The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-08

| good Sense Anu t9uu lsltlsn 81
lsThis serenity was often rpdeiy
Jared however bys the great Increase
ofslawlessress and the greater cost
ii administering the city government:
The ss jail was constantly full 4 5o 3
iialrunkss who. being dead broke, could
only stay! IN jail and .'board II OUT
al the expense Of the city: 4 ( y
I;;.Towards, the end OF June the work
in the Offices became much heavier,
on account OF the annual reports, June.
sotn being the end OF the fiscal year
For; ,tne railroad company. and Buy.
not being one OF those fellows who
are afraid to work a few minutes over
time, was sometimes little late.
+ One evening he was a little later
Than usual and very tired snl worn
out with 4 severe headache and a gen.
eral feeling as II he would fall TO
slaves" as he expressed it. AS he
stood on the sidewalk In front Of
o,Conner's saloon. waiting for the.
suburban car that was to, take him to
supper snd rest, to wife and baby.
mis- ears were assailed by the sound
To- O. . . . 4. O. q .
Of laughter and cllnk OF glasses. and,
MS nostrils by the strong odor Of beer
and whlskey and he felt stirring strong
within him the old temptations. I'm
der ordinary circumstances he woul!
have put it from him without difficult.
ty. but tonight he was worn out. hun
CRY and weak and In no fit condition
to cope with strong temptations. The.
heat Of the summer evening was In.
tense, the smell Of beer and wniskey
was almost overpowerlng. One drink
would not hurt any and would 30
strengthen him. A still small voice
warned him that he could not stop
with one drink and said: Come
away" He made a faint effort to
move along to the next corner but his
feet seemed chained to the spot. Two
rival powers seemed struggling for
the mastery within him. Just at this
critical moment the tempter, In the
form Of a friend, ~ stepped out OF
the saloon and looking at him said
cheerily. Hello there Cline, what's
the matter with you, yot are so pale
and look all done up?" .s
"oh. nothing much" said Billy with
a faint smile. "only | have worked a
little late and am tired and hungry"
"Ho! IS that all" said the tempter.
"Well, come inside to the free lunca
counter and get a snack and a drink
Of port wine and you will be good as
new. Your car does not come yet for
ten minutes" Come on" as Billy hes
ltated. "you needn't drink any wits.
key and weakly Billy allowed his feet
t, be led across the threshold that
meant his ruin, and at that moment
It seems to us the angels in heaven
must have dropped tears Of grief while
all the lmps Of hell rejolced together
with den,onlacal laughter.
Nladge, knowing that Bally would
be late and hungry, had prepared an
unusually tempting supper and left 1t
in the warning closet to keep warm
till he should come, and was fitting
buck and forth from the pleasant Nv.
Ing room where baby crowed and kick
ed in his crib TO the kitchen where
the appetizlng meal was being pre-
pared, and even and anon she looked
from the door or window as a car
went by, but none Of them stopped on
their corner, and she began to wonder wonder
why he was so late. ,iiE
Baby began to cry and she went IN
the next room and chartered baby .alk
and made funny eyes at him TIL he
ceased 10 whlmper and began to COO
and make Imaginable little noises
which delighted her mothers heart.
Never mind darling, papa will b"
here Directly she said, "and mamma
and baby botn loves papa don't they.
darlingi''
And baby cooed and laughed as u
he entered heartily into the sentiment
expressed. g.5;t.s
Another csr ratified along and stop
ped at the corner and Madge hurried
to the door sure that Billy had come.
but 1t was only a nelghbor boy who
had been into the city getting some
groceries and as he passed the house
Nladge called to MIN, George qua
you see anything of Billy In town."
"Yes'm." said Georgle over his
J.. q 4 ~ .