaimed. I sOothed her tenderly.
and after a while, when she had become
ca!,ner, she told me all. That her re-
Jected suitor, from motives Of revenge,
probably, was endeavOring to draw
Charley away from the home Influences
J. have tried to warn him, she said, but
lie is generous to Il fault, and will not be-
licve in the possibility Of such an act of
treaclery. He went to the club last
night with him, and was almost angry
when 1 tried gently to demonstrate.
Oh! what shall dor
Ada was almost despairing then, and
1t 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 every
thing in her power.
THAT night Charley did not come
home to tea. knew that Ada anticipat-
ed q repetition of the last nights ex-
Pericnce. I could not sleep, and for
dreary hours I could hear her walking
restlcssly up and down in her room.
Just ut y Charley came home.
With wisdom which few persons Of
more mature years possess, she said
nothing to him then. His voice floated
into me somewhat huskily, and feared
the worst. An hour later my door was
opened softly and Ada came in and
threw herself down OH the side of the
bed murnuring sadly:
"'0h, Aunt Sophie, it is just as feared;
harley has been drinking. He lead
him into temptation and will never be
He came to the door with Charley,
saw him waiting outside, thinking per-
haps to hear my reproaches and my
grief. Like the Indian ut the stake,
however, suppressed ALL
You have acted wisely, dear Ada?'
replied, soothingly; but don't despair
yet. He has only just entered upon the
downward path, and you can save him,
nany earthly power can:'
"'I wish 1 could think so,' she re-
turned. But if you had only known
my anguish when he entered the room
an hour ago. He has never tampercd
witt, intoxicating liquors, and a little has
sutliced to overthrow him completely.
"For long time she mourned thus;
then she recollected her determination
OF the day, and rose in firm hope. Poor
Ada! I could appreciate her agony.
Not one word Of reproach to her hts-
band came from Ada's lips the next day.
With smiling face and cheerful words
she greeted him on every occasion, and
would have seemed the most sunny
hearted creature in the world to casual
observer. It was not business day
with him, and therefore he had no &C.
casion to leave home. Iarose from the
tea:table first, and, as l passed up the
STAIRS. glanced into Ada's sitting room.
Everything was arranged as only Ada's
hand could have arranged it. neatly and
gracefully. 1 understood the tender
care she had employed, and hoped the
LOVING % wife would receive her reward. !
lhey come up together few mo-
ments Iater, and since my door was ajar
l could hear every word. Ada oDened
her elegant melodeon and pronoseG %
music. Charley hesitated and at lenoth
told her that he had promised him-the
man Of whom I have spoken-to meet
linn down town on very important bnsi.
ness. There was a short pause. Char.
iey'-Ada's voice was trembling-:I
know we'll what he wants. Twice now
he has led you into temptation. viii
yon blindly follow him again?"
49, You are unjust to him, said Charley,
lofdly,