Show A romance in real life A great experience meeting was to be heli held a one evening at church where the speakers were as usual to be reformed drunkards an estimable woman whom I 1 will call alice was induced to attend when the meeting WAS somewhat advanced a late member of congress arose with apparent sadness and besita tion though I 1 have consented at your urgent solicitation to address this assembly tonight to night said he yet I 1 have felt so great a reluctance tance at doing so that it has been with the utmost difficulty that I 1 could drag brag myself forward As to relating my own experience that I 1 do not think I 1 can venture upon the past I 1 dare not recall I 1 could wish that the memory of ten years of my life were blotted out oat 11 he paused a moment much affected I 1 and then added in a firmer voice something must be said of my awn own case or I 1 shall fail to make the impression on your minds that I 1 wish your speaker once stood among the respected members of the bar nay nav more than that he occupied a seat in Con congress contress iress for two congressional periods and more than that he continued bis als voice sinking into a tone expressive of deep emotion he be once had a tenderly loved wife and two sweet children but all these blessings all these honors have departed from him he was unworthy to retain them i hi his 8 constituents threw him ot off because he had bad debased himself and disgraced them and more than all she who had loved him devotedly the mother of his two babes was forced to abandon him and seek an asylum in her fathers house and why could I 1 become so changed in a few short years what power was there to debase pie me till my fellow bein being spurned me and even the wife of my bosom turned away heart stricken from me alas my friends it was a mad indulgence in intoxicating drinks but for this I 1 were an honorable and useful representative in the halls of legislation and blessed with a home and with wife and children but I 1 have not told you ill all after my wife separated from me I 1 sank rapidly A state of sobriety brought too many terrible thoughts I 1 drank more deeply and was rarely if ever free from the bewildering effects of partial intoxication at last I 1 became so abandoned that my wife urged by her friends no doubt filed an application for a divorce and as cause could be easily shown why it should be granted a separation was legally declared and to complete my disgrace at the congressional canvass I 1 was left off the ticket as unfit to represent the district when I 1 heard of this new movement th the e great temperance cause at first I 1 sneered then wondered then listened at last and finally threw myself upon the great wave that was rolling onward in hope of being carried by it far out of the reach of danger I 1 did not hope with a vain it did for me all and more than I 1 could have desired it set me once more upon my feet once more made a man of me A year of oe sobriety 3 earnest devotion to my profession ro fes sion and fervent prayer to him who alone atone gave strength in every good resolution has restored to me much that I 1 had lost but not all not the richest treasure that I 1 have proved mv self unworthy to retain not my wife and children between myself and her the law has laid its impassible interdictions inter dictions I 1 have no longer a wife no longer children though my heart goes towards these dearly beloved ones with the ten derest yearnings pictures of our early days dabs of wedded love are ever lin lingering gering in in my imagination I 1 dream of the sweet sabet fireside fire side circle I 1 see ever before me the sweet placid face of my alice as her eyes looked into my own with intelligent confidence dence the music of her voice is ever present in my ears here the speakers s eakers emotion ove overcame roame him hit his utterance became choked and he stood silent with bowed head and trembling limbs the dense mass of people eople were hushed in oppressive stillness stat that was broken here and there by a half stifled sob bob attis at this moment there was a movement in the crowd A single female figure before whom ever every y one seemed instinctively to give way way was seen passing up the aisle this was not observed by the speaker until she had come nearly in front of the platform oti on which he stood then the movement caught his ear and his eye that instant fell on alice who by the kind kindness ineas of those near her was conducted to his side the whole audience thrilled with the seen acene were upon their feet and bending forward when n the speaker extended his arms and alice threw herself upon his bosom an aged minister then came forward and gently separated lepa tepa rated them no no said the reformed congressman you cannot take he her away from me heaven forbid that I 1 should replied the minister but by your own confession shed she is not bour wife agno no she is not returned the speaker mournfully I 1 but is ready to te make her vows again modestly estly said alice alicea Ali ceh in a low tone smiling through her ner tears before that large assembly i all standing 11 1 and with few dry eyes the marr marriage aage ceremony was again performed that united alice and aej the speaker to each other As the minister an aged iad man with thin white looks completed the marriage rite he laid his hands upon the heads of the two he had just juat joined in holy I 1 bonds and lifting up his bis streaming eyes said ip 19 a solemn voice what god has joined together let no sum buin put pat asunder amen 31 was responded by the entire assembly as with a single voice |