St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-26
'WOMAN'S TREACHERY.
How it Made One Mans Christ.
mas Miserable.

The last drop of egg nog had been
drained from the bowl. The coonskin
coated bulldozer of the law had intimat-
ed to the proprietor of the gilded drink
d%ispensary that his slumbers were being
interfered with. inaSmuch as honor for
babe his going to sleep until all saloons
were closed. Half a dozen loungers
stood about endeavoring to convince
one another that they had passed a
pleasant Christmas, despite the havoc
wrought to their internal rendering
works by countless champagne punches
and numberleSS Tom and ferries. The
proprietor smiled, and softly to himself
whistled Little Drops OF Water" as he
counted up the receipts of the day. The
skeleton of the rudely handled red
headed gobler grinned like the specter
of a vanished dream. Suddenly the
door flew open, giving a start to all as
sembled within. And such a creature
as it admitted!
"Sot.' was printed all over him in in
delible cOlors by that master litho-
bar, cOrrOded a section of the nickel
plated rail with his breath and growled:
"Gimme some whisky"
The man behind lodged another ex-
holtaion from that fiery crucible and
reached for a bottle. The %bystanders
gaZed in wonder, some of them. indeed.
in admiration, as he tossed off glass
after glass of the pain killer. One of
them knew him.
Boys" he said, so low that the ami
mated sponge heard not the soft tones
Of his rich, wine-colOred voice, there
is a man with a history. Ask him to
tell it you. He can a tale unfold that
will make your very souls rise in revolt
If fhn hnnnit tho inmate hvonOriuy fb0
baseness, if you will, of the daughters
of man."
He said no more. His money being ex-
hausted, the loathsome creature leaning
against the bar had turned away with a
sullen curse. His bleared eye fell upon
the little group intently regarding him.
He spoke, and his voice seemed to en-
plastic the degradation written upon
his face.
You fellows think me a beast" he
said. logged disregard of the world in
every line. You are wondering how
any man can sink SO low as [ have
done. No. don't attempt to deny it,"
as they looked a negatiOn; 'for | know
once like you. A creature. such as now
you see before you excited nothing but
loathing in this breast of mine. But l
was young then. The Divine Flower
of Hope blOomed in my breast, and to
do right was my one desire. Alas! that
the firmest resolutions are toppled over
by one breath from a fair WOman's
lips"
His head dropped upon his breast and
muttered curses came from between his
set teeth. 10.
'What has woman done to you,
friendT' inquired one bold youth.
kkNNhnt hos u-nn1on I0aa ~ y, L.
Kissed. ''LoOk at me! From a woman,
one of the fairest of her sex, came The
foul blast that has made Of me what |
am, a withered, distorted trunk, once
one of the nODleSt works of God, an
honest mani"
''I'd tell you the story" he pursued,
and there was a trace of unshed tears in
his voice, "but what would il, avail
You, too, would be caught by the same
silken meshes that ensnared me-"
go on, go on" they clamored in
chorus.
"Well. l will tell ~you-enough, atany
rate. to make you cognizant of the dire
destruction which turks beneath the
soft whispers of a beautiful maid.
Twas on Christmas day, two years
ago, that l met her. To-day recalls the
memories of that blissful time, which
was but the boding calm before the
chaos. Listen.
81 met her. Phi not discuss her beau
ty, but, believe me, no painter ever
made to ROW upon his canvas a face
more wondrous fair. l loved her. One
night, as the fire IN the CRATE burned
low, l felt her sweet breath upon my
temples. and knew that l was loved in
return. The following Christmas we
were married. l was prosperous then.
The curtains which yelled the future
seemed to hide long years of happiness
behind rose-tinted folds. All, little did
| know that there was a blight upon my
home! Little did l know how soon my
fond castle would fall Oh, how basely
was l was deceived!"
He sobbed in his misery. But another
drink composed him.
did she desert you?" inquired one.
mo. Would to God she had before I
discovered the depth of her deception!
Then l could have retained for her a
lingering affection. Now the recurrence