The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-04-21
Judge Aston frowned.


lively. s'Will you oblige me, Jessie, by |
ringing for JEFF? We will see into this
matter. / am obliged to you, Birdie,
for bringing it to my attention. shall
reprimand Miss Delange for her negli-
gence."
JEFF" he said to the waiter who ap-
peared in answer to Jessie's ring, 'sdesire
Miss Delange to come to me and to bring
your master Harry with her"
The servant bowed and withdrew. It
was in the days long gone by.
Perhaps Miss Delange may not de-
serve censure, uncle" said Jessie. ..She
may not know of Harry habit. It is pos
sible that he has not conided IN her as
he has in me.
eve will ascertain said her uncle,
briefly, and sat silent until the appear
4'You have sent for US, sir?" asked the
young lady, entering the room, holding
master Harry by the hand.
ST have. Pray be seated. It is on
matter of Importance that have de-
sired this interview" he said, bowling
with the courteous grace that dis
tinguished gentlemen of the last half
century. 81 have sent for you to in
.quire of You what you know of our
goung gentleman's extraordinary fancy
for peach and honey, of which I have
lately heard"
Miss Delange smiled.
'sNothing. Judge Aston, beyond what
you may see for yourself and she
glanced In the direction Of the table near
which the gathering had been seated.
The Judge turned and saw his son, q
lad of eight years. with his head thrown
back and both hands clasped over the
goblet that had held mis- beverage, greed
| ily draining the small portion that re
mained in it.
"Harry Alston! cried his father, in
tones of wrath, chow dare you?"
And he struck the glass from the
| child's hands. It fell, shivered to atoms
by the blow.
"How dare you?' he repeated. The
astonished boy made no reply, but stood
with wide open eyes and parted lips,
looking from one to another of the faces
about him. Then bursting into tears he
ran and hid his face in his cousin Jessie's s
lap.
| "Can you give me any explanation of
this, Miss Delange?' asked Judge Alston
almost sternly. How came the boy by
this taste?"
"Indeed, sir" replied the governess,
innocently, 81 can only suppose that he
has inherited it.
The quick flush that rose to the judge 8
face showed plainly to Jessie. If not to
Miss Delange, that the candid answer
had struck blow.
/ pardon me, he answered. 81 should
not have put my question thus. Have
you been aware of anything like-1ike
this before, Miss Delange? The boy has
| swallowed at least tablespoonful of
brandy, raw, except as diluted with a
little strained honey. It is enoug gh to
oraze him."
81 have known nothing of it, sir" re-
piled Miss Delange. You know, sir,
that he is sometimes sent for by you
when you have friends dining with you.
I suppose he has acquired the taste for
brandy while enjoying these little treats.
It is possible that he has done before
unseen by you, what you have just wit
messed. Certainly, to my knowledge, he
has taken nothing stronger than the
light wine furnished with my dessert
But I havc heard him say that papa'e
brandy was very nice indeed-far better
than our wine. I supposed that you
must have given him occasional tastes
Of it"
| Judge Aston bowed. "Your suppo-
sition was natural; but it was erroneous.
Brandy is not for children"
Then turning to the child, who had
dried his sudden tears, and was listening
eagerly to the conversation, he said
gently, "Come to papa, my boy. Tell
me where you got first your taste of this
vile stuff"
.Ho, hor' shouted the child ,reassured
by the change in his fathers manner
'Tisn't vile stuff. It's jolly good
stuff. You said SO your own self. Don'l
you remember? You told Dr. Merry il
would make new man of him; and you
coaxed Gen. Thompson to drink some
when be didn't want it bit, cause you
said it would cheer him up. You said
peach and honey was the best of all good
drinks; and so it is. I've tasted il out
OF the company's glasses when you all
went into the smoking room. like it.
think you might let cousin Jessie give
me some" He stopped suddenly. His
quick eye detected the chamgagne glass.
"Did you have some peach and honey,
cousin Jessie?' he asked. "Aha! You
said it was deadly poison. But I knew
better. I knew papa wouldn't drink
poison. Papa drinks it, and mean to
drink it"
''Stop, stopl" said his father.
"Why, you said it was good-"begar
the child, looking up with bold conf
dence into his fathers face.
"But not for little boys" the Judge
made haste to say, as he reseated him
self and drew the child toward him
"Papa is very sorry that his little sor
has ever tasted of it. It must never hap
pen again. We must put stop to it.
n Harry amused himself by toying with
She seals that hung from his fathers fob
To his dying day Judge Alstone could
never forget the air and attitude of thu
innocent child, as with the unconscious
!, grace of childhood he resting his cheel
ON one dimpled palm, leaning his elbow
on his fathers knee. and looking mp into
his face with large, lustIous eyes, shin.
ing with unwonted brilliancy already i'm.
parted to them By the subtle stimulant
| be answered, with slight shake of hii
yolden- -tressed head, ""T believe it is toc
late for that. I like it just as well az
i you do"
/ Was it the vain and meaningless pratt
tie of baby? Alas, Judge Alston tried
to persuade himself to believe it only
that.
He sternly and peremptorily forbade
the child to touch another drop, and be
called the servants and charged each
with the duty Of seeing to it that nc
chance of obtaining any liquor other
than the light wine used at the Cover
ness dinner table, should be permitted
the child. ou1 then NTH on al -, an; koru