The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-04
A DIsAPPoINTMENT
FOR LOVE AND DUTY.

There was no happier girl in all the
world than Eunice Ray when Claude
Erie told her of his love- She was only
10 at the time and had come to regard
him in her romantic way as something
noblor than the average man.
But shadow came to dim the glory
of her dream as the months rolled by,
II was rumored about town that Claude
had become dissipated and when she
questioned him about the matter he tried
to laugh II off, and acknowledged that
there were times when he drank more
than was good for him.
Eunice had promised her dying mother
three years before that she would never
marry an Incorporate man, and as Claude
refused to give up drinking there was
nothing left for the lovers to do but to
part.
1t was terrible blow to Eunice, but
she felt sure that she had done her duty.
Several years passed, her father died
and she was compelled TO work for her
own living. Fortune favored her, how
ever, and she soon found employment as
designer, living at the same time with
her employer.
Mr.. Grey and his wife were childless,
and treated the orphan girl as kindly as
if she had been a daughter.
She had been with her kind friends
about year, when one evening Mr..
Grey said, as he rose from the dinner
table:
'Wife, | would like you and Miss Ray
to be ready in couple of hours to &C
company me to lecture lam acquaint-
nj, ,r,t t1.,l an 80, l., H.
demon of intemperance has one Of his
strongest adversaries. ] took tickets
knowing your sympathy with the cause,
and chat you could not fail to be inter-
ested."
They went. The house was thronged
At the time appointed the lecturer
made his appearance.
Eunice had expected to see gentle
man somewhat advanced in years. but
instead a tall, slight, youthful figure
stood upon the platform. With an un.
comfortable start the girl recognized in
the lecturer, whose rich, eloquent tones
were already enchanting the attention of
that large, cultivated audience, the lover
who had gone from her IN anger four
years ago.
A film came before her eyes, and she
trembled in every limb; then sitting,
with great effort the tumutuous throb-
bling OF her heart, she sat quietly until
the lecture was over, and mingled with
the outgoing throng. But their seats
had been far in front, and some time
elapsed before the door of exit was
reached.
Then Eunice found that though she
had not met his glance Claude had seen
and recognized her.
After cordial hand-shake from Mr.
Grey and his wife, Claude turned to
their young companion, exclaiming:
=, This is truly a most delightful sur
prise. did not expect to meet an old
friend here tonight. Miss Ray, if you
will permit me, l would like to accom-
pany you home. There is no enjoyment
so great as talking over by-gone days"
That evening Mr.. Grey's parlor wit
messed scene of happy reunion as, I'M
rebuked, Claude clasped his recovered
treasure to his heart.
"Eunlce," he said, after awhile, "the
anger with which / left your presence
was short-lived When it Gained /
thought over your words, and though
they wounded my pride, / could not help
but see that they were only just and
right. determined to do then as you
had asked me, to pledge myself to alb
stain from any further indulgence in the
wine cup; but not until time had proved
the reality of my reformation would l
return to you. The year that followed
in distant city / devoted my time
and means to seeking out .and
striving to redeem cases of in
temperance. AS days went on my love
for my self-imposed work grew upon
me, and with a feeling of adherence
toward the habit which hitherto had
looked so leniently upon. When | re-
turned to your home to plead for my old
position in your love and esteem found
you gone-where l could not learn. But
my darling, we will think of the past no
longer, but of the bright future in which
wemay live and work together"
He paused.
Eunice did not reply in words, but her
little hand sought and found its refuge
in his,