The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-01-28
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4 BLACK /
;s.ss. ROCK


quit. I hear some talk of a league, aud
what say is IL It's a league out and
out against whisky, a total abstinence
right to the ground, then I'm with 1t.
That's my talk. 1 move we make that
kind of n league"
Nixon sat down amid cheers and q
chorus of remarks: Good mani"
"That's the TALK. stay with IT." But
he waited for the smile and the glance
h n came to him from the beautiful
face in the corner, and with that he
seemed content.
Again there was silence. Then the
secretary rose, with a slight flush upon
his handsome, delicate face, and Sec
onded the motion. II they would par
don a personal reference, he would
give them his reasons. He had come
to this country to make his fortune.
Now he was anxious to make enough
to enable him to go home with some
degree of honor. His home held every
thing that was dear to him. Between
him and that home, between him and
all that was good and beautiful and
honorable, stood whisky. "I'm asham.
ed to confess" and the flush dcepened
on his cheek and his lips grew thin
league" His handsome face, his per-
feet style Of address, learned possibly
in the Union, but, more than all, his
show of nerve, for these men knew
how to value that. made a strong inn
preston on his audience, but there
were no following cheers.
Mr.. Craig appeared hopeful, but on
Mrs. MAYORS face there was n look Of
wistful, tender pity, for she knew how
much the words had cost the lad.
Then up rose q sturdy, hard featured
man, with a bur in his voice that pro-
claimed his birth. His name was
but every one called him Geordie. He
was n character in his way, fond Of
his glass; but, though he was never
known to refuse a drink, he was never
known to be drunk. He took his drink,
for the most part, with bread and
cheese In his own shack or with a
friend or two In a sober, respectable
way, but never could be induced to
join the wild carousuls in Slavin's 81.
loon. He made tho highest wages, but
was far too true a Scot to spend his
money rccklcssly. Every n waited
eagerly to hear Geordie's mind. He
spoke solcmnly, as befitted n Scotsman
expressing n deliberate opinion, and
carefully, as if choosing his best Eng.
lish, for when Gcordie became excit.
cd no one in Black Rock could under.
stand him.
"Maistcr Chairmon," said Geordie,
"l'm aye for temperance In a things"
There was n shout Of laughter. at
which Geordie gaZed round in panied
surprise. "Ill no deny" he went on
In an explanatory tone, that I TAX ma
mornin' an maybe a nip at noon an a
wee drap after wark in the evenln'
an whites q sip O. toddy wi n freen
tho cauld NIGHTS, but I'm no n guz-
zler, an l dinna gang in WI the looms
aingin' ABBOTT guild money"
"And that's thrue for ye, me bye" in
terrupted a rich Irish brogue, to the
delight OF the crowd and the amaze
ment of Geordie. who went calmly on:
"An' l Gamma bide yon saloon whaur
they sell sic awfu'-like stuf-it's MAR
like lye nor guild w~hisky-an' whaur
ye'rc never sure O. yer RIGHT change.
It's an awfu'-llke place. Man." and
Geordie began to warm up "yo can
just smell the sulphur when We gang
in. But l dinna care ABBOTT the tenn
perance societies, WI their pledges an
havers, m 1 canna see. what harm