St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-12-02

are very restlVe."
Clarence was just enough under the
influence of liquor to be angry at any
opposition to his wishes. "What are
you talking about, MOTHER" he cried.
"Haven't l driven horses ever since /
could hold the reins7 You've let old
Abram here make you as cOwardly as
himself. Get out this minute, sir, and
thank your stars that / don't curl this
whip around your ears for your impu-
dence."
Mrs. Moore looked at him in aston
ishment. Harry, who was watching
her, saw that the terrible truth dawn
ed upon her, for she turned white and
rigid, and sat silent and motiOnless
like statue. The old negro as he de-
scended, shook his gray head and
stood on the sidewalk watching the
carriage.
GAS sure as he don't drive careful,
it's farewell to dem ALL" he muttered.
ale amt right; Mass Clarence amt
hisself. / seed dat right away, and
mistss seed it too. Poor mistiss she
knOwed de signs, fur Mass Moore, his
father, used to be rampageOus when
de liquor wos in him. And it kilt him,
too, at last. Pm gwine to fOller 'em
sure. Dat boy be likely to make a
smash-up." He started off as fast as
his old legs would permit him.
Clarence, while driving, talked and
laughed loudly, but the rest of the
uneasy at her brothers reckless driv-
ing.
"Clarence, don't whip the horses"
she said. "Abram never does"
With loud laugh, Clarence raised
the whip and struck one of the horses
a swift, sharp blow. 1t reared, plung-
ed, and started off at full speed. In a
few moments he had lost control of the
animals, and could hardly hold the
reins.
"Take the reins," whispered Mrs.
Moore, cor we shall be killed" In a
second Harry took the reins, saying,
quietly, "I'm stronger than you are
let me try to stop them"
But to stop the maddened animals
seemed impossible. They tore down
the street, and the people scattered to
to right and left. There was bridge
before them, over a canal-a new
bridge, not yet completed, for it was
without railing. To cross it with the
horses at full speed could hardly fail
to result in a catastrophe. Harry was
strong and muscular, and by an al
most superhuman effort he succeeded
in turning the horses heads, and
brought them up before a high brick
wall which stood near the bridge.
~ suppose | ought to thank God"
he heard Mrs. Moore murmur; "but
there are things worse than DEATH"
Completely unnerved, Clarence did
not offer to take the reins, bnt allowed
Harry to drive back to the hotel.
When they were about leaving, Mrs.
Moore took her sons hand and gazed
sadly into his face.
"My son." she said, 81 am not hap
Dy to-day, but if you do your best to-
night, think l may forget my fears
md my trouble. Will you disappoint
ne ?"
"Surely not" he said trying to speak
sayly. "Don't be afraid. Come and
snjoy my triumphs. You know Pm
not likely to be overcome by stage
right"
She looked gravely and steadily at
him, and replied, "I'm not afraid of
stage fright. But l will trnst you"
The young men walked back to the
college, Clarence nervous and irritable.
81 don't know what mothers got in
her head" he said, fretfully "she
OOked so queerly at me. But L do
feel pretty shaky, that's fact, and |
suppose she saw it. You know, Harry,
Pm no coward, but when those con-
bundled ponies ran away, felt like
I've studied so hard this
ERIN that l suppose it's pretty well
broken me down."
"It's not wholly study" Harry said |
,luntly. "It's that vile wine and |
brandy you've been drinking. 1t takes
he strength from your muscles and
he courage from your heart. For
sake, Clarence, do not drink
my more. You'll ruin yourself, and |
Freak your mothers heart"
"Good boy" Clarence laughed, pat
ing him on the back. "Tm not quite
fool yet, and | suppose | know what
IN about Don't be uneasy about
ne. have too much at stake" and
lie went to his room. But he was so
lnnerved that half hour before the
exercises he felt that he
must have stimulus, or he would be
lhClI w uON anu nv Niohh
gain from the brandy flask in his
runk.
Harry had not gone back to his
DOM, and when he next saw his friend,
le had come forward upon the plat
Orm, flushed and handsome, to begin
lis valedictory. At the second glance
Iarry's heart sank. He saw that
;larence's zone drop more" had ended
N making his step unsteady and his
tterance confused. At first he got on
'retty well, but soon he began to hes
tate, and then to talk thick and fast.
"Oh, what madness ~ thought his
riend, almost groaning aloud. "He's
urely not going to break down ?"
But the next moment his question
7as answered. Wonderful as Clar-
nce's memory was, it could not over
ONE the paralysis of strong drink.
lie had notes, but in his condition he
had disarranged them, for
q faltered, hesitated, and then broke
own utterly with foolish laugh.
The next moment Harry had reach
d his side, and was leading him from
he platform. He talked wildly, and
Iughed about his strange ''tiascO,"
5 he called it, on the way to their
pom, but when they reached there, he
rev himself on his bed, and the next
linute was buried in profound slum-
er.
Poor Harry remained awake nearly
II night, grieved and mortified at this
ownfall of a promising career. He
new that it was a blow from which :
larence, with his proud, ambitious I
ature would not be likely to rally.
What would he do when he awakened
ON that drunken sleep, and realized
is situation.
1t was late in the morning when
AIRY awOke from his disturbed slum-
hrs. His rOOm-mate's bed WAS emntH