The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-26
THE BROKEN PROMISE.

M
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"
No, Carl; I'm not. I'm ashamed to
say it, too, but if go where liquor is l
have to drink it, and it's running me,
beside breaking the heart OF my dear,
sick mother. And l promised her faith
fully that would sign the pledge TO-
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 |
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 l
had joined a society and then wanted
to leave it, would 90 to the members
and tell them like man, that's ALL l
wouldn't run away"
'But, Carl, don't wish to 90 there
again. | can not trust myself, you
know | can not" he answered, bit
terly.
"There, there, Burt, never mind, d"
Carl replied, and his tones were smooth
and sympathetic, although there was Il
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 wish to. You know l introduced
you there, and wouldn't want you to
90 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 for 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
of color upon the pavement. How cosy
it was. Carl opened the door and drew
his now unres sting 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 llthy 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 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 Il shadow was
coming.
Carl Gilbert was good specimen of
y spoiled child, willul, cunning and
diSsolute, and on his return he immedi-
ately took it upon himself to give that
pale ed youngster," rs he took
pleasure in naming Burt, "a taste OF
the world" and Burt, not little flat
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, >
few minutes chat and look at the
evening paper. mo harm in that,
surelyP' Again, zone Of tie new cigar
cites, not u bit strong" "a ip of Ca
tawba, perfectly sweet, my boy,
wouldn't hurt a baby" All THIS, and
much more, until poor uns specting
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 fictions in
! giving excuses for evenings spent away
away from home, until the wan face