Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-03-07

y
thing of yourself, if your story be one
you can properly intrust with
stranger? I ask for no confidence, Mr..
Brown, and assure you that curiosity
alone feeds my nature-with, perhaps,
a feeling of friendly sympathy for
fellow artist"
He reflected a 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 I'M
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"
81 was very sure Of that" she said
with a sunny smile. Brown is too
common name for such an uncommon
man"
''And yet i1lustrious men have borne
it. recall one long since dead whose
tireless soul with knapsack strapped
upon its back is yet reported to be on
an extended march. My true name is
Edward Thornton. 1 assumed the
name now bear when / enlisted.
'sMy mother died when was but
year old and few months later my
father followed her, leaving me in the
care of 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. Twas all she had to love.
and from childhood the dear, good
| woman fairly idolized me and gratified
nv every wish. When l reached a
proper age competent teachers were
secured for me, and, developing love
| for study, 1 progressed so rapidly that
at the early age of seventeen l was the
possessor of 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 1 am now truly
| thankful, for the only real pleasure l
| 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. l was
of a lively, fun-loving disposition. and
in choosing my companions 1 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 a young lady friend
of my aunt 1 listened to the smiling
entreaties of the fair hostess to drink
her health. and accepted from her hand
my first glass of wine. All! Miss San
ford, the first downward step toward
~f a IcCrr RI iC
| often taken at the invitation of a
thoughtless fair woman with a 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 a life that might
otherwise be bright and useful. The
wine seemed to flood my soul with it's
rosy warmth and to quicken my senses,
and other draughts of the ruby liquid fol-
| lowed until / was taken home in a car
rage 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 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 l again sought the false cheer of
the wine cup.
| Lower and lower I went in my
| downward course, the demon of drink
sinking it's 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 a notable one to me, for it is
the second anniversary of my enlist
ment-I went on a carouse with a
couple of my boon companions. In n
saloon in New York we met 2 sergeant
of artillery, then attached to recruit
ing Office in that city. He was 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 a private room in the rear Of
the saloon ordered wine. and we were
soon deeply under the influence of the
seductive liquor. Our rotations grew
deeper and deeper until my two CON-
panions fell into a drunken sleep in their
| chairs.
The sergeant then suggested walk,
but told him that gentlemen of our
standing should ride, and 1 ordered a
carriage and we drove away. We
stopped at various drinking places
about the city, and became wild with
my frequent rotations 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 a uniform and hang
around with me looking for recruits,
and we will have a glorious time in
this gay city
"In my irresponsible state I agreed
to his proposition and ordered the driv-
er to take us to the street and the num-
Der he named. have a 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
propounded by an officer, and then OF
raising my hand and taking an oath.
A few moments later. with a lot of men.
was taken to boat and helped on
board, and there fell into drunken
sleep.
CHAPTER ".
81 awcle the next morning il long