News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-05-11
JIM GILLETTE.
How "a Drunkard Was Northumberland
and Hell but a BIonth Apart.


Onenight jim Gillette was drunk again,
holding high revel with companions, who
fawned on him because Of his wealth,
but who would desert him when his
money was gone.
Next day he was sober. Next day he
was half inclined to quit the whole bust
ness and reform. lie had felt that way
often before He checked the rising
penitence before it should overpower
| him and whirled through his dressing.
He sat there with the whisky before
| him and tried to make mental cata-
Iogue of the few pleasant things life
contained for him. But, in spite of all,
his mutinous thought would hold up no
picture save that of blessings either gone
or going. His fortune, his youth, his
possibilities, his-and there came groan
of anguish-his engagement!
He remembered how he had courted
| Ellen Downs while he was yet at college;
how she had kept him at arms length, but
never dismissed hin; how she had been
won at last by impetuous wooing, and
how he had exulted in his dominion over
! her. But there was much of the man in
him. after all And the wave of regret
that bowed his head and suffused his
ewes came because he knew she was
rood woman, and lat he did not deserve
her love. Just nov his punishment was
very bitter. He wanted her soothing,
her comfort and consolation. He was
very, very low.
How he hungerel for one word of com
fort: for one touc, Of caressing; for one
assurance of forgiveness!
He climbed on a passing street car and
was carried within Il block of Miss
Downs handsome home. On the way
he wondered IT tt air of quiet in the
street, at the crus.. # holiday costumes,
at the flowers app airing on every coat
lapel and the brigl-. ened welcome in the
windows of the ho; .;es. He was too dull
to understand it.
Ellen Downs cal. down to the parlOr.
She was dressed III party. She had
never seemed SO 8loriOusly beautiful.
He had come to feel a sort of proprietary
right in her He counted confidently on
Il prefacing lecture, but after that on a
whole volume of comfort and encourage
ment.
dropped back YEARLY and extended his
hand.
But she had scarcely entered the room.
There was something frightening to him
on her face There was something fear
full in her attitude.
Jimmie" she said Why did you
come here? You have made Wy painful
to both of us the little | have to say"
He had risen. His pale check was
ashen. The wrinkles i'll his face had
deerened to burrows. The trembling in
his limbs had increased to Il palsy.
-Elien-why' he stammered.
But she stopped him.
This is Thanksgiving day. You have
done wrong once too often. You must
go away; do not want to see you again
till you are man once more.
But Ellen" he stammered, ''our en-
gagement. Do you mean that you do
not love me?'
Our engagement must be broken,
she said. "Weneed talk no longer; you
must go will not see you again until
you have stopped drinking-till you are
what you might be-"
She had retreated from him little,
but she had no need. He covered there
for moment, pressing his hands on his
face till it seemed he could crush the
very bones. Then he rose. white and
CHASTITY. and tottered out of the door.
Jim Gillette had returned, and here
was the miracle He had been gone less
Al. Int oil f,.i0 1c
not know him. He was clear of eye,
bright of skin, quick and strong in his
movements. Il better man than any of
them-and an abhorrer of drink.
No two men on opposite sides of the
earth, no two men from parent races
cternally estranged, no two men with
counter currents Of blood clear from Gre
alton flowing in their veins, were ever
more unlike than the Jim Gillette who
went away Thanksgiving day and the
James Gillette who stood among his
friends on Christmas eve.
He sat with his mother this precious
night, and she prayed the prayer of the
patriarch, Lord, let now thy servant
depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen
thy salvation"
He sat with her and looked over heap
of letters-just one for each day of his
absence-and wondered if he dare call on
Ellen Downs.
He sent her note the next day, and
her answer was a swift and simple sum-
mons:
Come at once. You shall be welcome oh, so
welcome. ELLEN.
There is no sequel. There is no moral.
There is nothing but an assurance that
hell and heaven are less than a month
apart. Banner of Gold.