The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-05-16


Then will you not tell me some
thing of yourself, IL 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 na;ure-with, perhaps,
feeling of friendly sympathy for a
fellow artist
He reflected a moment with down
cast eyes, then looking in her face re-
piled:
II will tell you my story, though /;
may lessen me in your esteem. and sun-
dcrnine any good opinion you may
have formed Of me. 1; can be told in q
very few words. In the first place, my
name is not Brown
II was very sure Of that" she said
with sunny smile. Brown is too
common a name for such an uncommon
nm"
And yet nlustrious men have borne
- recall one long since dead whose
ursiess soul with knapSack strapped
dpon its back is yet reported 70 be on
an extended march. Ny true name is
Edward Thornton. assumed the
uaLuc 4 ucN ptaI NnSA eHAASbtN-
My mother died when was but q
year old and few months laecr my
father followed her, leaving me in the
care of very wealthy aunt in the city
of brooklyn, y. 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 ne and gratified
my every wish. When l reached a
proper age competent teachers were
secured for me, and, developing love
for study, progressed 50 rapidly that
at the early age of seventeen | was the
possessor of liberal education and
fitted to I'LL responsible position in
the business world. As before told
you, acquired a deep love for drawing
and painting. for which l 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 lively, fun-loving disposition, and
in choosing my companions l selected
kindred spirits who would join me in
any wild lark that promised sport.
'one night at banquet given in hon
or Of the birthday of a young lady friend
of my aunt / 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
the depths of drunken degradation is
often taken at the invitation of a
thoughtless fair woman with glass of
sparkling wine in her jeweled hand,
when she little dreams that what she re-
CARDS as but trihing act of hospitality
is the seal of doom upon a life that might
otherwise be bright and useful. The
wine seemed to food my soul with it.
rosy warmth and to quicken my senses,
and other draughts of the ruby liquid fc'.'
lowed until / was taken home in car
riage supported in my aunt's arms, in a
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
10 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 | 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 zny crop OF
wild oats would soon be sown and
would then settle down into respect
able, sober manhood.
Two years ago this very day-the
date is a notable one to ne, for il is
the second anniversary of my enlist
ment-I went on carouse with a
couple of my boon companions. In 4
saloon in New York we met sergeant
of artillery, then attached TO recruit
ing office in that city. He was hand
some, dashing young fellow and Al
once took e great fancy TO him and
asked him to join US in our revels. Re
tiring 70 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 drunken sleep in their
chairs
The sergeant then suggested a walk
but told him that gentlemen of oul
standing should ride, and ! ordered q
carriage and we drove away. We
stopped at various drinking place.
about the city, and became wild with
my frequent potations and ready &c
second any proposition that the ser
geant might make
Come and enlist with me, old fel
! low he said. You will have nothing
I TO do but wear a uniform and hang
around with me looking for recruits,
and we will have glorious time in
this gay city.
"In my irresponsible state I agreed
/ 10 his proposition and ordered the driv.
| er 70 take us to the street and the mum,
Der he named. have dim, indistinc,
recollection of ascending q stairway
supported by the sergeant, Of him tell.
ing me 10 give the name Of Richard
Brown, of replying 10 some questions
propounded by IN officer, and ther Of
raisipr NV hand and falripy an oath