The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-22
OUR STORY TELLER.
ONLY A HUsK.

Tom Darcy, yet young man, had
grown to be very hard one. At heart
he might have been all right if his head
and his will had only been all right; but
those being wrong, the whole machine
was going to the bad very fast, though
there were times when the heart felt
something of its own truthful yearnings.
Tom had lost his place as foreman of the
great machine shop, and what money he
earned now came from odd jobs of tinker
ing which he was able to do here and
there at private houses; for Tom was
genius as well as a mechanic, and when
his hand was steady enough Ectcould
mend a clock or clean a watch as we'll as
he could set up and regulate steam
englne-and this latter he could do better
than any other man ever employed by
the Scott Falls Manufacturing Company
One day Tom had job to mend a
broken moving machine and reaper, for
which he received five dollars; and on
the following morning he started out for
his old haunt-the village tavern. He
I knew that his wife sadly needed the
money, and that his two little children
were in absolute suffering from want of
clothing, and that morning he held a
debate with the better part of himself,
but the better part had become very
weak and shaky, and the demon of APP
petite carried the day.
80 away to the tavern Tom went,
where, for two or three hours, he felt
the exhilerating effects of the alcoholic
draughts, and fancied himself happy, as
he could sing and laugh; but, as usual.
stuperfaction followed and the man died
out. He drank while he could stand,
and then lay down in a corner where his
companions left him.
1t was late at night, almost midnight,
when the landlords wife came into the
bar-room to see what kept her husband
up, and she quickly saw Tom.
Peter said she, not in pleasant
mood, why don't you send that
miserable Tom Darcy home? He's
been hanging round here long enough. !"
Toms stupefaction was not sound
asleep. The dead coma had left his
brain, and the calling of his name stung
his senses to keen attention He had an
insane love of rum, but did not love the
landlord. In other years Peter Tindar
and himself had loved and woed the
sweet maiden-Ellen Goss-and he won
her, leaving Peter to take up with the
vinegary spinster who had brought him
the tavern, and he knew that lately
the tapster gloated over the misery of the
woman who once discarded him.
Why don't you send him home ~
demanded Mrs. Tindar, with an impatient
stamp of the foot.
!" Hush, Betsy! He's got money. Let
him be, and he'll be sure to spend il
before he goes home. I'll have the
kernel of that nut and his wife NAV
have the huskr'
With sniff and a snap Betsy turned
away, and shortly afterward Tom Darcy
lifted himself upon his elbow
All, Tom, are you awaken" ~
~ Yes.
Then rouse up and have warm
glass; M
Tom got upon his feet and steadied
himself.
mo, Peter, won't drink any more
tonight"
It won't hurt you, Tom-just one
glass"
know it won'tp said Tom, button
ing up his coat by the solitary button
left. g | know it won't"
And with this he went out into the
chill air of midnight. When he had
got away from the shadow of the tavern
he stopped and looked up at the
stars, and then he looked down upon the
earth.
AYE" he muttered, grinding his
heel in the gravel, "Peter Tindar has
been taking the kernal, and leaving poor
Ellen the worthless husk-a husk more
than worthless-and am helping him
TODD it. | am robbing my wife of Joy,
robbing my dear children of love and
life-just that Peter Tindar may have
the kernel and Ellen the husk! Well
seer'
1t was a revelation to the man. The
tavern keepers speech, meant not for
his ears, had come upon his senses as
fell the voice of the Risen One upon
Saul of Tarsus.
Wen seep' he said, setting his foot
firmly upon the ground; and then he
wendell his way homeward.
On the following morning he said to
his wife: Ellen, have you any coffee
in the house?''
Yes, Tom" She did not tell him
that her sister had given it to her. She
was glad to hear him ask for coffee,
instead of the old, old cider.
wish you would make me a cup,
good and strong"
There was really music in Toms voice
and the wife set about her work with a
strange hutter in her heart.
Tom drank two cups of the strong
fragrant coffee, and then went out
went out with a resolute step, and
walkedstraight to the greatmanufactory
where he found Mr. Scott in his office.
Mr.. Scott, | want to learn my trade
over again."
En-, Toni What do you mean?
/ mean that it's Tom Darcy, come
back to the old place, asking forgiveness
for the past, and hoping to do better il
the future"
Tomw cried the manufacturer
starting forward and grasping his hand