Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-06-10
HNer1,'s Lover.

will REFORM said Hero Lewis. Ill
has promised me-.
Uncle royal looked down with sor
of mild, sublime pity from the heigh
of six-feet- two, upon his pretty niece
as he stroked her silky hair softly.
My poor Hero said he, what Is thu
word of drunkard worth:'
oh, uncle, don t use that cruel word
Don call him drunkard 7 cried the
girl, slrieking as if from blow, 'ough
| not to give him another chance?'
My common sense, Hero, says no.
4 hate common sense! flashed ou
Hero. People always talk about com
mon sense when they mean to be colo
and hard and cruel. | love Harry
Rivers and | mean to marry him.
DO you expect Harry tonight ?,
Miss Erminia Lewis was an old maiC
but she was young enough at heart to
sympathize in the love affairs of the
sister fifteen years her junior, and she
too, had a soft spot in her heart for
handsome, dissipated Harry Rivers.
He said he would come, was the
half hesltating answer.
They We're telling me down at the
corners this afternoon said Erminia,
that the railroad company are going to
discharge him from their employ
TO discharge him? What for::'
For habitual intoxicatiOn. They
say it is not safe thing to employ g
man--who is not always himself.
1T is SANDER cried Hero, hotly
1T is the work of some base villain who
wants the post himself.
Very probably said Erminia, sadly
Only Hcro-don't be vexed with me
darIing-but they say Harry has fallen
in with that set of men from the mines
and is getting into worse habits thar
ever.
And Erminia said nothing more, but
sat down to her needle work by the
| light of the lamp.
At II o'clock she went to bed, after
having ascertained, by IL peep through
the window, that Hero was still lean
ing on the gate, all alone in the autumn
darkness, with red leaves raining arounc
her, and the melancholy cry of an ow
in the distant woods lending an addi-
tional tinge of mournfulness to the
night and the stiffness.
No sooner did Hero perceive by the
disappearance Of the light from hel
sisters window, that Erminia had
sought her pillow than, softly gliding
through the gate, she hurried down the
road, with the scarlet shawl drawn
tightly over her head.
i will not be so deceived and put
off she murmured to herself, / will
find ont for myself whether he is to be
trusted or not,
The Miners Arms, at the corner Of
thlce roads, was all alight rs she ap-
preached it, and from the open case
ments she could hear the uproaring
chorus of IA drinking song, and that
harsh sound of besotted laughter. And
lifting trail of scarlet t-leafed wood
bines which formed natural curtain tc
one of the windows, Hero Lewis peeped
in.
With chill sensation of despair she
saw Harry Rivers arise, staggering tc
his feet with q brimming glass in his
hand and propose some toast, which
was received with noisy applause. Hero
did not wait to hear more. Dropping
the woodbines once more she hurried
away with white face.
God help m e. she murmured, 'Fol
the idol whom | worshiped has fallen
TO the ground =
Just at that moment the far off whis.
tie of a train smote through the silenc(
Of the night-a sudden, CHASTITY posi-
bility took possession Of Here's heart
'The midnight express she mutter-
ed to herself. And he dead drunk in
the bar-room!
Hurrying down a steep ravine, heed
less Of cruelty piercing thorns that rent
her dress and drew blood from her
tender skin, she sprang like Il wild deer
down the declivi ty, scarcely ever paus'
ing for breath until she had reached
the iron track in the valley below
where side rail marked the interest
ing course of a little freight road that
led away toward the north. At 6 ev.
cry morning and evening the freight
train passed over the road-bed, and il
was among Harry Rivers most import