Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-20
Gales aud Sketfhes.
A TEMPERANCE STORY.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

CONTINUED from Yesterday
More than all this he did. The path that
that led from the public road to the old
house ran near the rivers edge, close to the
brink, in places, of a high, projecting
bank. 1t was not a dangerous way to
travel for feet that were sure and steady;
but for the stumbling steps of one dazed
! BY liquor, unsafe, to say the least. And
so, knowing this and fearful of what
might happen, Davy would go night after
night to the point where the path left the
highway, and wait and listen alone in the
darkness, for his fathers unsteady foot
steps then he would follow behind him
home, guarding him all the way. More
than once the boys weak hands drew his
weaker father back from death. Once he
went 10 Larcom's-but he never went
again.
All, those were dark, dark, dreary days.
But for her boy, Mary Cartwright must
have given up all hope.
1--WE will save him yet, mother" Davy
would say with CHEEKY courage. "He II
/ be father again, sometime. know"
pray the good Lord, he will, deary,"
the mother would reply despondently ;
''but-O Davy, boy, what could l do with
out We ?'
What indeedp "You haven't got to,
mother" Davy said.
The winter came and went. How they
lived through it, those three IN the rickety
old house. is mystery; but they did. 1t
was long intensely cold season even for
down early and deep, and the river froze
! IL nohaorI &c A.
late as the middle of April this icy cover
ing remained apparently intact. though
weakened no doubt, by the warm sun.
shine and melting SHOWS of spring.
A little group of loungers in Larcom's
grocery one morning was discussing the
lateness of the season, when Tom Seelye
came in-old Tom Seelye, who had seen,
man and boy, the ice break up and leave
the river every spring for halt century.
He was conceited old fellow, and wink
and smile ran round the room.
"Wal, Tom," asked one, "when's the
ice a-goin' OUT? S'pose you kin tell US ~
"Ya-as," the old man answered with
solemn deliberation, ''if ennybody kin. |
kin. Inside O. two hours, Jim Holmes.
yen see Their water o. Their SIN john"
"Oh, go 'longr' said Jim. scoutngly
"B'lieve it or not's yer mind ter" old
Tom cried, his wrath rising. IL tell We
it's so, an when knows thing, knows
it. Come ERE" and taking Holmes by
the arm he drew him along to the door,
and pointed to dense black cloud with
grey, feathery edges, lying low in the
western sky. "D'ye see that ?" he ques.
toned triumphanty. THAT means wind
an plenty ont, an when it comes the
ice'll go, sartin."
$50 way. yerself.' uttered Holmes,
with laugh that exasperated old Tom to
the last degree.
I'm tell you what III do, Jim Holmes,
sence ye're so KNOWN" he cried. "Pll
bate my COW on't--th' OIL line back-agin
that yearlin' heifer o. yourn."
ITS a bargin," said Holmes, with a
wink Come on boys" he added, we'll
see some fun if nothin' more"
They filed out-that little crowd of
laughing oilers. and the last in line was a
man with an old hat slouched over his
blood shot eyes and sullen, bloated face
Jack Larcom, whom his father had left in
charge that morning, presently locked up
and followed to the river, wondering
whether the ice would really go. Later.
Davy Cartwright, seeing the little crowd
upon the bank, joined it; standing aloof,
and resting his eyes ottener upon his ia.
theirs face than upon the mass of ice
which might be expected momently to
break up. All. too we'll he read the ex-
preston on that desperate, moody coun.
tenance. David Cartwright had had no
liquor for day and he was half-crazed
with the wretched. torturing thirst which
he had no means of satisfying.
An hour perhaps, passed by.
"What We goin' ter do 'thout the oil
line back fer butter this summer, Tom ?'
inquired some one.
At which there was general guffaw
But old Tom Seelye shook his head.
Jest wait an see," he said and ever
as he spoke the wind freshened perceptibly
and the smooth plain they were watching
seemed to waver, as when the breeze
sweeps over field of grain. II tell yt
| aint seen the ice leave the S'n John 81
odd year fer nothin'. went out jest this
way in the spring O 40"
"Taint gone yet" suggested the frs
speaker. Look out fer oil line back
Tom"
But this time the merriment was les:
uproarious. Somehow the old mans faitl
was proving contagious. Again that un
easy motion. like the swell of pillows
and they saw that the black cloud haC
lifted from the horizon. disclosing a line
of lurid light below. A spiteful gust tore
old Toms hat from his head.
"She's a-comiu'." he declared, solemn
ly.
Some one was coming truly. At thai
moment the figure of a man appeared
hurrying across the fiat toward the river
1t was Hiram Larcom HIMSELF and those
who were nearest him saw that his face
was white as with heartfelt fear. He
did not stop. but ran directly down to the
ice.
"HoI on there" Numbered old Tom
"What yer thinkin' of, man You cam
cross"
II mustm Larcom's voice was husky
uMv cirl--mv Little Mans hean tak or