Year: 1872

we were TluluB over the pFdlTleS On
that finest Of railways, the &C, b. d
q. as the people there call the "Chica-
go, Burlington and Quincy" We
we're on the Pacific Express, and rode
smoothly and swiftly. The prairies
were in their most attractive dess.
People talk about the beauty of the
Uiid prairies, but once saw these very
ones when they were Wild but how IN.
ferior 10 the same acres covered with
corn and meadows, the greenness of
which is in fine contrast with yellow
wheat and oat fields visible in every
direction 1t was a delightful scene,
and we felt satisfied with il.


Our train contained the usual assort-
ment of people, rough and gentle, old
and young, intelligent and not So very
intelligent. But for one fact these
commonplace statements would not
have been made. Two seats forward
of us were two young people and a
glance showed that they were "the in
evitable newly married couple" which,
as often said, never fails to adorn eve.
ry train. The wife seemed too young
for such position, seventeen years
old, or ut most eighteen. She was
dressed very neatly, and her bearing
was becoming. You felt at once that
such an one must have been an impor-
tant member of her home, the very
one for her father to fondle and u
brother to be proud Of To such Il
place the young girl can find only one
superior, her own home where shall
preside husband worthy of her. For
such hume she had so | thought as
we rode along given up that in which
she had dwell since she was born.
What venture she runs who makes
such an exchange


The young husband was asleep in
the seat before her, and | noticed that
she had to exhibit the tickets. He
had them in his pocket, but she had
to get them. This was suspicious
circumstance. Ills face was red, and
when he awoke, his eyes heavy-so /
hoped with sleep. And vet | feared
the hope was not well founded. The
poor girl's face wnre an expression of
anxiety and modification. 1t is true
her husband WAS well dressed, aud
that he had on his left little finger II
plain gold ring which matched with "a
similar one ON her left fore finger.


But it seemed TO me very plain that
the fact OF marriage, the good clothes
and the plain rings did not make the
young husband appear t" any greater
advantage, nor his young wife to ap
pear any less anxious. Meanwhile our
magnificent train sped swiftly through
those acres.


After a while the young man got up,
took from the lunch basket something
and in spite Of her gentle appeal wen
into the forward car. suppose it was
Il flask thai he took, but whatever it
was it did nothing To make the wife
cheerful, Ur his face less red. Ina lit
tie while he was back and seated with
his wife. 1t was distressing to see the
two, he "drunk as lord" she think,
ing-l guess-of what she had left
aud what fate must be in store for
her. He was maudlln, silly, and un.
controllable. Could she only have put
him to sleep again, and so cover up
the disgrace, she had felt less satisfied
but-in his own opiniOn-he was
smart, and grand, n husband to he
proud of! aud his wife ought to be
proud Of himl His own wide mouth
laughter seemed to himself amiable,
and his foolish inc oherences alsn. Now
he ate, and now he laughed, now lie
reposed on her shoulder, and thence
staggered to the water-tank for drink,
and there was no concealing it. The
young girl, his wife, just on her way
TO his hnme, on the first day met this
fict, that her husband loved drink So
we'll that even the fasciuations of the
young bride when he had taken T.
the altar, could not restrain his appe.
tite.


And that was what we saw that
morning as we rode in the Pacific
Expess' on the sc. B. q @. r. r."
that July morning when the praires
of Illinois were in their most gorgeous
apparel, Aud | wondered what would
be the feelings of the father aud broth
er Of the bride could they see what We
did.


do not hatter myself that these
words will warn any trusting girl not
20 trust lover who tipples, but | feel
better for describing this new phase of
the meanness of habit that has
| IL l. u =, 4 L.. I a
good report. Approach it from which
way you will, by scafiold or bridal
chamber, by bier or marriage altar,
and the habit is in all cases mean,
with no compensation. A little fellow
not far from me blacked boots for peo-
pie in the street to get money to pay
his mothers rent, and the father stole
that money aad with it made himself
instantly druBk In the same place
| 1. 4 l.