The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-02-20

will let ME OFT OF anything that comes after,
why l will have mouthfull | don't
want you to eat your New Years dinner
alone, of course
This tardy mark of consideration caused
her nose to redden with her suppressed in
clination to cry. As he went into the din
ing room he stumbled over bear skin rug,
and was so profuse in his apologies that
Mollie looked on him in surprise For the
first time she noticed his unsual appearance
His face was flushed and his eyes blood
shot. The heat of the house was traitor
to Johns interests, and was beginning to
tell damaging tales, which came to Mollie's
comprehension bit by bit.
The courses were served, regardless cf
Johns suggestion He looked at the
oysters uncertainty, the soup seemed an
impertinence; but he went through both
humbly, with the air of man who was
conscious of having laid himself open to
censure The turkey was placed before
him. After regarding it helplessly for a
moment, his face lighted up with sudden
inspiration
'.Molliy, he said persuasively, 81 will
have to ask you to carve. My hands are
stiff from driving in the cold You know
how driving will stifen one up.
The turkey was placed before Mollie,
and she carved in silence
''We have fine seats for tonight-Stuart
always does the right thing for me, y John
repeated, holding his knife and fork feebly
over his plate.
"Tm not going to the opera tonight,
John, she said quietly.
''Not going to the opera? Why, we
are not late, are we?' dragging out his
watch ''We have dead loads of time.
But [ must go up and get dressed.
4 am not going, John, she reiterat-
ed in the same measured tone.
II suppose you know that you are
throwing away ten dollars. That is what
those seats cost me, whether we use them
or not, he said sullenly Then, with a
jolly, reasuring smile, he said "Well,
dearest, let it be just as you please. As
far as [ am concerned, | would rather have
quiet evening with you at our own fire.
side than hear all the Melbas and De Res
zkes in the world.
''Your devo ion to your freside is GER
tainly touching, she said with biting sar-
casn
The carriage was announced.
1--WE shall not want it tonight, Mollie
said to the maid, relapsing into silence
that was still more ominous
When they were left alone over their
coffee. John said, in voice that was get
ting noticeably thick: ''Mollie, you think
the wine has gone to my head. | know
L m not myself, but it is not 50 bad as you
think i am not drunk, gentlemen-this
is my right hand, and this is Billy Shake
speare for you, and he ought to know.
He laughed good-naturedly, and went
over the words again, trying to give them
dramatically, indicating first his right hand
and then his left with sweeping but in
effectual flourish This attempt at being
amusing was such signal failure that
Mollie put her head down onthe table and
cried. John stopped laughing, end sink
ing into demoralized heap in his chair,
said, as if making sorrowful discovery:
Il am drunk-that is what is the mat
ter I'm drunk, and Mollie, my six
months bride knows it.
He followed Mollie into the library,
tripping over the rug a second time.
You here again?' he said, reproach-
fully. stepping over it with an uncom-
monty high lift of the knee. He wanted
to tell Mollie all about it and beg her par
don over and over again; but while he was
struggling with the scattered and confused
history Of the day, he fell into heavy
sleep upon the couch upon which he had
thrown himself
More than half the night had gone be-
fore he woke to full Consciousness. The
whole disastrous day came slowly to mind.
A sense of his own degradation bore more
and more heavily upon him. Would Mol
lie ever forgive him? Could he hope even
by thousand kindnesses ever to make her
forget that miserable day? 'sOh, Mollie,
MolIier' he groaned As he rose from
the couch there was movement at his
side Duke was struggling to his feet,
and looking at his master with undated
devotion. You were disapp inted too,
old fellow, John said, patting his dog
head. Let us go and look for Mollie- .
They went upstairs together, Duke
throwing himself in sleepy heap at the
threshold of Mollie door John entered
with a softened step. The light burning
low showed that the bed was undisturbed
The thought that he had lost not only
MoHiy love but Mole herself went
through John troubled head. But the
next Glance showed him his young wife
fast asleep il big easy-chair her blue
japanese dressing gown wrapped snugly
about her; her hair, which she had arranged
wi.h sach care for he opera, still IN the
soft lo,sse Pamtadour which became SO well
he smooth ogal forehead tie knelt at
her side and. before she had awakened,
made his belated resolution When at
last she opened her eyes and found him
there on his knees, she looked at him in
cold silence. and it was some time before
he could get her into mood to listen to
him.
.'You see. dear, he said, penitently,
IL was too self-confdent. Love and hap
piuess gave me too great sense of securi-
ty. forgot that am only man, and
that there might be dangerous occasions
for me. l can never atone for yesterday.
but it is not too late to make fresh start.
We will agree thaC our new year dates
from the second instead of the first. And,
dear, there will be no more Thompson in
it.
"Nor Thompson grandfathers?' Mollie
said, gravely.
.sNo, nor Thompson grandfathers, -
he repeated, with sad smile. Here at
your side, Mollie," he continued, earnest
| iy. II promise solemnly not to touch an
other drop of anything intoxicating except
from my wife own hand -
Il am afraid you viii have dry year,
John, she said, with her arm around his
neck.
That's all right If l had only made
this resolution yesterday, instead of prun-
ing myself like peacock over my virtues,
there would be nothing to regret now.