Year: 1874

sober.


He possessed another noteworthy feature
frequently to be detected in these occasional
drunkards, that when sober a more amiable
or gcntlcmanly man it would have been
difficult to meet with, or a greater rulhan
| and backyard when in a drunken fit. His
violence would then, however, be restrained
by his parasitical friends, 50 that he was
seldom allowed to make himself publicly OBJ
noxious, or at any rate not to greater ex-
tent than to call down on him the courteous
remonstranccs of the police.


Although the city Of X-was my head
quarters in Italy, | was frequently obliged
to leave it on matters of business for three
weeks to a month at Il time. On my return
after one of these absences Smith paid me a
visit. He appeared in much better health
than usual, and in good spirits. Moreover,
there was a remarkable change in his dress,
which, although it could hardly have been
called slovenly, had generally in it an affect
| ed air Of careleSSneSS, as if he were totally
Indifferent to what others thought of his ap-
pcarancc. He was now. on the contrary,
remarkably well dressed. in excellent taste.
and his clothes it was easy to perceive lad
! been made by an expert tailor. After con-
yerSing together on Indifferent subjects for
some little time he said to me:


81 have at last determined to break my
self of my unfortunate habit, and have no
doubt shall succeed"


81 am glad to hear You have come to that
conclusion | replied. You may depend
upon it it will contribute greatly to Your
happiness but it is no use having come to
the conclusion if you do not rcsolutcly abide
by it. You must remember how often you
have already come to the same decision on
the subject and never had the constancy to
kccp.it.'


my dear fellow" he said, 1.-THE present
case is quite different have now a stiinu-
lus which never had before To make a
long story short, have fallen desperately in
! love, and am going to be married. am
sure you will admit that, whatever my fail
ings may have been during my bachelor
hood things will be very different with me
as married man.


/ IL congratulate YOU on your determine
ton, and sincerely hope you will keep it,
| | said. And now tell me who is the young
LADY,"


Smith told me she was of highly respect
! able family. the daughter of Il widow, and
that she was IA very pretty and amiabc Girl,
/ very intelligent. and would no doubt make
him an excellent wife. They had applied for
di>pensation from the Pope for il Catholic
to marry Protestant, and hoped it would
soon arrive, and Immediately afterwards they
were to be united. In fact, he hoped in the
course Of fortnight all would be over, and
/ that he would be married man.


The next dny Smith introduced me to his
/ future bride, who was about as fine Il speci-
men Of Italian beauty, of the Leonardo da
/ Yinci school, as | ever saw. | must say that
as gazcd on the poor girl | did not look on
her future prospects without some miSgiy-
ings. The marriage had been concocted no
doubt by her friends from the worldly ad
vantayes union with So wealthy man
would bring with it, rather than ont Of any
consideration for the poor girls happiness.
Should Smith, after his marriage, again re-
turn to his drunken habits, what life would
she lead-ii. i'll fact, She could live under the
treatment she might possibly then receive
The affair was, however concluded, and all
interference on my part would have been
,,SaloSg I ,j ,,;i,,- tlo al,


The diSpensation at last arrived IL b.i
liant marriage took place in one Of the pr
cipal churches of the city and, the ce
mony over, Smith started on wedding t
for Venice. About a week afterwards
left Y for Rome, where | remain
without receiving any intelligence of
bride or bridegroom for more than tn
months. then returned to ", a
made inquiries of a mutual friend rcspe
ing Smith, how he had conducted Huns
during my absence.


OH. it's ali over with him." he
piled. He behaved very well for the fl
five weeks, when his old habit broke d
again. and he committed more than
terrible assault on his wife, Her fam
were at last obliged to interfere, and th
We're separated. She has returned to htr
mother and they are now living in Turin
and Smith has been informed by the police
that if in any manner he attempts to inter-
tere with her or annoy her he will be arrest
ed"


| now called on Smith in his new abode
and found him at home. His appearance
was very different from what it had been at
the time left him. lie was then in good
health and spirits but now, on the contrary,
he appeared low-spirited and miserable.
Pretending had heard nothing, l inquired
after his wife. For some moments he made
no reply, and then, the tears starting to his
eyes, he said to me-


my dear fellow it's no use my conceal
ing matters from you. My wife has left
me-"


assumed a look of great surprise, but
made no remark.


It's all my own fault" he continued
" cannot blame her for it, dear girl. |
must, however, get you to play the part OF
peacemaker between US. l know she has
great respect for you, and if any one can