Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-06-05
-
BY THE w. G. T. U.
The Broken Promise.
Union SIGNAL.

Scripture" And Carl Gilbert took his
.companion's arm and drew him away
from the door of the little church be-
fore which he had paused as if to enter.
"What do you want of 'pledge?
are you not man enough to leave liquor
alone when you wish to? Come!'
No, Carl; I'm not. I'm ashamed to
say it, too, but if go where liquor is
have to drink it, and it's ruinng me.
beside breaking the heart of my dear,
sick mother. And promised her faith
fully that l would sign the pledge to-
night and never enter the club-room
again." There was an earnestness of
despair in the tones of the young man
as he answered.
"Oh well, if you've made promise
of course you'll have to keep 1t, but
wouldn't be sneaky about it if l were
you" answered the willy Carl, who
knew too well the weakness of his
friend.
"Sneaky! What do you mean, Carl
Gilbert?" demanded Bart, the color
surging into his face.
MEAN? Oh, nothing much, only, if !
had joined society and then wanted
to leave it, would go to the members
and tell them like man, that's all. l
wouldn't run away"
But, Carl, don't wish to go there
again. | can not trust myself, you
know l can not" he answered, bitterly,
"There there, Burt, never mind"
Carl replied, and his tones were smooth
and sympathetic. although there was a
malicious sparkle in his eyes. "Come
in and tell the boys about it. I'll stand
by you, and you needn't drink if you
don't wish to. You know introduced
you there, and wouldn't want you to
go off IN this way
But my promise, Carl" protested
Burt.
"Why, you needn't stay there ten
! minutes, just long enough to acquit
yourself like an honorable fellow, you
know. and then stop at the temperance
meeting on your way home. Never
you fear but there will be red ribbon
enough left for half-a-dozen fellows like
YOU"
They had reached the club room now
and were standing where the light,
shining through the beautifully stained
windows, bathed them in it's rosy
warmth, and fell about them in many
soft shades of color upon the pavement.
How cosy it was! Carl opened the door
ard drew his now unresisting COM
| panion in.
They were not related. these two:
neither did they occupy the same social
| position, yet they had become friends,
and in this way:
Carl Gilbert, the elder by some three
years, was the son of a wealthy banker,
and in this bank Burt Youngs, the only
dependence of an invalid and widowed
mother, held the position of book
keeper.
Carl was absent at college when Burt
had secured this place and all had gone
/
well. 1t had been a happy day in the
little cottage in Pearl street when Burt
returned with the news of his OF his
appointment, and many were the COM
forts that had been added to the life OF
the invalid mother since then. But a
shadow was coming.
Carl Gilbert was a good specimen of
a spoiled child, willful, cunning and
dissolute, and on his return he immedi-
ately took 1T upon himself to give that
"pale-faced youngster," as he took
pleasure in naming Burt, ga taste of
the world" and Burt, not little fiat
tered by the young mans attention,
proved an easy prey.
The process had been slow. First, it
was "a ride" with Carl after his pet
trotter." Next peep at the boys in
the club-room of "Our jolly Fellows p
a few minutes chat and look at the
evening paper, mo harm in that,
surely? Again, "one of the new cigar
cites, not a bit strong" ga sip of Ca
tawba, perfectly sweet, my boy,
wouldn't hurt baby" All this, and
much more, until poor unsuspecting
| Burt had so far lost himself in the
treacherous net that he made no resist
ance, and every night found him with
his companions.
With this came the petty fctions in
giving excuses for evenings spent away
from home, until the wan face and
blood-shot eyes told their own story
Then it was that his almost heart
broken mother entreated him, as only
a tender mother can, and to night he
| had promised.
| A few hours later the two came out
upon the street, Carl walking erect
while Burt leaned heavily upon his
arm and stepped in dazed uncertain
way.
"Seenrs to ME, Burt, it takes precious
little to make you top-heavy," was
Carl's heartless remark. 81 drank
three times what you did, and I'm all
right. You're fresh, though; s'pose
that's the reason; didn't begin imbibing
at your fathers side-board when you
were knee-high to nothing but look a
here sonny" h.. continued, as Burt
pitched heavily forward, "straighten
up, or you'll disgrace that red ribbon
you were going after. Now, go easy
while take you hometo yaur mother
"Lemme lone, I'm not goin' home,
stammered Burt, making an effort to
free himself, "I'll never go home till
-"
"Until you're sober do you mean
Then come down to the water and cool
off, interrupted Carl.
They made their way to the dock and
entering a small boat pushed off into
the lake.
"Better be careful, young men,
co1Iad tho old bootrnay nc ha draw mr.