He held out his hand to Aunt Stanshy.
“He has spoken like a man and what will she do?” thought Will.
Aunt Stanshy was ready to show that she was a woman. She held out her hand, also, and said, “I said more than I needed to, and I am sorry for that. Let it go, please.”
“Well,” he exclaimed, “it was mean in me to tempt a man, though I did not see then, as I do now, how low drink may bring a man. God knows I am low enough.”
The tears were now making their way down old Tim Tyler’s face. Charlie saw that Aunt Stanshy turned away from those present and looked in another direction, but the quick-eyed boy thought he noticed a redness to Aunt Stanshy’s eyes when she faced the company again.
Will Somers had come from the store in season to hear Tim’s words. A fisherman soon called who had hurt his hand with a fish-hook and wished to have a poultice applied by the “young doctor,” as people sometimes called Will. This second party had closely followed Will and had heard what was last said. It was an interesting scene. There was the drunkard, confessing how low he had fallen, and there was the woman who once had loved and respected him. There was Charlie, the son of the man whom the drunkard tried to lead astray. There was Will, and the fisherman made an additional spectator.
Will stepped up to Tim.
“Mr. Tyler, excuse, me, but why do you stay so low? Why not come up again?”
“Will’s tone was full of sympathy.
“God knows I would like to come up again.”