The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-06-19
|I6NAN5 INFLUENCE;
filled with tears, and impulsively she
placed her hand in his.

Poor Brian" she said very softly.
1T has been very hard for YOU. never
knew how hard until now. Tonight
has marked your first victory. and after
this you shall not fight alone. No
matter how rough the path may be, no
matter how often you may stumble,
know the time must come when you will
stand strong and firm. 1t is this belief
which keeps my faith and courage so
warm within me. And until that time
DOES come, l always want you to re-
member that my hand is ever in yours,
and, side by side, we will meet and
overcome all that is hard to YOU.
Through better and through worse, al
ways together. Don't, Brian; it pains
ne to see you give way so. We will
only be giving mutual help. You shall
lean on me, as shall often lean on you.
l have had SO many hopes and ambitions
for you. So if you will insist on mag
nifying my simple duty into such gen
crous proportions, I shall expect my
reward in my own way. I can say no
more tonight; 1 feel so utterly weary.
Tomorrow l will have more to tell you.
Only keep your courage strong, and re-
member that my desire to help you is
above every other"
May God make me strong, Margaret,
to be worthy of your faith. In his pres
ence and in yours solemnly pledge my
word that the day shall come when you
will see in me something higher and
better than the weak creature am to-
night. can say no mere than that.
Words are powerless to express my
thoughts. can only feel"
And can understand, she returned,
with tremulous lips. Il can hold my
hand to you now and say: There is only
faith and trust between u.s.
Alone in his room. Alone with feelings
and emotions which filled his heart to
overHow.nS, Brian went over every word
OF this conversation, and in the fresh
} strength and courage which had come
to Il m he repeated his pledge.
Then his mind passed in review tho
l events of the evening. He remembered
that when he could no longer bear thu
tide of bitter, remorseful thoughts Which
} surged over him he had found his way
to his old haunts with the almost over
, whelming desire to seek oblivion in tn
Q usual way. How Wilson hal found hin
5 and drawn him away from the tempta
t ton that had well nigh conquered him
g They had walked for long time il
Q the fresh, cool night, and while Wilso
: talked in the kind, confidential name
d he had so often used in their studen
n days, Brian had felt himself over
powered by rush Of feeling, and h
: had lonsed with intense longing &c
:. something Of the noble personality
it the man reside him. y
i you have saved me from myself" b
IS had cried under the impulse of tn
a moment. Il thank you. not for m
+ sake, but for hers. Men who are stron
like you seldom pity men who are wea
le like me. l have fallen without tn
ID breastworks. Shall ever find safety
g And Wilsoa had answered, just as
in often answered in those old days, whe
he had promised such rich fruition #
to Brian's many talents:
1T There is safety for you in streng
er of purpose AMI determination OF e.
10 deavor, and safety" he had aided IN
IS lower tone, "in the faith and trust OF
IN loyal wife. Think of her and be strong