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A far more important event than anything that occurred at home awaited Walter's return from college. James Morgan's year of probation drew to a close. Just a year from the night they had the interview, he sat down and wrote the following letter:

"My own beloved Mary,—One year ago to-night I pledged myself before God, in the presence of Walter Claremont, that I would never again touch the intoxicating cup. Through divine help and your influence, Mary, I have kept the pledge. You may call it selfish, but I never should have had the strength to do it if it had not been for you. Many, many times should I have yielded to my craving thirst, but for the agonizing thought of being separated from you forever. Mary, my angel guide, I will conceal nothing from you, so that you shall never have it to say that I deceived you. All my bad deeds you know, and my struggles against temptation will not certainly lower me in your eyes, especially when I have triumphed over them.

One Saturday night it seemed to me I could not live through another Sunday without some kind of excitement. That is the hardest day I have, because