TAKING THE PLEDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1887, Page 6

TAKING THE PLEDGE.

'jILLY Maple was? a belle and a beauty, and I was verjt much ins love with her. Now that I was going way from home to make my fortune m the city, I felt that I should be, -nuch happier if I could know just how she felt toward, me. She had, so many admirers, so much attention, such, fine opportunities to make » rich match, that it was almost presumptuous to hope that she' Aviould waib fpr me. Yet I did hope it, I. loved her so' dearly. The difficulty was together; to myself: to say anything serious, t& liep, there were so many callers at tho house of. the Maples; At last I bethought me that if she- would let me take her to. the great flower sliow that was to be held at the Lyceum Hall in .- ■ I. could have her alone with* me' for a while, and say what P had to say at. least I liajd: written, her a letter, which offered her my heart and hand in the best words I could mustor; and if she were kind, T intended to give her this on parting. I almost trembled with agitation as; I proffered my invitation, fearing that some one was before me ; but she was very kmd, and said she would' be happy to go. And now my only anxiety was concerning the waggon. It was-a very antiquated yellow affair, boasting of two seats. If it had, had one, this story— But I will not anticipate. 'Two good hours of this before me,' I thought, as we hurried from the lane into the high-road. ' And what maybe said in two hours? Alas! I reckoned without my host. At that instant. two voices, one nasal, one shrill, uttered my, name. 1 turned my head. At the whitewashed gate of their yellow frame house stood Deacon Porter and his wife, Betsy Jane. He was armed with a blue and baggy umbrella, which he always took with him when he went abroad, irrespective of the weather. She had abasket on her arm. Their round, faces beamed with affability. 'How-de-do? Goin' to the flower show V they shrieked;in chorus. Truth comes naturally to< one's lips. I answered ' Yes,' before I knew it, and the deacon continued : 'Well, then, I guess you won't mind takin' me and the old lady along.' I could not refuse, and the deacon at once proposed he should 'set forward, with me, and the ladies s"ot back together.' The arrangement was made, and the deacon brought, forward his hobby—the temperance society—tha pledge for all—an<t waVgobd'enough to give me a tract. The old lady talked away on the back seat. There never was a more wretched downfall to hopes that had been reared aloft. I did not even hope that we should be alone, on our homeward way. I knew the deacon and his wife too well. My prophetic soul did not deceive me. They were on hand, and I made no progress in my love affair, and knew no moment of happiness until we landed the deacon and his wife at their gate. A waggon full of young folks was just ahead of us, and they were going to finish the evening at the Maples' home ; but now I had a. few minutes, and; began by saying_: ' You know' I am going away tomorrow. , ' To-morrow V Lily said, softly. ' Yes,' said l> ' I want to make my fortune, and I think I have a chance. When I marry I want my wife to have everything, handsome about her. That is.why I am.going.' 'Your father will miss you,' said she. 'Eather does not- seem to mind; , I. my mother died, something wertt out of him that has never returned; I scarcely think he will know I am, gone. , . isy> put. her; hand! on my armsomething she,had never done befojr.e. '. It must.Be a, sad home,' she, said; I covered, the,' little, gloved hand 5 witiiminfti;. but just; then : shouts came fronv the- others waggon. They- were alighting aridicallingto us. I.had only a few moments lefK I took the. little bag Lily carried from her lap, and put my "letter in it, and drew tjhe strings tight. It was; datlcnow. She , did not see what I was doing. ! 'I' Have put something into', that, bag, fox you. to read,' said I. 'Will you"read it before you sleep, and tell me.what'you think of T it",in' the morningiwhen I call to say good-bye V 'Yes, , she answered; with a quiver in: her voice: 'Won't-you come-in and take supper with us V I declined.; I had o,nly time to hold her hand a moment to my lips before IleffrherV Ifelthappy, llopefure.ven,,conljde,nt of. my answer, when I went, next morning tobid Lily good-bye, . I; found her alone. Her. manner, did nobiseemiquite:as cordial as when we' parted; but she .was" ag| tinted",, and r Her .ey.es;. looked, as though, she had, been crying..,. After a d_ e.w..rather incoherent remarks I rushed into the subject.' I said': ' Irr-I must ask you if yoUvread wKafe t putinto; your, hag, ; ' Lread; itj' slle> answered,-, quietlyi 1 Itseems-to be-quite tlie 1 old^story.' 'To you, no doubt,' I said,..'but I Havel it so very much at heart" that it seems new to me: I—l Hoped you would think it of some importance,' ' Gh; it is a; most" impo,rtant subjebt; sher said; 'but I"really} thought, you mustxmtenda.jokecbya giving it' to n me f toreapl.' : . , , ' Ivcriedi,, , Gl ; ceali..HeaYenj do you think I wouldaßkyouina joke;, to; gvye; a, pledge 1 so ■ , 'It str,ikes. ; mej as dressed,to:me,- knowing. &U about- me , as you- do/ answeredf lA)y,\ f Bea)ly, I cwnofe lqplr {it in aliy other l ! ght.' . \' ■'

He# lip curled. She actually gaye me a glance half contemptuous and half reproachful. I looked at iter stern-ly , for a moment,-took- my hat, bowed, and. the house.. The. morning I was off. Ido not car,e|o.: describe, the sorrow I felt, or how long it was before I got over my. wound. But I got on. I. made money. 1 sent for my father to live with me, and city life so rejuvenated him that he felt in love with a ,lively,*raiddle-aged widow, and married herein less than six months. Ten years from the day I left my native town I returned to it a bachelor. My father's wife had no wish to reside in that place o£ ours. I was to sell it; and J I soon found a purchaser. He Svas. pleased', with the house, and' we 'went toward; thestables. i 'There's an old yellow pleasure waggon here; that you niay have into the.bargain. It's a shabby affair enough, but you can do what you likewith it. Is don't care to take' it away.' 'It-will come in handy,' said the man. 'Moths in the cushions, though.' Hei turned one over as he spoke. ' Hullo 1 Here's a- letter behind it,' said he; ' A letter f did,he say. «A letter V. It was the only important letter ever written in , the world. I knew it at once. It was the one I had written to Lity, its seal unbroken. I had sense enough to laugh and put it fnto my pocket. But when 1 got away from my purchaser, I felt as though I had gone mad. Wliat had I put into her bag, if not that? What had she read and answered 1 I knew that Lily was alive and well, and living with her parents at her old home. I had seen her from a distance, andshe had altered very little. My heart melted. At least, it was not my ardent declaration of affection, my offer of marriage, which she had treated with such contempt; and I must explain matters, if I could. I had assuredly made some strange mistake. Lily ' was at homo when I called, and she gave me hoi . Hand and chatted pleasantly with me for a few moments. Then Tcame to the point. ' What was it I gave you to.' read the evening of our ride to the flow,er I show f Tasked. 4 Youknew, I suppose, , she said. I'D meant to give you this, , I said; ''I found it just now in our old yellow ■waggon. My driving gloves must have'caused me-to drop it. But wliat did I put into your bag in, the darkness under the trees ?' ' I'll show you,'said Lily. She crossed the room, opened a Japanese box, and took from its depths the temperance tract the deacon had given me that day. It began thus : "Young woman, beware. Your habit of sfpping winois growing upon you. Take this pledge, 1 imploio you, if you would not fill a drunkard's grave." ' Gracious heavens!' I cried, ' what did you think of me J' 'I hardly kmw,' said Lily; her lips trembled. I saw it was not only I who had suffered all these years. ' It whs quite another sort of pledge I wished you to take, Lily,' I said. ' When you read this letter you will see; but* I think you understand already. . She had turned from me, and I heard her sob, and I went to her and put my arms about her. ' You will take the pledge,' I whispered, as 1 kissed her. The next day I wrote to my fatlier; our letters were always laconic. This one contained just three lines : ' Dear Father : I have sold the house, and when I return I shall bring my wife with nie. You remember Lily Maple. She sends her, love. • ,' ' Yours affectionately. .