The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-07-13

burned on cheeks that had on them
no sign Of shame little while before.
NO more wine for me, said Il 1
last speaker, replying to an invitation
to fill his glass.
Eve no patience with this kind of
stuff" spoke out one Of the company,
almost angrily. "What has wine
been ordered for if not to drink?''
He who said this was gambler in
the disguise of friend. He wished
to steal away the reason and consci-
ence of his young companions with
wine that he might rob them ct their
money at cards.
As he spoke he filled one glass to
the brim and then pushed the bottle
toward his neighbor, who filled his
glass In turn. But when it came to
the third in the circle sitting around
the table, he passed it on, leaving his
own glass empty. The fourth and
fifth filled their glasses Said the one
who first passed the bottle, lifting his
glass as he spoke,
Here's to good fellowship And
all but one repeated his toast, and
drank as he drank. Then the third
in the circle filled his glass with
water, and rising, said. in clear,
ringing voice,
Here's to birdie in the home
nest!'
Frowns darkened on his compan-
ions faces. Raising the water to
his lips, he drank it slowly. AS he
set down the empty glass, he looked
at the angry face Of the gambler,
whose real character he more than
halt suspected, and bowling slightly,
said,
st also thank you for that toast;
and also will look to my birdie in
the home nest -
Then bowling low to all the COM
pany he left the room, the sound of
curses in his ears as he shut the door.
The young man whose refusal to
drink any more that had first broken
in that company the charmed circle of
danger, walked hurridly away, turn
ing his steps homeward. He was, as
we have SAID, miles distant, and at
the opposite extremity of great city.
Hurriedly he walked at first; then his
steps grew slower, and his head was
bent down, for painful ard self-con-
demning thoughts were in his mind
A street car passed; it would have
taken him, in less than an hour,
within few blocks of his home.
Why did he let it go by unheeded?
Was thought SO busy that he had for
gotten he could ride?
No, that was not the reason. He
had drank too freely at .the supper
table, and he knew that his breath
was tainted with liquor; and now
that new light had come into his
mind and he saw, as in a mirror,
true image Of himself, he was shocked
to discover that he was less a true
man than in days past, and less
worthy to bear the name of husband
and father. This was the reason why
his steps were slow and his head
bowed down; and the reason why he
did not take the car, and pass quickly
homeward. He shrank from the
thought of laying his tainted lips
upon the pure brow and lips of his
wife and child; and so revealing to
them that weak and sensual side of
his character that was holding him
back from nobler and purer life than
the one he was living.
Slowly he continued to walk, still
with bowed head ard busy thoughts
and memories. Suddenly there
came before him, even more clearly,
if possible, than when he saw it in
the amber wine, the image Of his
kneeling child; and again the voice
SO full of sweet music for his ears was
heard with strange distinctness, say
ing,
" Bless dear papa and make him
good and happy. !"
Gould God have answered the Pc
tition of that loving child for her
father in any better or more effectual
way than by sending the words OF her
prayer to his inward ears by the voice
Of an angel? He could not make him