The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-20
THE OPEN DRAW.

ANSS VIII JUG CNCS ana CHECKS
stained with faint crimson.
Royal Merriam looked at her with the
laugh of conscious superiority.
"What nonsense Grace! AS if there
were any real dangcrT
"Thcre is always danger, ROYAL, in
your business, and with-with that hab-
it,"
"Habit, Grace2 Now you IRE going a
little too far. Idon't drink any more
than other men. It is not a confirmed
habit with me and never will be-"
"Good-by, Royalm
"You won't kiss mc2 You are vexed2"
"Only sorry, Royal. Because 1 know
that papa will never let me marry a man
who drinks!"
Royal Merriam turned on his heel, and
ne strobe away, muttcring something
about "narrow-mindcd old fools, who
expected every n to be cut after their
own pattern"
But he had walked only a little dis
lance when the cloud cleared away from
his face, and the old, carclcsss, good
natured smile ono more came back.
'tDear little Gracicl" he said to him.
self. "Pcrhaps she's right, after all. 1
believe l am getting to be more fond of a
stray glass than I ought to be, but of
course there's no danger. A man can al
ways control himself. Still I'll go back
tomorrow and make peace with the little
blue-eyed kitten, and if she wants me to
promise, why I'll promise"
The "Shephcrd's Arms was m unprel
tending little village hostclry, through
whose drawn red curtains the evening
lights shone chccrily, and Royal Mcriam's
boon companions welcomed him uproar-
iously.
"You're coming to the end of your
rope, old fellow" said one. "Thc super
intendent is going to strike everybody
that drinks a social glass off from the
List. Says it amt busincss-like-can't
afford to run any risks"
81 don't know what the worlds COM
ing to, for my part" said another, look
ing into the bowl of his short black pine.
IA man might rs we'll be a slave and
done with it,"
'I've heard something of it before"
said Merriam, carelessly. II don't know
but what it is a wise enough regulation,
on the whole. But there's one thing GER
tain; I'll drink the superintendent's
health tonight, if I never do again"
A general laugh echoed this assertion
of Royal Merriam; and in the hour or two
that followed, poor Grace Ardcn's pite-
Gus request, Grace Arden's tear brim-
ming blue eyes. We're entirely forgotten.
'Drunk-I drunkl Never was more
sober in my life. Yes, yes, 1 know it's
time to start, and here I am fresh as q
cricket"
Royal Merriam swung himself to his
place on the glittering, fre-throated To-
connective with the careless case and light
ness of a mountaineer.
600 ahead" he called out.
The depot-master looked c~uriously at
him.
"You may not be drunk" said he, soto
coce, ''but you have been drinking, my
fine fellow, and you'll get reported at
headquarters before the world is TWEEN.
ty-four hours older" :,
So saying he drew a little leather men,
orandum-book out of his vest pocket,
and wrote down the words, ''Meriam,
engineer Flying Dart" upon it, with the
slow, mechanical accuracy of one who
considers in his own mind.
Merriam fully believed in his own
assertion that he was not drunk. He
had been drinking a good deal, but then
he knew his head could stand more than
the average of brains. He felt q sort of
lightness-a j~ocular content-as he sat
there at his post The lights along the
road sparkled more. prominently than
usual; the stars seemed to shine with un-
,wonted brightness, and once or twice he
caught himself huskily answering some
one who had not spoken.
All of q sudden he grew sleepy--his
brain seemed to become confused.
"All right, - said he-s'all right I'll
back the Flying Dart against any engine
on the roadl Why, she couldn't go
LELLNsg1b Zw+Et .EINNAafr $780,. taLI. -.HaEA