The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-07
, YOU do.0 A tear.drop gIIstened on her

had made no promise.
Ralph was called away to distant
State and number Of months elapsed
before his return. a change gradually
stole over Kathie. She grew more quiet
than she had ever been before. Her
face grew white and haggard, and into
her soft brown eyes came look such as
might come into the eyes of a stag when,
hopeless before an impregnable wall, lie
turns at bay.
Even Ralph's letters failed to cheer
her, and after the reception of each the
look upon her face only grew more
hopeless. She had fancy for taking
long walks in secluded lanes, and Aunt
Mary watched her closely, with eyes oft
made dim by tears, for in her heart she
believed that the poor girl was losing
her mind,
Kathie had just returned from one of
her long walks, and paused in the old
fashioned garden, pregnant with June's
sweetest flowers. She saw figure rap
idly approaching. A look, half hope,
hIlf despair, sprang to her eyes.
On through the trees the figure came.
She stretched out her hands,
"Oh Ralphl My love, my love"
He took her in his arms tenderly.
"Are you i'll, Kathie? You look SO
strange! he exclaimed.
mo, no, not ILL.," She tried to
smile.
"Were you so glad to see me, little
girl, and was it because | was so long
in coming, that you have grown SC
pale?"
lie put his hand under her chin and
raised her face. "'rhis will never do.
will not leave you again. Come and sill
down here. l have something to tel
you"
lie drew her to a low seat near. "Dc
you know, little girl, haYe come aftcl
my wife? And / do not mean to &C
away without her. l have been ap
pointed and in less than three weeks
my congregation will expect me. an
prepared for all your objections, and
will not listen TO one; so you see yor
have nothing to do but TO yield grace
fully"
Kathie's lips moved convulsively, bu
: they were dry, and no sound came forth
: Her head was bent low, and he coult
not see her face.
You are not going to say one wore
against il, but will let me have my way
like that dear little girl you are?'
There was such gladness, such tender
ness in his voice.
She started up, pushing him from her
ono! o, dare not"
f "IThat do you mean, Kathie? lean
, not understands
Il mean Ralph, you must so away
You must never try to see me again.
. can never he your wife. Listen. and
VIII tell you why"
She raised her hand, as though ap
n pealing for mercy, and her voice 81
G weighted with pain, her face so whit
4 and hopeless, and her whole manne
. awed him and kept him silent.
!, 81 love you, Ralph, God only know
s how much. When all hope was dead,
prayed for strength to give you VI
+ Look upon me, Ralph Ansell. You, ,wh
T. are so noble, so grand, and strong, loo
+ upon me! Despise me If you must, bu
still pity me. The woman upon whor
:. you have bestowed the priceless meas
=. ure of your love, is a common drunkari
o, Ralph! did not mean TO wrong 20
- so! | thought that my love for yo
would hold me back; that | would gai
:. strength, and when | thought God ha
, forsaken me, you helped me, but it coul
/, not last. l cannot resist this burning
- consuming thirst. 1t maddens me. NJ
brain is on fire. Sometimes hope, ma
a even pray, that reason will yield.
ever since | can remember. / hay
fought against IT, o, my God, have
u not fought against ii; against the demo
. that holds me in his clutches! But q
~ in vain, in vain"
'e Ralph essayed TO speak, but she silence
>" him.
NAY, hear me out. think am a
- cursed, for | was born with the love
Il liquor. My mother subsisted almost e
Nv urely upon wine for weeks before | "
oi born, and often l have shuddered
hu hear Aunt Nancy tell, how in my bal
e' hood, cried for brandy. They let /
ns have il; for could not live without
"' and when grew older and they refus
,s me, took il for could not live wit
''o out it. When | went away to school
fought against it, only to yield in /
-, end. All my spare money, and falll
- was lavish, went for liquor.
no II came home, took up the iig
again, but TO yield as before: then y
o, came. thought then that l had &C
aJ quored, and l was almost happy; l
mo slowly the old burning thirst came baC
Ter "Ralph, you remember the time y
ed asked me not TO drink wine because
on hurt your My heart broke that mig
FER All hope died. for dared not prom
l knew then that l could never be yC
ma wife. said to myself, Ralph Ansel
90 wife, a minister's wife, a drunkar
~, over and over again, until the wo
were burned into my brain in letters
fire.
mo, never, Ralph, never! / lo'
Md you too well. could not drag J
I I down, could not point the finger of sec
IL at you, and tried to write to you and
ar. you not to come again ;but Ralph, | wa
ma Ell to see your face once more, and h