Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-03-05
..sickyn echoed phebe, rising now. and

looking up into her cousins face earnest
ly and fearlessly; and she seemed the in.
carnation of maidenly dignity and cour-
age. Eyes, / am sick-sick to the very
hearts core! To what will a state Of af-
fairs such as we have Just witnessed
lead! III u women, our American wives
and mothers, set to husbands and SONS
an example of which to-night's shameful
scene is al illustration, where shall we
find good men? What will become Of
our country The history of the down
fall OF Rome, the condition Of France i'm
the Second Empire can answer that
question. Oh, it is something fearful to
think of-the power a woman wields for
good or for evil! 1t is the daughters of
such wild, imprudent mothers az those
who drank your wine tonight, Cousin
Charles, who to-day smoke cigarettes,
who carry sherry in their vinaigrettes,
who bet on horses and yachts. copy the
costumes and of the deni monde,
and have recourse TO chloral and morphia
for a nights rest. / have heard these
girls talk. / have watched these women's
habits this summer, and / know of what
l speak. OF the sons Of these same moth
ers i know less; but this young man you
introduced-of whom | feel sure you are
ashamed to-night-he, | dare say, is a
specimen OF such women's boys. Oh! l
shall go back to mine, with strong en-
deavor to help them to be true, good
men; and never teacher in the land was
more earnest and eager TO do her wo-
mans work than |! Cousin Charles,
surely you have it i'll your power a a
maD-and physician-to hinder, if not to
bar the gro,cing fashionable evils of the
day. See to it, | entreat you!'
She paused now, breathless with the
ardor OF her. warm appeal. Annette sat
silent, with downcast eyes, folding and
unfolding her fan.
The truth of the girls words was UNI
answerable. 1t was a d~isgraceful state
of affairs, when respectable people could
so far forget themselves as To behave as
her guests had conducted themselves this
evening. She felt heartily ashamed Of
it, and she did not wonder that Phebe
had been shocked. She had never before
been present at quite such a saturnalia
herself, and she heartily wished the birth
day fete had never suggested itself to her
mind. Somehow il had never struck her
before that anything she or her friends
could do would look disgraceful in the
eyes of Others. But Phehe was right; it
was disgraceful!"
Forgive me, Cousin Annette, for
speaking thus" continued Phebe, turning
to Mrs. hurry. "They are your friends
of whom l have spoken, j know; butt
is-so-terribly true!' And the girl ut
terly broke down, and bent her head on
one of the little tables and covered her
face.
For a few moments the silence contin-
ued. No one seemed 10 know Just how
to answer the overweight girls impas.
stoned outburst. The walters outside
We're rafting the empty bottles as they
gathered up the debris Of the feast, ana
through the open windows an early
chanticleer proclaimed the coming OF the
dawn. Mrs. Morris leaned over and ten
derby arranged a few strands of Phebe's
loosened braids that hung over her hot
cheeks, and whispered a comforting
word.
1T is very late, Annette" said Doctor
hurry, in "a weary voice. Il think we
had all best retire directly. Come. Phe-
be. don't break your heart owe the first
h.deous sight of an evil. Your words to-
might have awakened me to nv own duty
In the cause; | will see to it, | promise
you" And he took the hand she held
out 10 him in response.
Annette rose now, and seemed to have
fornd her usual volubility. 1T is dread-
fully late" she said. land, Phebe dear,
we will talk this affair all over together
more calmly tomorrow; but just let me
say a few words tonight, or / shan't be
able to sleep a wink. Yes. Charles, /
riH speak, f." she persisted, as her husband
essayed to draw her toward the door,
urging the lateness OF the hour; Il must
say a few words TO Phebe. You are
right, darling" she went on, patting
Phebe's shoulder, lin much that you
have SO strongly said against fashionable
society; but you must recollect, dear, we
have not all had the understanding you
received. We consequently do not see
things through your straight eyes; our
vision is strabismic and myopic, and so
sometimes we unconsciously drift into a
whirlpool of imprudent folly, that l be-
gin to see, now, may lead to an abyss Of
evil from which there is no escape. lam
glad you have had the courage TO shout
Danger! to me. | shall not forget to-
nights lesson. Mrs. Morris, | asked you
what | should do. / know now. For
one of the things, l make this resolve:
never to have another entertainment in
all my life where l serve wine to my
guests"
Doctor hurry put his arm about his
wife's waist, and sealed her resolve with
a kiss.
Goodnight, Donna Quixote," said
Mrs. Morris, as they separated for the
night at the door. II wish society had
more as earnest champions in the good
cause::"