Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-10-26

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 private room III 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 sec 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 q regret
to betray it) was a vestryman of ST. AIMS
and took up the collection every Sunday
This worthy man was indignant that
IN Hurlstone should be paving court
TO the rector's daughter. "The young
rcapegracer he muttered behind his
sanctimonious, smooth shaven lip; II
should like to tell DIR. Bayliss of his
wickedness.' But, much as he would
have liked to expose the young man, he
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 iadleful
Il don't know what the right name
is" answered Jack. "but in the array
they called it hell broth =
"The devil they didI" exclaimed the
vestryuan; they're a 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
repeated vows of undying friendship.
John had the farthest to 60, 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 feltl 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? 1t seemed
possessed of devil John never for
moment suspected that he was the one
so possessed.) But finally it yielded to
his fumbling, and swung back with a
bang against the fence
His mother always a light sleeper,
heard the unusual noise. and came to the
window to see what was the matter.
Some stray horse or COW must have
pushed the gate open. she thought. ~
must see that better latch is put on"
Thus musing she looked down upon
the path, and saw the figure of a man
staggering up the walk,
What is it that puts SO fine an edge
upon mothers intuitions? Mrs. Hurl-
stone had never seen a son of hers intox-
icated. yet her heart sank within her,
and she knew in moment whose figure
that was, and the cause of its unsteadi-
ness. Hastily thrusting her feet into her
slippers and wrapping her dressing gown
about her, she ran noiselessly down
stairs, fearful lest she should be heard
and Johns disgrace made known to the
family. With trembling fingers she
turned the heavy key in the lock and
stepped out upon the wide piazza
Where was John?
There-that limp and ifeless body
lying at the foot of the steps-that was
John-her first born, her beautiful boy,
covered with mud, his hair tumbled
about and matted on his forehead, his
face pale and bloated, breathing long,
heavy breaths. That was John.
Once, years ago, she had seen a misera-
bic tramp lying drunk in the gutter, and
had pitied him that he could be so base