ONE VOTE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10487, 25 November 1911, Page 6

ONE VOTE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

(By Ma- W. Dob'bs.)

Travelling one day in a railway train,, I had as solo companion a very sad-faced man, apparently about the 'age of 50, but whom I subsequently found out was only 36. A Jong journey was before .us. I tried to enftelinto ia friendly conversation to wilie away tlie time. My companion seemed reluctant to talk. Itaileving, however, that his reflections were not helpful to lijmi, and tluxt to divert them would clo him 110 good, I plied' him with! questdbnis as to his knowledge of the Ideality through which, we were passing, I being a stranger thereto. He answered as briefly as possible, andi in -litis voice tliere was thle ring of sadmc.ss outlined on. his face. 1 ventured the remark that he did, mot appear to bo very well, and asked, if ho hud suffered from any serious liilllness recently. He looked into my eyes, and; said, after a pause, "No, not in. body, but I am distraught in mind, and there as' 110 lieaKtag for it-." I begged his pardon, saying I was sorry I had thoughtfcssily opened an old woundi. He looked at me again, and said, ''l do not know if my story would' interest yiou, but iGlod knows the pain, of it is sometimes more tham, I can bear in sconce." His voice was thick with amotion, and, lidsi wliole body shook. After a while he, with an effort, controlled (himself. My , heart went out to h|im. .1 thiink he felt this, and proceeded, "Sir, I am talking this journey to we my wife, once one of the brightest and dearest of women), hut now confined in a, mental hospital). We Ibved each other passionately. We had one son-, on whom we lavished our affection. My wife a,nd I were 1 brought lip in homes, in which liquor was kept and used in moderation, aiot one member of either famfily e.er going to exces° Wp had 'been used to (hearing Prohibitionists' called 'fanatics,' and thought they we:re. Three years ago some of my acquaintances aurged the matter witlr ime, anid rurged. me to vot-e Nolioeanse, pointing out to me that Continuance ,might even be canned by one, vote. I ,(limply pooli-poohed the idea, but ais a matter of fact hat is exactly what occurred. I never thought thei diqulor traffic could hint rrie or mine. One day, Milieu'our hoy, who had just started to _ atteid ischlool, and had to l pass the one ht>teft iiv our township, was vet n'uir.g 'liome, two imeiii, jniaddened with diriink, wiere quaa-reffing, when one of them in (his, madness hurled a bottle of whisky at (his opponent, v.hich. missing him, struck' our iLoveid on© on the temple, biffing him instantly. Two /other men who were :;.tn;ut tine (hotel, also muddled l wath drink, <;triried him home. The shock almost Milled' hi,s imothe'r. Siometi:n;s Tam tempted to think at would ha\» been a mercy if it. ihad'. When I returned (home a little liatber, my wife W3& a iraving maniac. The oniy words I li)a,re ever heard her use 'since have been, 'Why did you mot vote against the drink ?' That is the only question she ever asJrs- anyone. When I see her to-morrow, it is the only question slh'e wiM,'.ask me. That tote cost mie tine (life of my boy and the reason of my wife—and I thought tho drir k oouilld not hurt me."—'N-.Z. Primitive Methodist.