The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-10-30
Oyer a Glass Of Wine.

course, but he spoke to her first
at dinner.
"May Iqour you a little wine?:"
he asked.
"Thank you," she said, simply,
"a little claret. [ drink only
claret.
"You don't care for the sweet
wines?"
II don't think I really care for
any wine, but this is what we
drink at home.
You did not pour any for your
self" she added, a moment later.
He smiled.
1T would be for the first time
in my life if I had.''
Chow strange!!" She looked at
him pointblack with a pair of
clear and very kind blue eyes.
"Have you scruples? do you
think it is wrong?''
"WelP'-he drew a long breath
-"hardly. Yet for me it would
be wrong"
The color deepened on her
cheeka little. He saw her check
back word from her lips, and
the shadow that swept over her
face was sweeter than any bright
ness. But he could not appro-
pirate her unmerited sympathy.
"No-no," he declared, laugh
ing slightly. ':It is not at all a
temptation to me. l have never
known the taste of any sort of
liquor. I think I have a great
advantage against fate in this,
and mean to keep it."
"Then you are afraid, after all
?"
"Sometimes we recognize dan
ger though we do not fear it.
eff it be danger, you must fear
it. You do, or you would not
take precautions.
He looked down and met her
earnest glance. She was forget
ting her dinner.
IF you were not afraid,'' she
went on, impulsively, 'swine
would seem to you as harmless
as water. It is because you have
O fear that you will not touch it. "
He was at a loss just there.
It was a difficult to meet her
candor without a touch of seem.
ing discourtesy. 'Suppose !!
drink to your better courage, :"
she said. A roguish dimple
showed itself.
"The deadly cup has no terror
for me-
He raised his crystal goblet
and drank to her in sparkling
water, saying gently,
"But of my emp no one need be
afraid" :"
There was a pause. She hac
not lifted the wine to her lips.
A servant came to remove the
course and some one spoke tx
her across the table. When he
claim attention again he wa:
ready with a bright remark abou
the beauty ofsome rosesin a vase
near them.
"Yes-so pretty-pretty." sht
said vaguely, and then, witt
promise in her tone. "We hat
not exhausted our topic, think
May I asks it your conviction
that liquor should not be used il
any form?"
ssYou are unmerciful," he de
precated.
tsThink how ungracious it would
seem to object to anything unde:
such surroundings
"Never mind about being com
plimentary." she replied gravely
I am trying to reaect-to decide
I have never before given one Sc
rious thought to this question O
temperance. The people I live
among-and they are all uprigh
intelligent and refned-reguarc
the moderate use Of liquor as in
dipeusable. Surely you must ad
NIT that there are thousands anc
who are not in any way injured
by it's use.''
IT know" he said, quickly
"but''there are millions-the jails
will tell you, the hospitals
He stopped abruptly.
eyes," she said: thoughtfully:
eyes. But why not take the gooc
and avoid the evil?
We need not become drunkards
because we use liquor.
He met the appeal of her ear
nest eyes with a look as earnest.
Since you desire it," he ans
wered steadily, ''let me say one
word, and then, I think I will
say no more. If you never touch
liquor you not only need not, you
cannot become a drunkard. But
if it once across your lips the
first step is made"
There was a long silence be-
tween them. The rest Of the
guests went on talking gaily.
Presently she spoke, but so low
that he had to bend his ear to
listen.
"You have given me a wonder,
full message" " she said. She set
aside her glass Of wine, and in
the simple act he knew there was
conservation. = Ladies' Home