An Effective Reformation.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13319, 22 June 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

An Effective Reformation.

" Please don't go down town to-night. Tom," said Mrs Burton, a sweet-faced little woman, as she pimre:! l a rose, on. hei husband's coat. "T won't be: long, dear, .only ?a few, minutes," said he, as lis looked down, into the pleading and sweet little face, which he hurriedly kis'ed. I.promised to m:et Jim Ora-ham at seven,-but. I'll cuffi.e home curly. Uoott-byc." He fmiled over his shoulder a.'i lis started on a - brisk walk to keep Lis . engagement. > "I nrght have stayed at -home to-night to please the dear girl," thought he. "She don't ask for many favours nowadays." Then*, his • -thoughts ran back <:u her girl-' l;oqd days. "What a'pretty girl .«he wa>: s and a mighty lucky fe low I was to win her!" lie muted.ho threw br.ck- his' head and stepped forward proudhM Then his mind centred on hi-; boy, tjlie tt-urdy little fellow who lay a!l pink and white in the crib at home; he was-on the point, of retracing .hiss skps when ha met .Dick Herman, a jovial, hail-fellow-well-met -sort of man, who secme-l to hold the the- leading strings over many a manlier nature.-. " Hello, old fellow ! You're just the man I want to see. How airo you?" shaking his ,hand heartily, and slapping him on the shoulder in a. familiar way. i Tom, who had been happy in his thoughts of home, was annoyed to have tir.'m thus rudely interrupted, but Dick's jolly face and captivating way soon made "him forget, the vision of his: wife and childThe evil powers seem to lie in wait and gently ply their art to draw from the heart the better and nobler,impulses and implant only selfish one'-'. So Tom Burton stepped lightly along with his friend, whose way often led to Sam Thirsty's drinking -pal-

It was one of those nice, respectable plates, large unci roomy ; everything looked fresh a.nd clean ; the spray from a miniature fountain danced and glistened to the bright, lights isnd Ml in soft, tinkling cu-. de-nce on the border of graceful ferns at the foot. On the bar stood a fine bouquet of roves, hanging their heads a. little us

though they were apologising, yet sending delicious fragrance through the room. Tlii* door swung open as. tlia two ms-n entered. ' " Oh, here'* Tom and Dick. Hello, boys !" welcomed a, familiar voice from one of the sma.ll tables around which sat ;cverai men. ! Tom, Dick, and here's Harry, ha Mia!" laughed one of the men. "That take's in everybody; here, wake room' for "Here, boy.s !" Then followed a general shuffling of chairs to seat the newcomers. A convivial spirit pooh arose and glasses w;'ie cmj)iied and filled again by (he obliging young -man in a tnowy apron. wlio jauntily picked his way among the tab!;. us tliey began to fill with the usual number of customers.

Cigars were lighted and (lie room was soon surging with song, jest, and smoke. The hour baud pointed to eight, ihen nine, then ten. Once through Tom. 'Burton's mind flashed the promise made his lovely wife, and he rose to go. Oh. come ,'i'om,'' coaxed 11k* jovial Dick; "don't go yet; it isn't ]at<-; . nl down, sit down." Tom hesitated and wn" lost. Dick clinched his requeet by saying: "Wait a, few minutes and ! 11 go home your way." * Mors beer was ordered, and lime, kept

at his work of thieving the- minutes into hours. Mrs I'urton had stood with folded hands arid sad eyes a.-; she watched her greathearted husband out- of sight. Turning round softly she went to their cosy sitting-room and sat down alone. It looked fo desolate now. She lecalVd how for weeks she had used every effort to make it move attractive to her husband, but she had failed, for every evening after tea he began to be restless and would then li 11 (.1 some- excuse to go down town.

f-ihsi had condemned herself for her selfishness. "I am sure- lie needs other recreation after a hard day's work besides coming home to baby and me." She sighed as she. remembered how happy he had been in his home, and how much pleasure he once found in her company. The tears came to her eyes- as she steppod to the gla.'.s and looked at herself critical! v.

''Perhaps, I'm growing old and ugly," sliei thought, but she saw only the same blue eyes and fa.ir cheeks that Tom admired so much. . XOli, that can't lie." she sighed, " for he is so tender and true," and her delicate lips quivered as the gazed lovingly at a miniature lik-ene.s of Tom which stood on the dresser.

Seating herself, the house seemed so silent, jthc clock's ticking jarred ou her -ears. Once she heard footsteps. Jumping up and hastily brushing atid-e a tear, she went to Welcome her hut band. The - footsteps died away .a:id she sank back into her chair with a heavy heart, only to:' doubt, and then, condemn herself for. doubting. The clock struck nin-e, then ten. For half an hour she sat almost rigid. • A thought sc-emsd to fui:h*"upon lier mind, her eyes biightancrl with a look of tle.peration, her colourless lips t'ghteneil, the Hush had left- her cheeks. She rose, then sat down again saying, " I .can't- do it ." Her courage rose again. "If it's be t for Tom, it's best for me," she panted. Clenching her hands till the nails'left prints-in her palms, she rose le'olutely and dressed with unusual care, donning her best gown and bonnet. She even pi'mied a bit of bright ribbon at lier throat- to relieve her pa 1 en ess. After a. .satisfactory survey ','f her toilet she slipped into the nursery to look at baby, but refrained from kissing him lest he waken, and her courage fail her. Softly -she slipped, from the house and hastened toward Sam Thirsty's drinking saloon. Once at the, door her h-eait beat wildly; clasping -the hands over her heart, she looked to heaven for f trengt li,.

"Help me, 0,-Father!" fir.' .A moment she halted, then a -strange composure came over her. She opened the d-cor and walkc'd in, with a very white fac,> but a brave sir.i'e.

She knew just where her hv*:bun,d fat, but-refi a/ned from looking that- way. It was some time before In r presence was. discovered. 1 (j'lie walked quietly down Uls rcum and seated herself at one of the tabks, eojuyo-ssedly drawing off her r.eatlv tit-ting glove:?. The look of ; urpi i-:e 011 the faces of those who first paw her soon became contagious, and before many m'r.v.te-i every customer felt a, sir;iiig-e. pre? er.ee. - A-diush fell; uperi ike place.' The astonished custoircis cnuhl. liard'v believe their eves when' the cultured r-dinel Mrs.' Jo.m- ---■ Burton beckoned to the- polite young man, and said in a clear yoke : "Please bring me a glass- of beer.". Something quo.-r happened then. One after another of the customers slipped sneakingly out and left only the bewildered Tcm and.- Mrs Burtcn. He tiied to ri'v once, but found hw , kn-.es too weak. At last .summoning all Ill's gallantry, he walked to where Mrs Burton sat--before, her untastcd beer —laid down the change, raised his hat and offered his arm, which she'accepted. 'logether they walked out. ,

Xeither spoke for her heart throbbed with wild forebodings, while remorse, chagrin and disgust warred in Tom's.

Once wilhin- their' cosy home he seated her gently ; her head fell wearily back, showing a white ret- face, the next moment she would have fallen heavily to thefloor, save for her husband's quick, strong arms. He carried the Jimp form to a couch. The ntrvrius strain had been too great, and Nature sought to- redeem herself. So for weeks Tom. Burton hardly ate or slept as he watched in deep anx.ety be side the wife whose precious life hung on a. slender thread.

"My darling, forgive me! I'v.? been a brute to subject you to such a- tii ll—-T, who ought to have protected you ! I've been blind; oil. Jennie, don't you hear 1112,' he cried ;in the bitterness of his grief.

"Through all these months you have never reprove;t me. You did it all for me. Oh, forgive ' mo. dear !" But njie heard him not; sh.' only repeated in her unreasoning raving—" I'm —su —lonely. 1 111 so lone'y." At last life tame slowly back. 'ili-e sweet face was thin and pallid, but there was no reproach in her vycs and voice, oni\ loving Under looks and words. The found it hard to speak of that which had given them both so much pa.ni. so the subject was not alluded to, but both felt a n..w era. in their lives had begun. One bright (lav, when Mis Burton came to the table, the first time since her i'lnesss, she was not a, little surprised to find live burly men, Tom's boon companion*, about it. v

She smiled them all a hearty welcome and kept her own council. . There was silence for a. moment, when Tom began in a, husky voice : " Hoys, when a man does a wrong acHm pubutly. its Lis duly to confess publicly." Mrs Unit on looked appeaUngly at him. but he gently interrupted: " Lit 1113 go on, .Jennie, I want to gel. hack my sclf-rcspeet ami (lie respect- "t t!i se friends. - ' His voice lowered. "1 ne;<l not tell you I've done wrong, you know too well—-1 want to say 1 uni ashamed of it—l always was. 1 will say nothing of (he wrong done my dear ones, but. thank (!od." fervently said Tom, with k'ars in his eyes, " with His help 1 will throw cif (lie- power that would have deslrovcd nr.- >oul and body. I want to eomin't myself I want it to lie no secret •—from this day. I mean to be a total abstainer." Here he held up a pledge, and said : " I want to sign this in your pref.nnce Before he had written his name-. Dick

Herman jumped to his fe?t and said, earnestly : "So dn> I." "And so do I." responded John Burr. Before nuiny minutes every male member of the dinner party had signed the pledge. Dick Herman moved that it be entrusted to Mrs Burton's keeping, who accepted the sacred charge with glad tears coursing dawn her pule check:;. ' Right doing stems not to impair digestion, for that dinner p aty was a success ! Often after this these Jive men met at Torn Burton's and brought- their wives. Sam Thirsty wondered not a little that they never came to his saloon, and after numerous unsuccessful attempts to lure them back, gave them up for. last. Mrs Burton archly alludes to the experience oE that night as " her spree," but her husband gravely" says: '"lt was. for me, welt-nigh nr' Waterloo."