Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-02
CHAPTER XX


There is hardly vice or a virtue in
the world which has not more or less the
habit of reproducing itself. When a
man begins to lie he finds himself often
enough compelled to go on, and one false
! hood breeds many. He that has stolen
may find himself so placed that he must
steal again. But the actual compulsive
/ force of vice to vice is hardly found
anywhere so strongly as in intemperance.
The habit catches, not merely on the
man who himself is abandoned to drink,
but on people who surround him, and
who are grieved and wounded by his
folly.
Ned Blame must needs take to drink
! ing because Will Hackett declined to
keep himself sober; and now, for the sal
Walton of a life or two, as the fate which
| guides the destinies of men would have
it for the nonce, another must needs en-
ter the demons circle, and go whirling
toward the gulf for while. only to be
arrested at last by the force which set
him in motion.
Mary SIackett was on terms of some
familiarity with the Bard, and in her
happy days had been wont to laugh with
some heartiness over his illusions. Mary
room tea Shadrach had read a set of
verses more or less pertinent to the oc-
casion, so far relied upon her power over
her own risible muscles as to congratu-
late him upon his production, and from
that hour he was her willing slave.
1t was a matter of absolute necessity
that Mary should put her hand to some
kind of work, and after much casting to
-. l. 4 IL.
of earning enough to hold body and soul
together she decided on starting an in
FAINT school, News of this enterprise no
sooner came to the. Bard's ears than he
set TO work to hunt out pupils for her.
and brought her half a dozen of the
poorer sort When the Bard happened
TO be engaged on night work at the Old
Blazer ne would brighten himself up on
an afternoon, and HE, in his tall hat, to
the place which Mary had hired for her
school and there humbly presenting him
self would listen with a beaming salts
faction to the infant lessons.
The Bard was allowed to go to the
school. and he became a familiar figure
there: but little by little the beaming
complaeence faded out Of him, and DAYS
came when he would sit glum and silent.
of a niece of Hepzibah's, who was six
years of age, and had mastered many
words of one syllable, failed to delight
him.
Then later he began to have little oddi-
ties of manner and motion which the
sehooImistress was slow to understand
BY and by these little oddities so grew
and multiplied that she was forced to
battle with herself lest she might I'M
derstand them And then Mt last, in
spite OF herself, she was compelled to
understand and to beg the falling Shad-
rach to cease his visits.
The doing of this cost her bitter tears
and many a new heartache. But half
her little world seemed now floating on
that hideous drink whirlpool, and swirl
ing towards its depths. Her husband
she had found out long ago. Then her
most faithful sutton. who had passed as
a model of what n man should be. fol-
lowed on the same road. The smart
bright. genial lad was clean spoiled. He
had grown haggard and Gnkempt and
surly. and his old friends had begun TO
give him the cold shoulder. and to pass
him with averted unrecognizing glance |
in the street. All this. as she knew full |
well. was in part the fruit of her unhap- |
py marriage. 1t weighed upon her con-
science to ihink that she was in any |
measure responsible for il.
And now that the harmless. gentle I
hearted Bard had Joined the ranks she |
saw her own work in the matter still |
Ned Blane's misery and his falling of /
were breaking HepEibshs heart, and /
Hepzibah's unhsppiness had started |
Shadraeh down hill. l
This dreadful new departure could not
long vmain hidden from HepEibah's
eyes, AID when she behefd il the staunch
creatures iIeart seemed like to break at
once.
"Shadrach,. she said. You can go
home. You'd better. But, oh. to think
that a man wi gifts like yourn should
demesn himself to this. which is thing
as the brutes that perish would not dc"
The wretched Shadrach swayed. and
beamed upon her with a fatuous smile
WHATS the good taikin'." said Shad-
rach. Does mans heart good
Il do know what it does for mans
heart" cried Hepzibah with sudden
tears. II knows il breaks woman's-
And Edward. too. Then you. that was
thought 10 be the Soberest i the town.
Go away, Shadrach. do; and heaven fer
give your'
That's a little too much" Shadrach
protested. moved vaguely and stupidity
BY her tears. Tell You what it is, Hep
ribah. Its Ned. That's what it Is
Breaks your heart see fEe young chap
ike that"
"Oh. you fool!' said Hepxibah bitter
v. What's poor Ned's fault 10 You as
ron should so an copy 1t? Go away.
md never let me see you any moreF
"All right" responded Shadrach. II
hall 90 to the Rest and ask for Mister
Ned. Said he wanted me - pay fos q