The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-03

He had meant to end his misery b. a
sudden plenge, but his feeble neises
we're already exhausted by his unusual
exertion, and he paused to recover
courage. He tried to regain streigth
and resolution by Withdrawing FROM his |
pocket the little bit of pasteboard that
had worked such sudden chang, in |
his apathetic, british life. But the /
spell did not work as he wished, into
his bewildered brain came the thotght |
that Alice Arthray herself-the hind |
soonest woman in Thornton, the MODEST |
woman he had ever known or hear( of. !
had touched that same card-had ent !
it to him. He seemed to profane she
card by touching it, yet at the same
time the insensate thing seemed to be
placing before his eyes incident after
incident of his early life. In magma
ton he became his old self again, and
at last he turned again toward the town,
saving to himself;
Better be happy fool, while it lasts,
than a dead one"
But the charm did not last. BY the
time he had reached the tavern he had
sworn to reform and then sworn to steal
rum and get blind drunk as soon as pos
sible; he did not keep either oath, but
skunk into his own place in the bar
room and gratefully took a glass If rum
which the bar-keeper, in admiration of
the only man who had ever il that
room resented an insult to a lady,
silently handed him. The stuff made
him entirely his old self again. IL, for
got Mrs. Arthray, his =" ID resolf rs.
his bad resolves. a. 49,
but the thought chat at tv lveIoIkS
he was to have pint of Wigs " iu
t from daylight of the next mflihg s
: was to have unlimited liquor : " Ne A'
1t seemed to him the hour if"iu
O'Clock to twelve would ney. H''s' IL
tried to sleep, but could MOI ! ne 81 r.
of the liquor that began tdoN III 70,
, fusion as the evening lountrs athe II
! almost maddencd him, III ne oegsf
one man after another t&lNe MN r.
one drink, but all we3 oDddraIe' To-
they knew CT the part TIT Iom was 1o
play, and they wanted i'm to DE soker
enough to 20 all that gas Planned fol
him.
At the stroke of even he aroseI in
desperation and wet out Of DOORS t(
keep the sight and mel OF his hqfud
I enemy from tormening himany longer
The night was bite cold, SC he sneakec
into little bedroom in the stable, anc
stole the sleepingcoachmar ulster tc
keep him warm while he walked; IN
2 short timehe would have apint OF rum
= then he would be warm enough Tie
turned up the great collaI of the coat
2 so that if covered his ears; he thrust his
hands deep into the pockets; he telt
S gloves; he put them on. Then he
LAUGHED to himself and muttered:
l 'Nobody could tell me from a gentle
man-here in the dark. | wonder now
l it would feel to wear overcoat anC
a gloves by daylight again? By r.,
half feel as if | was a man again;
: wonder"
= What he wondered he could never
l afterward remember for he suddenly
: encountered something that felt Ike
post. but which, as it fell over, ppYec
: to be a man with lantern, beside Hhon
X a woman appeared to have peer
I walking.
You stupid fellow eXclaime tht
d man as he regained his feet; ''wb are
you9"
f Tom Dolser," replied the druFarc
g ktietiap IN: he seemed 20 have ahse's''' :
: great deal Of courage from ~ze-
K mans coat and gloves. NV Go Y
d know"
The man with the lantern BRUSH
L snow from his sleeves and mutter
e something to himself, to the effect tn
he had never heard the name befoH
+ and hoped he might never meet
). owner again, but the lady broke into
n musical laugh and exclaimed:
: ''What an odd way to meet an O
friend, Don't you remember me, Tor
n Alice Barrow? and let me make W
S acquainted with my husband, Mr.. Art
ray"
e This materially alters the case
: said Arbitrary, extending his han
Il ''AnS old friend of my wife may II
IS against me in the street whenever
d likes"
e Oscar is going to ring the chimes
S our old church tonight, and I'm wi
u him for company" said Mrs. Arthra
L ''Won you come with us, so | can oh
: with you about old times? 0, Osca
e this very Tom Dolser beat these We
/ same chimes on our wedding-day
didn't you, Tom?"
II Yes" is very small word, but Tc
n had great difficulty in uttering it.
/ asked himself what he was to do in the
u unforeseen and embarrassing circul
1t stances. Mrs. Arthray answered t
y question by taking one of his arms, a.
Is telling her husband to take the 9th
e and hurry along.
u ELSE the year will get there befo
IS us, V she explained. Then, after lit
Il pause, she continued: ''You don't see
q overioyed at meeting us, Tom?"
Il Then my manners don't tell t
n truth, said Tom, getting possession
IS his tongue at last; 'but I've been t
q astonished to speak. I'll walk lit
d way with you, but 1 must hmGry 81
1t then" ("Curse that school-hoflse w
v thought he To himself; .Td cnk tb9w
!, if 'twasn't for the pint that 5 waiting {
n me. | hope Arthray won't get his la
e tern in my face. y
: Hurry home to your wife al
family?" asked Mrs. Arthray. "Ho
g many children have you? We ha