Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-04-19
Written For ne Beacon.
|Mr. Matthews Reformation.

aint Bob Matthew, and be . perfectly
soberlp
The woman who made these ex.
elamations wore 40 untidy costume,
loose calico wrapper With no YES.
tige Of collar, her hair stuck care
lessly with two hair pins to keep Ii
In place. She looked from "a upper
window q house opposite thatfrom
wlneh caina The cause cl f4t4afk
ROBBERS Matthew. or Bob, as he
was more Familiarity and generally
called, had once been prominentaDd
prosperous. amost respected citizen.
Drawn By temptation. and yielding
10 impulse. he soon threw or ali
restraint. using bis will against,
rather than for himself. Soon noted
Is one 81 the dlssoIute characters
Of the city be was dropped by those
who formerly courted his acquain.
lance. Mr.. Matthew did not hear
she remarks Of The woman AZ the
window, YET be must have been I'm.
pressed By the sharp glance. for he
adjusted the collar Of his coat as
though be felt 9 keen blast.
The decision had been made
Il will see, be said, ''how much.
Of the good Is left 10 me.
As be turned tho corner Of the
street one Of bic boon companions
hailed him:
"Hellol Bob. whore you been all
this timer Haven't seen you Ia q
weeks count I'm pretty thirsty,
como on. let's 40 over ID Jake Totts
and have a drink. ["
I'm On my way 10 attend 10 .
matter 1T business, = answered
Robert Matthew.
Why. what's got into you, old
fellow" exclaimed the man.
Well, the fact Is. | have desermin.
% 10 give up the miserable life I
have been leadiug for years past. 4
You cant do Il Bob. answered
the other. ihrussing his hands deep
" Into his pockets. There's 40
eat thare
"IIIsry any how. and you had
better make q start In that direo
ton. said Robert, al 30 extended
bis hand 10 = friendly way.
The other drew back IN sullen
manner. ''You need' M be holding
Out your claw 70 me.
Good morning Mr.. Matthew /
said . cherry voice. as one Of the
respectable merchants of thar local.
isy went by. A greeting Is 9 very
little thing. and good morning is q
most common expression. yet some
how II sounded II this moment very
pleasantly.
Enthusiastically Robert Matthew
had drawn near 10 one 81 the resorts
with which DO was most familiar,
and before he could retrace bis steps
he vas surrounded by loud talk.
log group Of men. who with laugh
ter. iests. and oaths, asked him why
be looked 50 sober, where had he
been lateIy that they had NOT seen
hint
He was surrounded aud could
naither escape questions Dor ques.
tIonsrs. First growing darkly red
In the iEce, and next pale, bio re.
piled with effort:
/ will answer your questions as
they come:
why am 30 neat7 because |
needed general cleaning up.
Al this the men laughed.
why do look sober7 because /
have stopped being drunk.
This brought forth various re-
plies. some 10 tho form 81 curses,
others ID vulgar tests. all expires.
sing dissatisfaction.
Where have 1 been lately. that
you have notseen me2 wentabout
twenty miles from the city lomakea
special visit. 10 she mother 81 the
young man. William KIpton who was
murdered in the saloon that night,
about two hours after we left the
place. OF course you remember II 7
Well. made q VOW that night that
II my life was spared would act
differently.
Now. Bob, you don't think you
can keep that promise do you r.
Yes, will. Y
That all sounds fne. said .
RrulI voice, shut II . easier ID preach