The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-09
A WIFE'S INFLUENCE.

49, l9V you uOn'U want me 10 marry
louis, Aunt Sophie? ?" came from
De trembling red lips. Georgia AR.
peid, the willful young beauty, was
Npt in a mood to appreciate the wise
counsel of her aunt.
IS / do not want to give my consent
70 union that would render you
miserable, Georgia" )" replied the lady
| Hrmly, land yOu-would-would be
NE wife Of a drunkard ?'
''He promised me that he would
gull drinking" said Georgia, a little
Aarfuly this time.
" How long since ?"
%" More than a month ago"
MThe lady was silent for a few mo-
nents then said, gravely:
Georgia, | told you at first that
- habit was confirmed with Louis
fEiowe. He was sixteen years old
when [ first saw him intoxicated.
He is now twenty four.n
"8ut he may haye kept his prom =
Use Aunt Sophie"
"Don't delude yourself with that
belief, Georgia; Louis Howe passed
by here last night so deeply intoxi-
Gated that he could scarcely hold the
reins. You need not look incredu-
lous, child, it is true. If he was a
man of high moral principle,I i would
hope that a wife's gentle influence
might save him. Bnt think there
is no human help for him"
A long pause, during which Geor-
gia was endeavoring to restrain the
tears that would come, After a while
Miss Chester continued thoughtful
ly:
81 have known one instance when
a wife's gentle influence saved a no.
BILE man from disgrace and misera-
bic death, perhaps. But he had only
just began to quaff from the poisoned
cup. and besides he was far superior
in character to Louis Howe, You re-
member that you were remarking
only the other day upon the happi-
ness of your cousin, Ada Melbourne,
and her husband. They were marri
ed while you were at boarding
school,"
Georgia looked in eager expecta-
ton.
II will tell you of it ali now. Not
because | believe that any pure influ-
ence could actuate Louis, but because
iit,hYd. 4 had nXdaf TO was as afW;ayiS; a. stfaig6
girl-reserved, modest and gentle,
yet very firm and decided sometimes.
| was never tired watching her face
she lived with me then, you know.
She was in all respects such woman
as was rarely to be found"
"One day she came to me and told
me that one of her admirers had pre-
posed"
"What was your answer, Ada" |
asked, II rejected him decidedly,
Aunt Sophie" )" she replied. Il would
not marry a man who gave promise
of filiing drunkard'S grave.
He drinks moderately" I said,
Just for the purpose of trying her,
My husband must be totally alb
stemious," she said firmly.
II reioiced at her decision, and
was still happier when she gave her
promise to Charley Melbourne to be
his wife. They were married, and
at the urgent request of both, l went
to live with them in their new home.
Their sky was cIoudless Tor time,
but after a while L saw that Ada was
looking sad and care worn. | did
not question her about it, but waited
until she should come to me which
she did before long.
"Oh, Aunt Sophie, 1 am so miser
able ~ she exclaimed. | sOOth e
her tenderly, and after a while, WheI
she had become calmer, she told mt
all. That her rejected suitor, from
motive of revenge, probably, was en-
deavOring to draw Charley away
from the home influence. II have
tried to warn him." she said, "bu
he is generous to a fault, and will no
believe in the possibility Of such al
act of treacnery. He went to tn
club last night with him, and was al
most angry when [ tried gently II
demonstrate. On what shall do =
Ada was almost dispairing then
and it was nearly beyond my poWe
to encourage her. At length, how
ever, she arose, understanding tina
she alone could save him, and deter
mined to do everything in he
power.
That night Charley did not com
to tea. l knew that Ada anticipate
) repetition Of the last nights eXpC
rience, | could not sleep, and f.