The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-11-14

total abstinence before he goes to New
York"
"You surely do not mean to insinuate,
Mr.. Hoyt, that my brother Charlie has
not the strength of will or principle to
keep him from getting drunk" Agnes
asked, with some warmth.
"You jump at harsh as well as hasty
conclusions, Miss Agnes" replied Clar-
| ence.
Agnes drew herself up proudly, and
speaking in Scotch, as she was prone to
| do when excited, said: "Mr. Hoyt,
was brought up in Scotland, where to
neglect bringin' out decanters an glasses
tae livery caller would be cad inhospita-
| BILE, yet didna see mair drunkenness
than here. My ain fayther always took
his nicht-cap, toddy O. Janet's ain
mixin', an 8 my brother has come
through long line of ancestry wha
could TAX their whisky in moderation
wi'out maxim brutes O. thersels I've
nae fear O. his fain'."
"Miss Agnes" said Clarence, sadly,
II have learned that we are fearfully
as well as wonderfully made, and l can
say that my own nature has been to me
a labyrinth of surprises, showing weak
points every way l turn, and requiring
constant fortifyins."
II couldna' respec' a man. Mr.. Hoyt,
who had to treat himself like baby. L
ken it's far manlier to use an not abuse
a Gods gifts. Is there any thing in
herent in drink which is superior to
what in my opinion is Gods highest
form of creation, the human will?"
Beyond certain point, yes, Miss
Agnes and" continued Clarence, ''even
though may not be liable to fall be-
fore drink, if drinking wine cause my
brother to offend, or even to run the
slightest risk, will not touch it while
the world standeth."
The wide difference between their
opinions on the teetotal question
troubled Clarence, but he felt that the
petritied ideas of generations of whisky
drinkers often baffled the tiny hammers
of argument, when one blow from the
cruel battering ram of bitter experience
would grind them to powder.
Charlie had been in New York six
months. Short letters were received by
Agnes and their contents, usually I'M
important, eagerly read. Drafts on the
firm were being presented frequently,
with assurances to Clarence that the
factory would be in operation within a
month.
Meanwhile Clarence had spent many
evenings with the Scotch lassie, and he
realized that she was the one woman in
the world to him. He noticed that her
dark eyes frightened now at his COM
| ing; this was sufficient for him to know
that he was adding to her happiness,
therefore he was happy. He sometimes
thought that it was only the model
| Scot" the mutual bond of interest be-
tween them, that caused Agnes to look
for his evening visits.
He did not know that in Agnes Nc
Donald's heart there was almost uncon-
sciously to herself little battle in
progress between what she would have
called her ideal and the ''namby-pamby
Yankee" She has learned more of the
worlds wild chaos of late. She has
learned that men, those stronger ves-
sels are of exceedingly brittle stuff, es-
pecially those outwardly of the most
beautiful workmanship, and that only
occasionally is one to be found able to
steer so far from his fellows in the
foaming vortex into which they are
tumbled together, as to keep from be-
ing defaced beyond repair, and often
broken into fragments. She knows
that Clarence Hoyt is one of these rare
exceptions, and she knows that the
Great Potter himself has found him
alone on the open sea and strengthened
him, so that no clashing together with
the world can deface or mar the princi-
pies which are his safeguard.
In spite of her self-persuasions to the
contrary, she is beginning TO feel a
strange, sweet sense of restful security
and confidence in his society, and an in
voluntary leaning and dependence upon
him. Does she begin to realize that the
spiritual and moral strength of a man
are his real strength, and that her
ideal has been its mere semblance?
One morning Janet brought her let
ter with the New York post-mark.
The address did not appear so firmly
written as usual, but, after scrutiniz-
ing glance, Agnes tore open the en-
velope. 1t contained half sheet Of
paper, upon which, evidently copied by
letterpress or something similar, was:
For Gods sake come to me. l have
ruined the whole of us, and am in Lud-
low street Jail. Don't tell Agnes,
Charlie"
For an instant she felt as if stunned,
a scarlet pail seemed to drop over her
eyes from her brain, but the terrible
words repeated themselves, and she re-
covered. What the letter meant she
knew not, but one thing was certain,
Charlie was in trouble, and some fatal
ity or mistake had revealed to her what
he had tried in vain to hide. Her i'm
pulses seemed clashing. The first was
to fly to Clarence for help; the second
was to try to hide her brothers dis
grace. if that were possible, from him.
The next day carriage drove up to
Ludlow street Jail, and young lady
closely vailed alighted. She entered
the Office, and her breath was quick and
short as she spoke the beloved name in
that accursed place. An officer went to
inquire, and next moment she over
heard in a stage whisper the reply:
sob yes she wants the Scotch chan