St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-07-18
His Dissipation
By e. ID. n ALT
- ~
E. d. MI CALF
Copyright. 1906, BY Daily Story Pub. Coz

Copyright. 1906, BY Daily Story Pub Coz
is a mighty risky thing, Theora,
said her uncle. the physician, de
Hberately. "Heredity will show in spit
OF everything, and his father-I hat
to shock you, little girl, but Myrol
Perry's father died an alcoholic"
The girl drew herself up proudly
am not afraid to trust him, uncle
You cannot find a nobler, steadie
Iaan IN the state. His nerves are iro1
and his whole physique gladiatoria
dsaial OF excess. No one looking int,
his calm, true eyes can question hi.
stability
Il hope SOL am sure l hope So
Tor your sake, Theora, but blood viii
tell. l can remember when his
rather was as perfect physically al
the son is now, before dissipation
shuffied him to an early grave"
Theora Tabler left her crusty un.
Gle surrounded by the gloomy bind.
lngs of his books and went out OIL
the lawn where Myron Perry, in ten.
mis- fannels, swung a winning rae
quet. He dropped it at sight of his
fiancee and came laughing to the
steps.
"Whew! It's hot, Theora! What
makes you SO solemn? Been reading
the lives of departed monks with
your uncle?"
She shook her head, the resolve to
confide in him her uncle's fears for
her future dying under the refuta-
ton of his strong smile. She might
better accuse the Colossus of Rhodes
of physical weakness than brand this
mental, moral Hercules with de-
grading taste.
She tried to forget her uncle's OBJ
lection to her marriage, but it preyed
on her mind unconsciously, and often
she awakened from terrifying dreams
in which young Perry, always her
husband, lay in an alcoholic stupor,
the strong, earnest lines of his face
irresolute and fiaccid. But, waking,
she still trusted him, and prepare
tions for the wedding went on apace.
Let US go quite away by our
selves" she begged, when the ques-
ton of the bridal journey came up.
There will be time enough for dress
parade when we come back
From fairy land" he finished, low
ingly. (Which will be anywhere that
you are for me. You shall choose the
realm"
unlike the princess who across
the night, beyond the day, through
all the world, followed him." she
quoted, too happy to remember she
had proposed honeymoon remote
from the world that she might study
him and combat any hereditary de-
tire for Drink that might arise. LET
Us go to papa's cattle ranch and EN- |
Joy the Indian summer roughing it,
5he said.
He acquiesced, as he would have
agreed to reside in a prairie dog town
+ she accompanied him. So immedi-
ltely after the church ceremony they
we're hurried off to catch a western
going train and next morning break
tasted on fried bacon and hoe cakes,
served on the Clipped china of the
head cowboys cabin.
An hour later their tete-a-tete was
Interrupted by the clatter of drag
,ing spurs. which gave distant warn
ng of the cowboys approach.
"Hits an order to round up the
;trags!" he announced, his frowsy
read preceding soiled document
nto their presence through the open
kin you-an git along a
week or SO by your lonesomes:
rhar's heaps of victuals on hand to
;ook and two bottles of whisky
rheora shiyered. do We think you-all
ould cook for yourselves, ma'am?"
ooking doubtfully at her fimsy,
railing silk and diamond-bedecked /
White hands.
''Of course" she cried with childish
'leasure in the thought. II can make
biscuits, Myron. We won't
ave any more of those greasy meal
axes. Oh, won't it be fun?' |
So the cowboy departed I'M
nourned, leaving his cabin to the |
mercy of tender-foot rule, and the I
ewly-made Benedict, spurred by ne !,
essity, laid aside his coat and pres s
ntly his collar, to chop wood, and
he bride shed her rings and smoth-
red her lace cascaded silk negligee {
nder an apron improvised from a
lean dish towel, to manufacture cake {
nd coffee for their lunch.
And so week passed. A gloriously {
Apply interlude in two lives, pas
oral opera in which love sang the
olo part from the setting OF log
abin Nesting like a. snuff-brown toy I
rk between high, verdant hills. They l
ever wearied of themselves or the t
lent grandeur, and Theora's fears, ,
n q moment stimulated by the cow Z
oy's mention OF his stock of whisky, {
ere lulled to gentle death by her /
devotion and his grand '
trength of character. They touched |
nee upon his fathers weakness, but
was such a painful topic for him \
10 refused to prolong it. II
But after, when he had forgotten :
she went to the corner cupboard b
nd stood a long time looking at the a
nber liquid. tempted to pour it on e
FULFIL lMENT.