The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-25
TIE u N PROMISE.

My son If sinners entice thee consent thou
nOt.-frUr. l:l0-
Time enough for that. Burt. come
on. just take Il little wine for Your
stomach : sake. You can not deny tat
| am right now, for that's according to
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 ii to- enter
What do You want OF \ 'pledges' 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 l 90 where liquor i.
have to drink it. and it's running me.
beside b. eaking the heart OF my dear,
sick mother. And l promised her faith-
fully that | would sign the pledge TO-
night and ney,r enter the club-roOm
again" There WAS the earnestness of
despair in the tones OF the young man
Is he answered.
..Oh well, if you've made a promise
of course you'll have to keep 1t. out |
wouldn't be sneaky aoOut it if l We're
YOU answered the willy Carl, who
knew too well the weakness of his
friend.
"Sneaky!. What do you mean Carl
& lbert?' demanded Burt, tine color
SURFING into his face.
Mean? Oh. nothing much. only, if l
had Oine1 4 society and then wanted
10 leave it. l would 90 to the members
and tell them like a man, that's all. l
wouldn't run away"
"nut. Carl. l don't wish to 60 there
again. i can not trust myself, you
know l can not he answered, Bit
terry.
"Ghere, there, Burt. never mind"
Carl repl ed, and his tones were smooth
and sympathetic, although there was u
malicious sparkle in his eyes Come
IN and tell the BOYS a5Out 1t. I'll stand
by you, and you needn't drink if you
don I wish to. You know l introduced
you there, and ] wouldn't want you to
go oil in this way
But my promise. Carl" protested
Burt.
why, you needn't stay here ten
minut 5. just long enough TO acqult
yourself like an honorable fellow. YOU
know. then stop at the Temperance
meeting IN your way home. Never you
fear but there will NE red ribbon enough
lett fer haif-a-dOIen fellows like yOu."
They had reached the club room now
and we've 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 nov unres sting companion in.
They were not related. these two:
mother 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 of q w .lthy banker.
and in this bank Burt lOungs. the only
dependence of an invalid and widowed
mother. held the position of book
keeper.
(arl was absent Mt college when Burt
had secur, d this place and all had gone
well. 1t had been a happy day ia the
little cottage in Pearl street when Burt
returned with the news of his appoint
ment. and MANY were the comforts that
mother since then. But Il shadow was
coming.
Carl Gilbert was a good specimen of
\ spoiled child, wiliIul. cunning and
dissoLute. and on his return he immedi-
atelv took it upon himself to give that
pale a ed youngster." as he took
pleasure in naming Burt, "a taste Of
the world and Burt not a little Hat
tered by the young man s attention,
prOved IN easy prev.
TIE process had been slow. First, it
was "a ride" with Carl alter his pet
trotter." Next a peep at the boys in
the club-room of '1Our jolly Fellows. ,
a few minutes chat and a look a. the
evening paper. IN" harm in that,
surely|' Again. m of tie new cigar
cites, not a bit strong" "a ip of Ca
tawba. peri, city sweet, my boy.
wouldn't hrrt a baby" All this, and
much more. Until poor n speeding
Burt had SO far lost himself in the
treacheroIs net that he made no resist
ance. and every night found him with
his companions.
With t i: came the retty fctions in
giving excuses for evenings spent away
sw ay from home, until the wan face