The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-27
AN sOLD SCHOOL FRIEND.

AN :OLD SCHOOL FRIEND.
The sad Condition to Which He Was
Brought by the Demon Drink-His First
Pledge.
1t was a cold, sour eve with nothing
suggestive of spring or flowers, save
the boys and girls in merry glee hang
ing their May baskets sparse of flow
ers-jerking the bells with such gusto
that some were seriously MANNED
their rushing "te-he-ing" under the
covert of post or tree to watch the
recipient open the door and obtain the
gift.
Jack and had waited upon the door
by turns all the evening with fair sue
cess. But alas! when the basket gave
out, the bell kept ringing, and Jacks
temper began to get frayed and give
out also.
"Oh, it is not worth losing your
temper over" | said soothingly, after
he had made two unsuccessful trips to
the door, only to receive volley of
laughter from the boys and girls hid
behind a lilac bush. 1--WE will pay no
further attention to the door, and the
fun will cease"
So it proved.
We retired at a seasonable hour,
leaving a light in the sitting-room.
Presently we were awakened from a
sound sleep by another ring of the bell,
just as the clock was striking ten.
Those rascalsr' cried Jack.
q" l don't believe it is the boys" |
said. - 1t didn't sound like them-it
was too faint and timid. THERE
don't you see!" as there followed
another ring.
Yes. l see! but they can't fool me
again with such trick!n was the OBJ
stinate reply as he. turned over for a
nap.
The remainder of the night, however,
was undisturbed save as l was occa-
sionally awakened by the continual
tramp, tramp, back and forth in front
of our house; but supposing it the boys
We soon ceased to be annoyed by it.
In the cold gray of the following
morning was awakened by hearing
my husband in earnest conversation
with a strange voice in the kitchen-I
could not make it out, neither the sub
ject that engrossed them. Presently
Jack stepped to the bedroom door, say
ing:
Il have started the fire, Aurelia, and
will be back soon"
And he was gone before | could ask
a question to satisfy my curiosity, which
was ut its height when a moment later
| saw my husband going down the
wall in ninSn with IL
well-built stranger wearing silk hat.
These were all the points | had time to
note before they turned the corner and
were out of sight.
In the course of two hours Jack re-
! turned, but alone.
''Who was your mysterious morning
caller?" | asked, with ill-concealed Gu
| riosity, as we sat down to the savory
| breakfast.
IAN old school friendr' was the
somewhat short reply.
Noticing his desire to conceal some
thing, l was, of course, bristling with
interrogation points.
"lt's no use, l see," said Jack,
breaking into q sunny laugh at my
many questions, land perhaps ought
to tell you, though the poor fellow
| begged l would not mention it to you.
His name is Burt Latimer-we were
schoolmates at Hilton Academy twenty
years ago. He was bright, generous
\ fellow-his father was wealthy, and
Burt always had lots of money. It
seems that he is married and living in
New York, and travels for large
wholesale firm there--has for u number
of years. He confesses he has drank
moderately for some time and occa-
sionally had spree
at seems that while waiting here an
| hour for the train, a fellow hummer in
vited him to one of our first-class hotels
to pass the time They got to drinking,
and after the fellow had helped Burt
! spend . generous sum of money he left
him here in strange place, penniless
and dead drunk.
THAT was two weeks ago, and ever
| since he has been on terrible spree.
! He pawned and re-pawned his clothes
until he was almost naked, and had
absolutely nothing with which to pur-
chase liquor or lodgings, and for n week
he has walked the streets nights, and
gradually got sober enough to realize
what has happened"
Outdoors in these drenching night
ransP' l cried, the tears filling my
eyes.
Eyes; and he has scarcely tasted food
IN all this time He began his debauch
At the stylish bar of Hotel De LEVER, but
went from grade to grade, until lac took