random, nor merely indulging in a harsh sentiment, little caring
whether it were closely applicable or not. That the indurating
process had begun, he, alas! was too sadly conscious."

The landlord had been absent from the room for some time. He left
soon after Judge Lyman, Harvey Green, and Willy Hammond withdrew,
and I did not see him again during the evening. His son Frank was
left to attend at the bar; no very hard task, for not more than
half a dozen called in to drink from the time Morgan left until
the bar was closed.

While Mr. Lyon was giving me the brief history just recorded, I
noticed a little incident that caused a troubled feeling to
pervade my mind. After a man, for whom the landlord's son had
prepared a fancy drink, had nearly emptied his glass, he set it
down upon the counter and went out. A tablespoonful or two
remained in the glass, and I noticed Frank, after smelling at it
two or three times, put the glass to his lips and sip the
sweetened liquor. The flavor proved agreeable; for, after tasting
it, he raised the glass again and drained every drop.

"Frank!" I heard a low voice, in a warning tone, pronounce the
name, and glancing toward a door partly open, that led from the
inside of the bar to the yard, I saw the face of Mrs. Slade. It
had the same troubled expression I had noticed before, but now
blended with anxiety.

The boy went out at the call of his mother; and when a new
customer entered, I noticed that Flora, the daughter, came in to
wait upon him. I noticed, too, that while she poured out the