The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-08-22
r1117=l-i1

| Now it had not occurred to the elder to
drink soda, but the suggestion, coming as
IL did in his exhausted state, was over
pOwering. He drew near awkwardly, put
/ on his glasses, and examined the list of
SYrups with great care. The young man,
being for the moment at leisure, surveyed
, critically the gaunt figure, the faded ban
dana, the antique Claw-hammer coat and
the battered stOve-pipe hat, with a gTadu-
ally relaxing COuntenance- He even called
I the prescription clerks attention by
cough and quick jerk of the thumb. The
prescription clerk smiled freely, and con-
| tinued his assaults upon piece of blue
mass.
81 reckon" said the Elder, resting his
hands upon his knees and bending down to
the list, ''yOu may gimme sassprilla am
little strawberry. Sassprillas good for
the blood this time er year, an straw
| herry's good any time"
The spruce young man let the syrup
stream into the glass as he smiled affably
Thinking, perhaps, to draw out the odd
character, he ventured upon a Jest him
self, repeating pun invented by the man
who made the first soda fountain. With a
sweep of his arm he cleared away the
swarm of insects as he remarked: People
who like a fly in theirs are easily accom-
m0dated."
1t was from sheer good nature only that
social smile: swell, a fly now an then
don't hurt nobody"
Now il there is anybody in the world
who prides himself ON knowing a thing or
two, 1t is the spruce young Yan who pre-
sides over a soda fountain. This particular
Young gentleman did not even deem
reply necessary. He vanished an instant
and when he returned a close observer
might have seen that the mixture in
the glass he bore had slightly changed
color and increased in quantity. But the
elder saw only the whizzng stream of
water dart into its center, and the rosy
foam rise and tremble on the glass's rim.
The next instant he was holding his breath
and slipping the cooling drink.
As Elder Brown paid his small score he
was at peace with the world. | firmly be-
heve that whom he had finished his trading
and the little blue stringed packages had
been stored away, could the Door donkey
have made his appearance at the door, and
gaZed with his meek, fawn-like eyes into
his masters, he would have obtained full
and free forgiveness.
Elder Brown paused at the door as he
was about to leave. A rosy checked
school girl was Just lifting a creamy mix
ture TO her lips before the fountain 1t was
a pretty picture, and he turned back, re-
solved to indulge in one more glass of the
delightful beverage before beginning his
long ride hOmeward.
Fix it up again, sonny" he said, re-
newing his broad, contidng smile, as the
spruce young man poised a glass inquir-
ingly. The living autOmatOn went through
the same motions as before, and again
| Elder Brown quaffed the fata! mixture.
What a singular power is habit? Up to
this time Elder Brown had been entirely
innocent of transgression, but with the old
alcoholic fire in his veins, twenty wears
dropped from his shoulders, and feeling
came over him familiar to every man who
has been sin his cups" AS matter of
fact, the elder would have been a confirmed
drunkard twenty years before had his wife
been less strong minded. She took the
reins into her own hands when she found
that his business and strong drink did not
mix well, worked him into the church. and
sustained his resolutions by making it
difficult and dangerous for him to get to
his toddy. She became the business head
of the family, and he the spiritual. Only
at rare intervals did he ever "backslide"
during the twenty years of the new era,
and Mrs. Brown herself used to say tina
the ''sugar in his'n turned to gall before
the backslide ended" People who knew
her never doubted it.
But Elder Browns sin during the re-
mainder of the day contained an element
of responsibility. As he moved majesticaIlv
down toward where BALKAN slept in the
sunlight, he felt no fatigue There was u
glow upon his cheek bones, and faint
tinge upon his prominent nose. He
nodded familiarity to people as he met
them, and saw not the look Of amusement
which succeeded astonishment upon the
various faces. When he reached the neigh
borhood of BALKAN it suddenly occurred to
him that he might have forgotten some one
of his numerous commissions, and he
paused to think. Then brilliant idea rose
in his mind He would fOrestall hlar,a
and dsarm anger with kindness--he
would purchase Hannah bonnet.
What woman's heart ever failed to soften
at sight of new bonnet?
AS have stated, the elder was man of
action He entered a store near at hand.
! Good morning." said an alfable gem