The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-02-05

"Mabel, want to tell You that I
met our old friend Gerald Thorn the
other day"
Mabel. although she made no COM
ment, looked him steadily in the face.
The situation was becoming embar-
RAISING; but Fred held to his pur-
pose and was bound to make it
known. Summoning up his courage,
he continued:
Gerald is a good fellow-and it's
a pity that he drinks so heavily. l
should have passed him by without
speaking, when ! saw his condition,
if he had not recognized me and
claimed my attention"
81 have had a quite different version
of the affair, and from your own lips,
too, Mr.. Mains" said Mabel, scorn-
fully. Perhaps you are not aware
that Twas anunwilling listened to your
little recital this morning. | think
Mr.. Pierce must have been highly
entertained, and your opinion OF
yourself must be an exalted one"
and she swept past, leaving him
standing in stupefied amazement.
For weeks Fred was conscious of that
look and heard those sarcastic words.
Two weeks had passed since the
fall of Gerald. 81 misjudged Fred"
said he, laying down a letter from
Mabel, in which no mention had been
made of the humiliating affair. "She
does not know. and l will write to
her" After beating his pen upon
the paper for some moments without
forming a word, with an impatient
gesture he threw it down. saying:
Il will never forge my chains any
tighter until | see some hope of es-
cape from this accursed bondage.
Every day but adds to my misery"
The city streets were crowded with
people making their way to AssOcia-
ton hall. Gerald had no particular
destination in view, and aimlesslv
drifted with the crowd. His thoughts
were far from the scene before him.
and it was not until the magnetic
voice of the speaker sounded upon
his ears that he prepared to listen.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin,
or the leopard change his spots? ther
may We also do good that are accus
toned to do evil" Plainly, tenderly
he pointed out the way. Before him
were men in every stage of debauch-
cry; men who had long since lost all
sense of shame. As Gerald assembled
the stairs he passed one such on the
way. Loathing and disgust filled his
soul.
That, together with the words of
the speaker, made Gerald Thorn the
first to rise when experiences were
called for. The confession that fol-
lowed brought tears from the eyes
and prayers from the hearts of many
who listened.
Mabel was satisfied. She had heard.
and she returned to her home, after
week spent in the city, without
once meeting Gerald
81 must prove myself, before 1
would prove another" said he, man
fully; land my motherhood bless
her-shall be the first to hear from
me-"
Mrs. Thorn's tears fell thick and
fast as she read that first letter in
which her son told of his struggles
and defeat.
"Ah!" she said, when she had fin
ished, he is no longer trusting in
the Arm of Flesh, but in the Living
Cod" and she fell upon her knees
and poured out her soul in thanks
giving.
There are hours in our lives the
record of which would be too sacred
to give to the public; and so we will
not tell of the confession that fol-
lowed, nor just when the word was
spoken that brought such joy to the
heart of Gerald Thorn.
The quiet wedding that took place
in the Lee home two years later at
tested to the fact that Gerald was no
longer guilty. Five years have passed
since then, and Mabel regards her
husband as tower of strength In
him every young man finds a friend,
and every tipler a wise counselor. -
Mrs. f. l.. Raymond, i'll Union
Signal.