The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-07-28

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er at different times in his life, but the
folks at home had never seen him under
the influence of liquor. He either went
without drink altogether or he gave him
self up to it. They used to say in the
army that he could drink the entire mess
under the table. He didn't care much
for champagne, though when he was
thirsty he would fill a celery glass and
drain it to the bottom. But this was done
rather to amuse or astonish his compan-
| ions than to Stake his thirst. "Hard"
liquors were his choice. and when be
once began on them he kept it up in
way that would have killed most men
He was convivial drinker, and seldom,
unless to wipe cut the memory of some
| thing unpleasant, took drink alone.
When he had money, he treated the
crowd; when he had none, the crowd
! treated him.
When he had money! There was
mystery about Johns money. Some
times he was absolutely penniless; again
he would be quite flush and his pocket
book would be stuffed out with green
backs of large as well as small denomina-
tons. His mother was the most unsus-
picious of women, and when she said to
him one day, John, dear, where do you
get so much money!" he answered her in
his most ingenious manner, sealing the
statement with kiss, THE government
owes me lot of back pay, mother, and
every once in while it pays up. Some
day it will be all paid; then I'll have to
go to work like Rush and the rest of the
boys"
She was perfectly satisfied, poor wo-
man. How little she knew-it is Just as
well that she didn't-that there were as
hard and daring gamblers in that little
town of FarTnsted as the metropolis itself
could boast, not only among the low fell
lows in the barrooms, who played for
small stakes and lost as little as they
won, but among an outwardly respect
able class. There was little club of six,
of whom John Hurlstone was the young
est land the sharpest), who met on GER
tain nights in a private room in the
Union house and played high till the
gray light of dawn crept in through the
chinks in the window shutters and
warned them that some busy housewife,
up betimes, would see them Sinking
home in the small hours unless they
stole away at once.
What CONSERVATION there would have
been in Farmsted if knowledge of this
little card party had come to the ears of
the gossips of that quiet town. for these
men were the ''solid men" of the place
the wealthy merchants, lawyers and
bankers; and one Of the number 4 regret
to betray it, was vestryman of st. AIMS
and took up the collection every Sunday.
This worthy man was indignant that
John Hurlstone should be paving court
to the rector's daughter. THE young
gcapegracep he muttered behind his
sanctimonious, smooth shaven lip; "I
should like to tell DR.. Bayiss of his
wickedness." But, much as he would
have liked to expose the young man, ne
hesitated, for fear the young man might
in turn expose him.
The more John Hurlstone thought of
marrying Amy Bayliss the more his con-
science pricked him, not only on account
of the error of his present way, but also
on account of the past. To blunt the
points that pricked, he had recourse to
his favorite liquor, but kept the knowl-
edge Of his dissipation from his family,
for they never asked when he came
home. His bedroom was on the ground
floor, and he could admit himself through
the French window If there was any
reason to suppose his entrance by the
door would be heard.
One night the card party held very
late session, and the vestryman, who had
had an unusual run Of luck, insisted
upon "whooping it up and letting the
devil take the consequences" This SEN
timent thoroughly harmonized with
Johns mood, and he brewed bowl Of
punch that was as seductive as it was
treacherous. The vestryman smacked
his lips and slapped John on the back
with brotherly affection. "Never tasted
anything sho good in m'life. What
dyer call it, Jack, old fellow" he said,
helping himself to fifth ladleful.
II don't know what the right name
is" answered Jack, "but in the army
they called it hell broth"
1.-THE devil they didI" exclaimed the
vestryman; they're wicked lot in the
army"
Finally. it was proposed that the party
should break up, and, as the night was
breaking up too. and the punch was all
drunk, the motion was adopted. and the
vestryman and the lawyer, the banker
and the merchants, linked arms and took
the middle of the road until their paths
diverged. Then they parted, after oft
vows of undying friendship.
John had the farthest to go, and the
punch was well down in his legs before
he got half way home. His head swan,
and he put up his listless hands to wipe
away the cobwebs away from his face.
How sleepy he felt! He wanted to lie down
along the road; but something impelled
him to keep on, and on he went, his un-
certain footsteps taking him within an
inch of bitches, heaps of stone, and the
rows of trees that fanked the paths. At
last he reached the homestead gate. What
was the matter with the latch? Itseemed
possessed of q devil. John never for
a moment suspected that he was the one
so possessed.) But finally it yielded to
his fumbling, and swung back with
bang against the fence.
His mother, always light sleeper,
hoard the unIS11al noise and came tn tho