“WHICH?”

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 394, 18 May 1928, Page 3

“WHICH?”

(By Kuth Ellison.)

The Election was over. Continuance was carried. Sitting back in his luxurious armchair, the man gazed about the room, with a self-sat smile upon his face. Everything around him betokened wealth—from the rich Persian carpet on the floor to the solid gold-mounted fountain pen wh/ h lay on the desk before him. Yes! Continuance was carried, and In was feeling pleased. Only the day before things had hung in the balance, when each voter had been asked to decide the great issue of the licensing question, and vcte for which he wunted. “Which?” What a lot hung upon that one little word l uffing idly .it his pipe, with rings of smoke rising Into the air, the man was busy thinking. Being Managing Director, and hea l of the largest firm in the city which dealt in liquor, the result was indeed satisfactory; for did it not mean that his income would still be what it was, or in fact, might even increase! A glint came into his eyes at the thought. It was not his fault if men liked to mak? beasts of themselves.— or women either, for that matter—and cause unhappiness in homes. He was not his brother’s keeper! Everyone had to make his living somehow; and if by selling intoxicating liquor, he was thus able to provide a comfortable home, with every luxury*, foi his wife and only son, then whv should he not do so? It he, and others like him. were able to take a glass now* and then. and know when they had had enough, then why should It be deprived them? “Pshaw!” He knocked the ashes from his pipe at the thought. “No! Liberty every time for him —-Liberty and Freedom!” His glance fell towards the window, where he happened to see his nine-year-old son, who at that moment was passing. A feeling of great pride swept over the man, as he watched him. The fine, manly carriage of the little fellow, with his clear and open countenance, was enough to inspire anyone with admiration; and th* father, as he gazed at him, had Just cause to he proud “For your sake, my son.” he said

aloud, “may it always be Continuance! 1 can trust you to safely steer your ship and weather the storms and tempests, which you will encounter in life. Let ‘Liberty’ be the motto for you, as it has been for me before you. No need to put a tag on you. ‘Take care of my boy.’ You will lie able to take good care of yourself, thank goodness, and not be deprived of your freedom.’ Saying which, he once more puffed at his pipe, with a smile upon his face, watching the little rings of smoke, as the) silently rose in the air. The woman stood, and angrily faced the man before her, defiance in her eyes. “Yes!” she said, “it is you, and men like you. who do such a lot of harm! Can you not be content with making a big, fat living out of your wretchH liquor, without inducing the men to take it? Yes! I know what I'm saying, right enough! You needn’t try to deny It’ You know quite well It’s the truth! To celebrate the carrying of Continuance, you each of your men a bonus to spend on your wretched drink My husband told me. And when he said he would spend it on a present for his kiddie, you told him you gave it to him for a purpose, and that purpose must be fulfilled. No explanations, please. I have come to say what T want to. and 1 won’t go until T have.” A red flush mounted into the man's face, as he listened to the words; for he knew that she spoke the truth. “And you knew,” continued the wo man’s voice, “what It meant If he started again All these last few months he has been battling against himself, to try and conquer the drink, and at last was getting It under—when you, T tell you, gave him the push that knocked him down. Fver since the result of the Flection he has started it again, and that’s several weeks ago now. “Yes! no wonder you look ashamed of yourself! You know you have good cause to be so. But. mark mv words!" —find here she paused for an Instant, and glared steadfastly at him, “Your time Is coming. Tt may not h* Just yet. but the time will come when you will reap what you have sown, though causing misery and unhappiness to others who have never done you any harm “The same thing will happen

to you! Some day you will suffer as you have made others do!” With this parting shot, the woman turned, and without uttering another word, left the man, his office, and building, and disappeared from view. L d't alone, the man sat staring fixedly before him. with a strange expression upon his face. For some minutes he remained thus; then, taking up his pen once mere, continued his work again. & v* v* It was tin late night in town. Tlie roar and bustle and noise of the city was deafening. Crowds of people thronged tli3 streets, as they journeyed to and fro. Traffic war. somewnat congested in Parts, but the police were doing their utmost to try and cope with it. Suddenly i shout was heard, and then a liabel of voices. In a few minutes a dense crowd had cell icted in one particular spot, un i eager question, were asked on all sides, us to what had caused the commotion. "A kid hurt!” vouchsafed one. “How did It happen?” enquired another. As if by mapie, the throbbing of the city ceased. Trams and motors came to standstill, and people stood by speechless, or talking in undertones. “Keep back, there! Keep back!” The loud, determined voices of policemen were the only sounds to be heard, as everyone tried to press closer to see everything tliev could. On the outskirts of the crowd people were craning their necks, and asking those around them if the accident wer a serious. “The little chap’s dead!' said a man. as, with a white, tense face, he force. 1 his way out from the interior of the crow’d, as if he had s*»en enough. “Knocked down by a drunken motorist, who wouldn’t stop when told”’ of horror were visible on the faces of all around. Just a few moments before all had been bright and joyous. And row! —a gloom was cast over the city, and there wns sorrow instead— And in the midst of the crowd, with his eyes glu.>d to the almost Indistinguishable face of the boy, caused by th 1 terrible accident, was a man—the father of the child. His face looked gaunt and haggard, as h<* witnessed the scene before him. and a groan broke from his lips—

“Some day you will suffer as you have made others do! Your time is coming!” Like the strokes of a sledge-hammer, those words kept repeating themselves upon his brain. And oh! the irony of it! that the one who had chanced to do the d.'ed was the husband of the woman who had uttered those words to him! What availed it now, his greed for wealth, when he had lost his child? And the only answer he received came in hollow', mocking tones: “Some day you will suTer as you have made others do.” Which would you sooner have to keep —your money or your child? Then again, like th? blow of «i sledge-hammer, there came the one word —“WHICH V