The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-04-18
THE BROKEN PROMISE.

THE BROKEN PROMISE.
Ny son if sinners entice thee consent thou
not.-PrOU. lilo.
''Time enough for that, Burt, come
on. Just take little wine for your
stomach's sake. You can not deny that
| am right now, for that's according to
| Scripture" and Carl Gilbert took his
companions 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 a 'pledge?' are
you not man enough to leave liquor
alone when you wish to? Comet
mo, Carl; I'm not. I'm ashamed to
say it, too, but if go where liquor is 1
have to drink it, and it's running me,
beside breaking the heart of my dear,
sick mother. And promised her faith
fully that would sign the pledge TO-
night and never enter the club-room
again" There was the earnestness of
despair in the tones OF the young man
as he answered.
"Oh well, if you've made a promise
of course you'll have to keep it, but I
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 Burt, the color
surging into his face.
Mean? Oh, nothing much, only, if 1
had joined a society and then wanted
to leave it, | would go to the members
and tell them like a man, that's all. I
wouldn't run away"
''But, Carl, don't wish to go there
again. l can not trust myself, you
know can not" he answered, Bit
terly.
''There, there, Burt, never mind"
Carl replied, and his tones were smooth
and sympathetic, although there was a
malicious sparkle in his eyes. sCome
in and tell the boys about it. I'll stand
by you, and you needn't drink if you
| don 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 here ten
minutes, just long enough to acquit
yourself like an honorable fellow, YOU
know, then stop at the Temperance
meeting on your way home. Never you
| fear but there will be red ribbon enough
| left fer half-a-dozen fellows like you.''
| They had reached the club room now
and were standing where the light. shin
ing through the beautifully stained win
dows, bathed them in its rosy warmth
and fell about them in many soft shades
1 IF on1OYs thn H0txy
it was! Carl opened the door and drew
his now unresisting companion 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 we althy 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
we'll 1t had been q happy day in the
little cottage in Pearl street when Burt
| returned with the news of his appoint
ment, and many were the comforts 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
8 spoiled child, willful, cunning and
dissolute, and on his return he immedi-
ately took it upon himself to give that
"pale-iaced youngster,' as he took
pleasure in naming Burt, g "a taste of
the world" and Burt, not a little flat
tered by the young mans attention,
proved an easy prey.
The process had been slow. First, it
was ga ride" with Carl after his ''pet
trotter." Next a peep at the boys in
the club-room of ''Our Jolly Fellows, .
q few minutes chat and look at the
evening paper. '.No harm in that,
'surelyP" Again, zone of the new cigar
cites, not bit strong" ''a 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
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 hin', as only
tender mother can, and tonight 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.
Seems to me, Burt, it takes precious
little to make you top-heavy," was
Carts heartless remark. II drank
three times what you did, and I'm all
right You're fresh, though; s'pose
that the reason; didn't begin imbibing
at your fathers sideboard when you
were knee-high to nothing but look a
here, sonny he continued, as Burt
pitched heavily forward, .'straighten
up, or youth DISGRACE that red ribbon
You were going after. Now, go easy
while / take you home to Your mother.
'Lemme lone, I'm not goin' home,'
stammered Burt making an effort to
free himself. "I'll never 90 home
till
"Until your sober, 10 you mean?
Then come down to the water and cool
of, Y interrupted Carl.
They made their way to the dock and
entering small boat pushed off into
the lake.
"Better be careful. young men"