The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-09-13
OUR STORY TELLER.
ONLY A HUSK.

Tom Darcy, yet a young man, had
grown to be q 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 a
genius as well as mechanic, and when
his hand was steady enough he could
mend clock or clean watch as well as
he could set up and regulate steam
engine-and this latter he could do better
than any other man ever employed by
the Scott Falls Manufacturing Company.
One day Tom had a job to mend
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
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
debate with the better part of himself,
but the better part had become very
weak and shaky, and the demon of ap-
petite carried the day.
So 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 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 sawTom.
:" 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. Lei
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 may
have the huskW
With sniff and snap Betsy turned
away, and shortly afterward Tom Darcy
lifted himself upon his elbow.
"Ah, Tom, are you awaken
eyes"
"Then rouse up and have warn
glass"
Tom got upon his feet and steadiec
himself.
"No, Peter, I won't drink any NOR
tonight"
I" 1t won't hurt you, Tom-just on
glass"
Il know it won't" said Tom, button
ing up his coat by the solitary buttol
left. 1 know it won't"
And with this he went out into tn
chill air of midnight. When he ha
got away from the shadow of the taver
he stopped and looked up at tn
stars, and then he looked down upon tn
earth.
"Aye," he muttered, grinding hi
heel in the gravel, "Peter Tindar ha
been taking the kernal, and leaving poo
Ellen the worthless husk-a husk NOR
than worthless-and l am helping hir
to do it. am robbing my wife of Joy
robbing my dear children of love an
life-just that Peter Tindar may hav
the kernel and Ellen the huskl We
seep'
1t was a revelation to the man. TIL
tavern keepers speech, meant not fc
his ears, had come upon his senses ;
fell the voice of the Risen One upo
Saul of Tarsus.
"We'll seep' he said, setting his foe
firmly upon the ground; and then h
wended his way homeward.
On the following morning he said
his wife: Ellen, have you any coffi
in the houseT'
eyes, Tom" She did not tell hi
that her sister had given it to her. 81
was glad to hear him ask for coffe
instead of the old, old cider.
wish you would make me Gu
good and strong"
There was really musicin Toms voic
and the wife set about her work with
strange hutter in her heart.
Tom drank two cups of the stron
fragrant coffee, and then went out
went out with a resolute step, al
walked straight to the great manufactor
where he found Mr.. Scott in his Office
"Mr. Scott, want to learn my tra
over again."
Eh, Toni What do you mean?'
Il mean that it's Tom Darcy, cor
back to the old place, asking forgivent
for the past, and hoping to do better
the future"
"Tomv cried the manufacture
starting forward and grasping his han
are you in earnest? Is it really t
old TomT'
It's what's left of him, sir, and we
have him whole and strong very soon,
you'll only set him at work"
Work! Aye, Tom, and bless yo
too! There is an engine to be set up al
tested to-day. Come with me-"
Toms hands were weak and unstead
but his brain was clear, and under
skillful supervision the engine was
up and tested. But it was not perfet
there were mistakes which he had to C,
rect, and it was late in the evening VIII
the work was complete.
How is it now, Tom ?" asked N
Scott, as he came into the testing hou
and found the workmen ready to depa