Year: 1874

n8ppy IN my hopes OF the future
proud of his rich promise and good
nsmel ButnoW my heart is break
ing; oh how it has ached since you
sent him staggering to me long past
midnight What but helI-broth could
have so changed my noble, manly
| husband? Yesterday all h0nored him.
To-day the finger Of the VII be
j pointed at him. Oh belie se, sir,
a few dollars cannot pay you Tor in
fiicting all this shame and misery.
| beseech you, sir, promise me that
you will never sell another drop Of
the sccursed poison


There was 8 mOmentarY and q
death-like silence, and then Hill,
with difficulty, found his brazen
voice.


Now look here, madam he began.
'I'Ve got my rights as well as Won
and other people. This is my bus
iuess. YOu'veno right here interfer-
ing 6ith it. These are my premises.
You've no right here without my
consent. You all make yourselves
liable to indictment for trespass. Be
sides it ant the right thing for ladies
to go tramping through the streets
followed by a rabble, and meddliRg
with things that do not concern
them. 1t isn't ladylike. It's fanat-,


'Hushi in a word, answer mep cri-
ed Mrs. Elliott in 3 voice that went
to every heart like an arrow. will
you not promise me never to sell my
husband another glass of liQuorg


MOI shouted Hill, anOr any other
woman's husband. / win promise to
sell to all who'll pay


There was a sudden hoarse mur-
muring on the part Of the crowd, but
in q moment it was hushed, for the
insulted wife had knelt on the floor
before the bar. We all dropped on
our knees around her.


%, Godp she pleaded in q tone
that must have thrilled the soul OF
the most hardened sinner present,
shall human love and human an
guish plead before Thee in 7ain?-
Art Thou not God of mercy, and
yet cruelty is crushing usY Art not
Thou God of justice, and yet We
are being robbed of all that makes
life endurable. Thou didst stop the
mouths Of lions. Here in our Chris
tian land are human hearts more saw
age. Thou didst preserve in the
furnace seven times heated. Beneath
our church spires burns the most re-
morseless and destructive passion Of
avarice. Wilt Thou not break the
stony heart before US, and bend his
stubborn will to thineS Thou know
est that because Of our love we cod
die for our dear ones, but We believe
that Thou dost love them even more
Wilt Thou not in mercy change their
destroyers into men2 Wilt Thou not
take this awful, soul-killing tempta-
ton out Of their path9 We plead in
the name Of Thy dear Son, who gave
his life for as all. Amen


Strange to say their was respon-
siye amen from the crowd that Wo'd
have done honor to a Methodist class
meeting" and as I looked around on
rising, l saw many eyes wet with
tears EhereI had expected only looks
Of scorn. l did not dare meet Mr..
Elliott's eye, though he remained
standing spen-bound in the doorway
still.


But tragedy went for ward without
a moments pause. Mrs Elliott took
a step nearer the rum seller, pointed
up with an impressive gesture, and
bent upon HIM look such as I new
er saw on woman's face before, for
a mirror in the bar opposite revealed
her form and features perfectly, and
gave her back to the audience as =
startling picture. Hill tried TO meet
her eye, but he could not, for his
sank guiltily to the floor.


'Mr Hill,' she said in a low, gentle
voice, and yet it reminded me of the
still small voice Of God it was so
penetrating and awe-inspiring, 'once
more I ask you. I beseech you, ans
wer me as you will wish you had an
sWered when we stand before His
Judgment seat, will you not cease
this businessP


A death-like hush followed. Hill
was evidently cowed and overcome,
and after a moment mumbled out:


Its not in man to resist you, mad
am. / promise promise I viii not
sell any more to your husband, tho
he will get it elsewhere if he wants
it. / think it's a pity he csn'tstand
PUP for himself without sending his
wife around praying and beseeching
for him.


Give way therer cried Vinton Ell
liott's voice, and he sprang down
from the raised doorstep, and strug-
gled toward his wife. There were
murmurs and calculations of intense
excitement on the part of the crowd
as this new element entered into the
drama, and all gave way before him.
Mrs Elliott started and trembled Vi
olently at his voice, and the moment
he reached her clung to his arm, and
hid her face sobbingly on his shout
der. All her wonderful nerve and
self-control seemed gone. In clear,
ringing tone Elliott said:


'Mr Hill, you have spoken some
true words this evening. This is no
plaee-this is no action for ladies
like my wife, and other honored WO-
men whom / see here; and believe
me they would not be here if you aud
/ and our like had not driven them
to desperation. God knows you have
enough to answer for, but you only
are not to blame. You can't force us
to throw away our money and man
hood here. If half is true of what I
have read concerning myself in the
morning paper, 1 wonder that my
wife did not leave me in utter disgust
Instead of that with Woman's faith
fulness, she comes here TO plead for
my safety. But she viii never be
called to pass through such an ordeal
again. thought l could drink mods
erately at your bar,as 1 had for years
but you have taught me better, sir.
Vinton Elliott can stand alone, but
he will stand aloof from you and
your kind. God and you, fellow cit
izens besr me witness that I viii
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