The Washington times., 1925-09-05
New and Amazing Serial Describes One
Mans Long But Losing Battle
for Freedom

Grace became affrequent visitor
at our house and 1 often went.
walking with her at night when,
/. was too shaky and self-con-1
scious to have gone in the
daytime.
1t was a hard summer for
everyone connected with me.
would disappear and be gone for
DAYS at a time. 0n,'one Of these
debauches 1 had, . lucid Wement.
and found myself in a cheap hotel
room on Atlantic avenue. II
An inner. Voice urged, me to.
send for Grace and, despite the
sordid surroundings and my in
toxicated condition, I telephoned
and told her must4s see her right
away. She asked specifically
where 1 was and evidently didn't
realize it was in tough" part
OF the town, for she agreed to
come, saying she woqld be with
me Just as fast as the subway
would bring her.
I sat there waiting, a bottle OF
whiskey beside me, and drunken
IN decided that when Grace ar
rived 1 would make. her stay
right there with me until I could
pull myself out OF, it..
That is one of the awful things
about alcoholism. 1t makes one
forget the. feelings of others
their constituencies, their refine
rnent. Without giving a thought
TO the ino5ngrufty and utter inn
propriety of the pIan.- I de-
liberately decided that a refined
girl, whom I had known only
few weeks, was to remain in q
cheap hotel with me- regardless
of everything. $780,
]. When Grace arrived her knock
at the door was timid and as soon
as 1 responded she tried to draw
back. I grabbed her roughly by
the hand and drew her into the
foom, slamming the door.
She burst into tears and stood
there helplessly.
Isn't this awful?" she finally
managed to sob. 81 had to come
through that terrible room fun of
man, ,ydownstalra and thaYsy.an-
stared at me like wild beasts.
Oh, DenaId why did sEan==saad
Tor ne to edne 10 a. piaoa IKE
this? ibid go, anywhere, do
anything for yot-but ids"
~oh, forget 'it.e ] said, half
ahgrily. IF you'd 81 anyvs1ere
Tot me you apght to tie glad
you're heFe Stop crying; 1T
bothers me. 1 sent for you be-
cause 1 wanted you. Doesn't
that mean anything to you-the
fact that 1 wanted you beyond.
everyone else?"
= stopped and took a drink
from the whiskey bottle.
s"Take off your hat and make
yourself at home" I invited.
,"How can you, Donald?" Grace
answered. backing away as I
took a step toward her. This
Isn't like you and I'm-Tn afraid.
You're not yourself. Please take
me out OF this place. can't
pass through that room dwnstairs
again by myself"
Then, beside myself with sudden
wild passion, 1 begged, pleaded,
threatened. in an effort to. make.
Grace remain. I was afraid to
stay in that place fighting liquor
alone. laid hands on her but
she shook me off and there was
terror in her. eyes. How long it
lasted, I don't know: Several
times I prevented her from get.
ting to the door. Twice she threat
ened to scream and I told her to
30 ahead. -
Again a merciful providence
must have saved me, for finally
accompanied her downstairs and
through the cardroom and office
20 the street. where she walked
quickly away.
Soldering Up Again
OF course. when I managed to
sober up a day or two later I
Imagined Grace would have moth.
ing more to- do with me. Better
for her if I had been right, /,
was determined, nevertheless, to
see her and apologize, and I,
called her up from my home.
asking her. to meet me that eve,
ming.
To my amazement she agreed to
do so and without any apparent
reluctance. When 1 did meet her
and we went for a walk, she ac-