The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-03-11

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demesnor that of one who, bidding
adieu to all praiseworthy exhibitions,
and casting aside all principles OF
rectitude and sobriety, had fully de-
termined to follow the evil course
into which he had fallen, lead where
it might. His employers soon dis
charged him from their service.
giving as reason for so doing his
incompetence, owing to continual
inebrietY, to perform the duties re-
quired Of him. Being OF naughty
temperament, and possessed of an
over-Weenlng estimate OF his own
abilities, he would not sack employ
ment elsewhere, but hung around
town waiting tor employment TO
seek him. This course naturally
threw him into closer contact with
class, who, themselves hardened in
dissipation, was only too glad 20 add
to their company one 90 jovial and
witty. a reckless spendthrift when
under the influence of drink he soon
became the petted iavorite of the
saloon keepers. Always liberal and
ready, go long as he had money, to
loan to his associates, he was called
the prince of good fellows, and be.
came the idolized leader 10 all the
drunken escapades of the c0ierie
with whom he associated. For
few months he lounged around the
street corners, saloons and billiard
halls, well dressed, with plenty Of
cash. the results OF former years of
prudent economy, in bis pocket. Bot
the end vas near at hand: Saloon
keepers, like Napoleon's prophets
of the Bourse,' are far sighted and
intuitiveIy measure a mans resour-
ees and probable value almost at first
sight with unerring certainty. Ralph
by his reckless expenditure, soon
found the bottom of his purse. For
short time he kept up appear
ances by borrowing of his friends;
occasionally getting situation only
to lose it again through his intern
perate habits. As his apparel grew
seedy, his appearance sloVenly, he
found his society less cOurted by
his boon companions who, more
wise than he or at least more pru-
Dental in their expenditures,
managed to maintain sort of quasi
responsibility. The saloon keepers,
after the first few markings down
on the slate, began to treat him
coolly, meeting his demands for in
diligence IN the way of credit with
a surly acquiescence, which finally
merged into absolute refusal. The
young man MAIDS one or two spas
mOdic efforts to reform; but like a
man slipping over the edge Of
precipice and making frantic
struggles to save himself by clutch
ing at the crnmbllng bank above,
these efforts, ill-directed and in
efficient, only served to accelerate
his final plunge into the abyss, and
Ralph at length descended to con-
sorting with the motley crowd who
haunt the lowest bar-roOms in the
city. He had reached the depth of
social degradation. The fend, in
temperance, held him firmly clasped
in It's loathsOme embrace.
During the summer months fol-
lowing the final separation of the
lovers L seldom met Grace; after
discarding her lover she secluded
herself from society and steadfastly
refused to take any part in the
social reunions, which are such a
prominent feature in the life of all
young people. Her mother had long
been in delicate health, and l. being
their family physician, was called
i'll to prescribe for her. lmmedi-
ately that entered the room L no.
ticed a great change Which had
taken place in the daughters APP
pearance; she was very pale, not
the paleness of perfect health which
formerly constituted part OF her
marvellous beauty, buta transparent
paleness like that of Parian marble.
Her features had a pinched, ENACT
ated look, and her great brown eyes
were lighted up with an almost pre-
ternatura, brightness. Her step,
once so light, elastic and graceful,
was slow and languid, and she
moved about the room in a sort of
listless way, as If suffering from ex-
cessive fatigue. Thinking that she
was suffering from inertia superin-
duce1 by too close. confinement in
attendance on her mother, remon-
strated with her on the subject, and
advised her to take exercise in the
open air, attend evening parties and
visit her friends. A faint color
came into her wan cheeks as she re
piled: 'Doctor, l have no relish for
society, and my duty to nay mother
will not permit me to visit
my friends As she spoke
l saw that her eyes were
dimmed with tears, and like a fash
l OWNED the cause of her lassitude
and aLtenuated features. The girl
was fighting to overcome the love
which had been lavIshed on an I'M
worthy object-a love which had
grown into her life and become a
part Of her very nature; in the
struggle she was crushing out her
own young life. AS the winter
wore away Grace gradually became
mole feeble. The cough which
marked the earlier stage of her ill
ness, and was thought to be only a
slight cold, had now settled into a
chronic affection. She wasted away
until she was but the shadow of her
former self, and the decline into
which she had fallen became os