The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1885-03-14

81 was very sick the next morning
While was heaving, and while the per
spiration of agony was standing on my
purple brow, Maud remarked:
al don't care if you are sick. It's gooe
enough for you"
had nothing to say. All my argu'
ments, tied up with blue strings, were
stored away where could not reach them
"Henry will soon be large enough tc
initiate the example of his father" she
said, referring to our little boy.
Maud, don't say that" replied.
will say it, for it's the truth. II
you can't stop drinking now, you CAM
stop when the boy grows up to"
"Now, here, Maud, am going to STOP
When 2"
From this time forward, will be a
sober man."
al can't believe you"
Cant you trust me once morep
"No. Every time build up hope
you tear it down"
ais it not better to hope, though the
hope may be vain, than not to hope al
alp"
1T is never better to be deceived
John"
CRY me to-day. swear by all that is
sacred, by the love bear you"
"Pshaw. The love you bear me. II
you loved me, you wouldn't drink"
"That is no argument, Maud"
at is the truth, and the truth needs nc
argument"
II don't want any breakfast. I'll &c
down town now. but mind you, I'll be
sober when return.
was unfit for work. My hand trem.
bled and nay thoughts were confused.
took up an article which had written
the day before, while was under the in.
fuence Of liquor. AT the time wrote it,
thoughtit was gem of sentiment, but now
the maudlin lines were repulsive. Maud's
face came up before me. Surely she was
lova"le woman. mo tempter needs
come to-day" unused. "Iwill 20 home
sober. will smoke while she cuts the
leaves of the new magazine and then
will read to her"
"Hello, john" exclaimed a friend,
opening the door and thrusting a smiling
face into the room. Hard at work, eh ~
Hard at work trying to work." re.
piled. "Took little too much of the
merry demon, Yesterday"
"Better come out and get cocktail 2''
ono l ana obliged to you"
otis the best thing you can do.
filed myself up pretty well yesterday and
felt like he'll this morning, but now, after
taking cocktail or two, Pm all right.
tell you what's a fact, john" entering the
room and shutting the door, there's no
use of man getting drunk. The trouble
is, that fellow who swears off takes a
drink and then says to himself, well, I've
broken my vow and I'd just as well &c,
drunk This is a mistake. II, after
taking two or three drinks, he would 60
to work, he would keep up his end in a
business sense, and would retain his self
respect. Come on, let's get drink or
two and then you can work. Confound
it. you are not SO weak that you are afraid
of the stuff, are your One drink now
would tall on you like shower of saliva
ton"
knew that his utterances were the ut
terances of sophistry knew that child
could see through the fiimsy texture OF
his pretended argument, yet went with
him. AS | shut the door of my room,
saw Maud's face-l saw the arms of NV
little boy stretched out toward me.
"We1l only take one round, Jake" I
said to my friend.
"That's all. Then well 60 back to
work."
Jake Howard was an insurance agent
and occupied room in the same build
ing where I did my work Of desultory
literature.
We drank. Jake told me an amusing
story. glanced At the clock. "Take
one more, and then we'll CO." said he.
We drank again. Let's sit down, said
he. We sat down. A mutual friend
that great abettor of the tempter, that
man who always drink but who never
gets drunk-came in and declared that
we should drink with him. asked for
soda water, but with the poo hoo Of good