Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-02-27

| OF Lue IlluAu|'u VI q IOi"o''e' "" VIVA
know, but with the quiet happiness ola
woman who loves truly, entirely, her
self. But for the late knowledge that
the fatal cup, which has ruined thou
sands, and ten of thousands, is not
strange to your lips, my heart would be
wholly yours
But, Margaret. your influence has
such power oyer me !; under It, what
can l not conquer? Blessed with your
love, what might I not become!'
The beautiful lips lost their tirmness
of expression, and quiyered with
strongly expressed feeling.
81 have no faith in my power she
said sadly. God only knows how
intensely l pity you, but should 90
mad if | were forced to pity my husband
| must esteem, respect as well as love
the man to whom give control of all
my future
is there no hope for me ? he passion
ateIy exclaimed. Are you so cold, SO
hard, that you deny me all trial-that
you refuse to believe for you | could
conquer, would conquer, airthat stood
between ne and my dearest hopes Of
earthly happiness: Margaret! Marga-
ret no human creature but yourself
can save me. If you refuse to listen
to BELIEVED care not what gulf bears
me to oblivion
II dare not listen to you,' ard great
tears rolled down Ter cheeks; u dare
not take unon myself such VOWS as bind
our earthly iates, and feel in my heart
how entirely we shall yet be separated
in all true union. | must say to YOU, |
have no faith in the deadly nia,uation
of one who INDUCES in the appetite for
strong drink.
you condemn me, then, to ruin !?
II condemn you to rum! God forbid .
Harry Norton, it all remains with
yourself. | cannot conceal from yon
that | think you have Il hard battle
before you in your life. To conquer
that appetite-to determine that you
will not yield, and to abstain from all
that tends to tempt, to awaken desire
!or stimula1 IS, no matter how weary.
how worn you are with the strngg e--
demands the strongest will, the greatest
self sacrifice. the praycrtul spirit, the
Christian life. Are You capable of all
this? II you doubt Yourself at all, II.
meicy never tempt a woman to share a
drunkurl's life--to behold herself the
mother Of children who will never
know the beauty, the holiness, the
protection OF home.
You think | ezaggerate your faults,
You do not know all that is burned as
with the stamp OF fire upon my memory.
The years roll back, and | can see Il
young, trusting, cledulous girl, who
knew neith her herself nor her needs in
life, welded to man whose earthly
prospects seemed farer than those Of
most men. Bat this girl, so innocent,
lovely and trusting, learned soon-ah,
too soon that her whole life was sac
ri6ced to one whose taste for the
accused stimulants of liquor far ex,
ceeded his love for the woman he pro
fesse ed to adore. Year after year passed
on, adding to this fatal taste additional
strength. No caresses OF sweet.volcod
lovely little children, no delights of
home, were half so dear to this man as
the one iufatuation of his life.
This girl always mature IN mind,
and far his superior in nature, left no
means untrled to save him. She was
very attractive in manner, conversation,
and person, and all her attractions were
nut IN force to save hlm. She concealed
his habit of intemperance for years.
She kept his faults to herself. She
never breathed aught against him. She
upheld him, strengthed him, counselled
him. If woman influence could have
saved him he would have been saved.
i have seen her home taken from her.
Her children and herself wandering
from one place to anoth 3r as she could
best earn their support; and this
man. seemingly Ieyoid Of human feel
ing, leaving her to her own resources,
while wealthy relations cared for him.
This woman was very near and dear
to me, and nothing upon earth could
induce me to put myself III subjectlon
to the possibility Of such fate. You
have my true friendship, my best wish
es for your welfare, my sincere prayers
that you may conquer in this fiery trial
but dare not give you more. God on.
~ knows how hard this is for me to say
to you. How willingly would | share
your fate in poverty, in IN ordinary trl-