Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-25

ma hnOfkfu Nh M ~ WV 'i''N''''J -
She fact that he was partially intoxi-
Gated. ! had never known him to in
Aulpe In strong drink before, and was
purpriscd rs well rs panied by his APP
Ocurnncc In his present state. was 40
troubled that / could not sleep, even
cong after ] had gone to my room, no
Ear in the night dressed, and, throwing
n wrap about me, stole out OF the house
20 promenade up and down the lawn
walk where the moon shonc bright and
lair.
saw IIanlcy lying on a couch In Mrs.
'.awton's sitting-room as passed out,
md supposed him asleep; but In that
wns mistaken, for shortly after ]
rcachcd the lawn he came out TO mo,
end though attempted 20 escape to the
house he detained me.
Agnes" he said, in tones that were
plmost pitiful, "you dcspiso me now,
don't you2"
mo, Mr.. IIanley," replied, 81 do not
Gespisc you, but pity you. How could
Jou so far forget yourself us TO take
that stcp?"
81 got drunk, Agnes, because could
rot forget myself attempted TO drown
-hc recollection Of myself In liquor.
mn miserable, TO tell You the truth, and
? almost wish had never seen you"
az seeing me has anything TO do
Eith your condition this evening, !,
| 700, wish you never had seen me-"
III II has anything to do with it?' he
cpcatcd. at does have TO do with It,
| is the whole cause of IT,"
Then I'm sorry we ever met"
"Nes, believe you are, and 80 am |.
You arc TO bo tho curse Of my life,
Agnes You are the rock on which my
manhood, my happiness and my soul
'gill go to wreck. DO you understand
,hat?" he asked, after pause
"No, do not understand that" | an
wcrcd.
"Why don't you?" he questioned.
because there Is no sense in such
'nlk. II you have half tho manhood
| i've you credit for, you will not let
'our soul and your happiness go TO
-rcclS on any kind Of rock"
"Ihnt is easy enough said, Agnes, but
lou don't know what you are talking
Tbout."
perhaps don't"
Ilnow You don't It's the very devil
~ bc married To- one woman and love
cnothcr. I've made COMPOUNDED fool
- myself and spoiled my life, and now
don't care what becomes Of me. You
.'on't care, either, I'm going TO let all
SOLIDS 20 and strike for the devil by tho
shortest route. I'm going to take to
drinl, aud everything else low and de.
grading
"Nou viii show uncommon good
sense by that, won't you? II you hav,
nctcd the fool once, ns you say, do yor
think You will mend matters any by re
penting the opcration?"
81 will get some satisfaction out q
IT," lac replied, doggcdly, n little taken
uhnclS 10y the tone Of my answer.
~ hope You may, Mr.. Ilnnlcy. There
Is so much satisfaction 10 be got out oI
throwing ones self To the dogs,l shoult
think. II no doubt makes one thinl
b SO much better Of ones self, and then i
Is 50 gratifying To ones friends. You
/ have adopted wise notion, certainly
5 and one that il great credit 10 YOU
. Agnes, for Heavens sake don't h,
sarcastic. | am not in n humor 20 bca
I ridiculc, and especially from you. |
you can't comfort me, or ut the lcas
r show some sort Of sympathy for me
c don't talk at ALL"
Q "Nlr llanlcy," replied, in all serious
= ness, 81 do sympathi2e with you fror
Q the bottom Of my heart, and If 1t was !
my power to comfort You ! would sure
= ~ do H. But there Is only one thing
D can say to You, and you would pcrhar
h never thank me for saying that
: "Say It," he answered. 81 don't SUI
pose IL will comfort me much, and
Y may pain me, but don't care, wan
! To know what You think of me, so spca
II out and spare not. Say I'm fool,
beast u scoundrcl, anything you like.
~ II cannot say that you are scoul
= drcl, win, because you are not cal
It not say that you are n beast, but mu
Is say that you are taking course thu
n leads In that direction; and rs TO being
IT fool, am compelled to admit that yC
Is IRE netting very much like one"
1t "'That's right" he interrupted "Nc
n are certainly honest and plain spoke
10 and admire such traits. Speak on
70 ~ have nothing moro to say, exec
~ this am ashamed Of your talk NJ
70 behavior. Its unmnnly, weak NJ
10 wicked. You may have made one mi
take and married your life by II, b
NJ don't be 50 foolish rs to spoil yo
n whole existence ON that account. J
n one compelled you TO marry my siste
he and II you made n mistake II is all yo
ny own fault and You have nobody b
10 yourself TO blame"
b. "Thuts true, Agnes" he replied.
OF don't blame anyone but myself and 1
OF on myself propose to take revenge
"Well, that's foolishncss again, and
n won't talk with you about it. What
NY want TO show you Is the duty You on
To yourwifc. You married her promising
love and cherish her-to devote yo
m life and its efforts TO the advancing
or of her happiness, and she has II perf'
H. right to expect that much of you.
as You entered into disagreeable compa
you are none tho less duty bound
ht comply with your pnrt OF It. For }
Is sake, II not for your own, you must
n man, living u straight, honest, sol
iii life, performing well your part of yc
IRE marriage agreement. Manhood n
iii honor require that much Of you"
/ "Agnes, It is easy for you 10 say Tn
do but you don't know what II requires
rat ayes, do. | know IL requires Sc
nv encriNpp lint that mnlkcs heroes IL