The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1889-07-19

''Go.-.G I..... ..lU, / itatu Something
better to offer; tho wines 1 pour are
from chalices Of Dcwitchlng carousal;
tho dance l lead is'over floors tessellated
with unrestrained indulgcnces; there IS
no God to frown on the temples Of sin
where | worship. The skies are Italian.
The paths i tread are through meadows
daisicd AMI primrosed. Come with me-"
The young mar hesitated at q time
when hesitation was ruin, and the bad
angel smote the good angel until it de-
parted, spreading wings through the
starlight upward and away, until adoor
flashed open in tho sky and forever the
wings vanished. That acas TIE turning
point in that young mans history; for,
the good angel flown, he hcsitated no
longer, but started on q pathway which
is beautiful at the opening, but blasted
at the last. The bad angel, leading the
way, opened gate after gate, and at
each gate the road became rOugher and
the sky more.lurid, and what was pecu-
liar, as the gate slammed shut it came
to with a jar that indicated it would
never open. Passed each'portal, there
was a grinding Of locks and showing Of
bolts; and the scenery on either side oil
the road changed
FROM GARDENS TO DESERTS,
and the June air became a cutting De-
ccmber blast, and the bright wings Of
the bad angel turned to sackcloth, and
tho eyes of light became hollow with
hopeless grief, and the fountains that at
the start had tossed with wine poured
forth bubbling tears and foaming blood,
and on the right side Of the road there
was Il serpent, and the man sail TO The
bad angel: "What is that s%erpont?"
and the answer was: THAT is the SER
pent Of singing remorse." On tho left
side of the road there was IL lion, AMI
tbs maj asked tho bad angel: "NVhat
is that lion?" and the answer was:
THAT Is tho lion Of ~all-devouring das.
pair" a yulture llew through the sky,
ami tho man asked the bad angel:
''lYhat is that vulture?" and tho
answer was: THAT is the vnlture
waiting for tho carcasseS Of the slain"
And then the man began to try to pull
off of him tho folds Of something that
had wound him round and round, and
he said to the bad angel: "NYhat is it
that twists me i'll this awful convolu-
ti0n?" and tile answer a "That IS
TIE WORM THAT NEVER DIES"
And then tho man said TO the bad
angel: "NNhat does all this meanp l
trusted in what you said at tia corner
Of the street that night; 1 trusted it MI,
and why have you thus deceived me?"
Then tie last deception fell off tho
cllarmer, and it said: II was sent forth
from the pit to destroy your soul; 1
watched my chance for many 4: long
year; when you hesitated that night on
the street | gained my triumph; now
you are here. Hal hal You are here.
Come, now, let us fill those two chalices
Of fire, and drink together to darkness
aud woe and death. Hail! Hailln Oh
young man, will the good angel sent
forth by Christ, or tho bad angel sent
forth by SIN, get the victory over your
soulp Their wings are interlocked this
moment above you, c0ntend.ng for
your destiny, as above tie Apprentices
eagle and condor fight mid-sxy. This
hour may decide your destiny. God
help you. 10 hesitate Is TO diel
The heart has ears, (.