The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-03-25
Original Story.
AT THE STROKE OF NINE.
WuItsn FOE ,sc uosao~rzsic Advocate.
M l.. CLARK TAYLOR.

4 pretty whlie cottage on 4 broad green
lawn, with stone walk leading to the
gate Rs the door r~e climbed over
the wall. and the gentle north sind scat
tered the vhite pe,sh like snow on the
gruund, and the perfume from these aoNers
aoated up, rich and sweet, ike the odor
Of inc~nsc burning 10 ,he temple of old
A woman. whesse hair vas Just touched
With gray, stood IN the doorway and
tall. handsome hooking young man fingered
at the gate ''esood-bye. the woman was
saying, be sure to stop a, the hotel with
Fred GilvAn, am sure he will keep yoa
out uf mischief BE goo1 boy, and re
member tha, every night aud morning at
uine o clock wili Pray for you. Good
bye, she said, a. she dOsel the gate,
''good hye
The young maa passed down the street
in the beauty Of his manhood, With his
square shoulders straight, and his proud
head erect.
Night in the great city, with its reyel
Of SIN and crime. /, was the same old
story il nerd not be repeated, bow Paul
Durgiu was tempted, and amid the jeen Of
his companions he tel home, mother and
everything we're forsutien As he stag
gerei down the stree, he me, Fred GilvAn.
Paul said Fred, laying his hands on
his friend shoulders, what does this
mean p
''0h, have been on a little jaant,
replied Paul, nneasily.
Paul, do you realize how far you have
fallen tonight, have you forgotten the
teachings of your mother There was
no reply, and Fred continued, do you
realize how far you have fallen tonight,
you have taken the frs, step to the down
ward road; that you have forged the first
link in your chain Of destruction; that you
are lost unless-''
The sentence was never finished, for
Paul turned 6eroely upon him. See
here, he said, hotly, ''you hush, am
not going to listen to your eternal preach
ing, | viii do as | please, and l win not
take anything off Of You, do you under
stand His voice rose and his eyes
glowed with strange light He was usu-
ally slow to anger, but whiskey had fired
his brain and he was mad
"Yes, replied the low voice of his
friend, II understand, but, oh Paul, | /
can't see YOU 20 to destruction without /
trying to save you; we have always been
such good friends and it breaks my heart
to see you Here, without word |
of warning, Paul raised his arm and struck
him blow on the head There was no
moan or outcry as his gentle, noble, trust
ing friend fell to the ground Paul stood
still looking at the PROSTATE form at his
feet, then looking fearfully around he knelt
down and laid his hand over his friend
heart-it was still His dear old friend,
chum and playmate, was beyond recall.
The moons beams fell directly on the
white, still face, with its high forehead and
clustering hair He knelt there, gazing
into that quiet face, eagerly watching for
some signs of life, but he watched in vain.
As the truth slowly dawned upon him he
covered his face with his hands and moaned
aloud ''IIe is dead" he slowly said,
dead, and | killed him, but God knows
| didn't mean it love him, oh, Fred. -
He took his hands from his face and looked
at them eagerly, they were smooth and
white, but he shook his head; ''they are
covered with blood, he said with a shud-
der, but | was mad with drink, | never
was drunk before, but now | am muir
derer He stretched out his hands to
the skies, and just then the clock in the
town tolled the hour, "nine o clock - He
''Oh mother.