Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-06

thing of yourself, if your story be one
you can properly intrust with a
stranger? / ask for no confidence, Mr..
Brown, and assure you that curiosity
alone feeds my nature-with, perhaps,
a feeling of friendly sympathy for a
fellow artist"
He reflected n moment with down
cast eyes, then looking in her face re-
piled:
II will tell you my story, though it
may lessen me in your esteem, and un-
dermine any good opinion you may
have formed of me. 1t can be told in
very few words. In the first place, my
name is not Brown"
II was very sure Of tLat," she said
with a sunny smile. "Brown is too
common a name for such an uncommon
man"
"And yet illustrious men have borne
it. recall one long since dead whose
tireless soul with knapsacll strapped
upon its back is yet reported to be on
an extended march. My true name is
Edward Thornton. | assumed the
name now bear when I enlisted.
"My mother died when was but
year old and few months later my
father followed her, leaving me in the
care of a very wealthy aunt in the city
of Brooklyn, n. Y. She was my
fathers only sister, and took me to her
own luxurious home and reared me as
her own child, lavishing upon me her
deepest love. was all she had to love,
and from childhood the dear, good
E.. Il, ;In1,za1 aud fiad
nv every wish. When | reached a
proper age competent teachers were
secured for me. and, developing love
for study, progressed so rapidly that
at the early age of seventeen | was the
possessor of a liberal education and
fitted to fill a responsible position in
the business world. As before told
you, acquired deep love for drawing
and painting, for which I am now truly
thankful, for the only real pleasure
now derive from life find amid these
western solitudes with my sketch book
and pencils.
when my education was completed
my good aunt supplied me literally with
money, and in her solicitude for my
pleasure and enjoyment paid little at
tention to my moral training. ! was
of a lively, fun-loving disposition, and
In choosing my companions l selected
kindred spirits who would join me In
any wild lark that promised sport.
Zone night at banquet given in hon
or Of the birthday of young lady friend
of nv aunt ] listened to the smiling
entreaties of the fair hostess to drink
onnnnfa1 from her hand
nv first glass of wine. All! Miss San
ford, the first downward step toward
the depths Of drunken degradation Is
often taken at the invitation of
thoughtless fair woman with glass Of
sparkling wine in her jeweled hand,
when she little dreams that what she re-
CARDS as but trifling act of hospitality
is the seal of doom upon life that might
otherwise be bright and useful. The
wine seemed to flood my soul with its
ROSY warmth and to quicken my senses,
and other draughts of the ruby liquid fol-
lowed until I was taken home in car
riage supported in my aunt's arms, in
state of stupid intoxication.
"When came down from my cham
Der the next morning feeling as guilty
as felon approaching the bar of JUS
tice, my aunt met me with a smile,
playfully chided me for having taken
Just drop too much, and cautioned me
to be careful and not in future overesti-
mate my bibulous powers. That same
night again sought the false cheer of
the wine cup.
Lower and lower | went in my
downward course, the demon of drink
sinking its poisonous talons deeper and
deeper into my soul. No word of re-
buke ever fell from my aunt's lips. She
continued to keep my purse well filed,
the good creature believing my crop of
wild oats would soon be sown and |
would then settle down into respect
able, sober manhood.
1.-TWO years ago this very day-the
date is notable one to me, for 1t is
the second anniversary of my enlist
ment-I went on carouse with u
couple of my boon companions. In n
saloon in New York we met sergeant
of artillery, then attached TO a recruit
ing Office in that city. He was II hand
some, dashing young fellow and at
once took a great fancy to him and
asked him TO join us in our revels. Re
firing TO private room in the rear of
the saloon ordered wine, and we were
soon deeply under the influence of the
seductive liquor. Our potations grew
deeper and deeper until my two com
paniOns fell into n drunken sleep in their
chairs.
THE sergeant then suggested walk,
but | told him that gentlemen of our
standing should ride, and ordered n
carriage and we drove away. We
stopped at various drinking places
about the city. and became wild with
my frequent potatioEs and ready to
second any proposition that the ser
geant might make.
''Come and enlist with me, old fell
low, he said You will have nothing
to do but wear Il uniform and hang
around with me looking for recruits
and we win have glorious time in
this gay city
'Iu my irresponsible state | agreed
to his proposition and ordered the driv-
er to take Us 10 the street and the mum
Der lie named | have Il dim, indistinct
recollection Of ascending a stairway
supported by the sergeant of him tell
ing me to give the name of Richard
Brown, Of replying to some questions
propoundcd by an officer, and then Of
raising my hand and taking an oath.
4 few moments later, with lot of men,
was taken TO boat and helped on
board, and there fell into drunken
sleep.