The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-04-27
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 been all right; but
these 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 warnings.
Tom had lost his place as foreman of the
now earned came from odd jobs of
tinkering which he was able to do here
and there at private houses; for Tom was
genius as well as mechanic, and when
his head was steady enough he could
mend clock or clean watch as well as
he could set up and regulate steam en-
gine-and this latter he could do better
than any other man ever employed
by the Scott Falls Manufacturing Com
pany.
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 for want of
clothing, and that morning he held
debate with the better part of himself;
but the better had become very weak
and shaky, and the demon of appetite
carried the day.
So away to the tavern Tom went,
where, fer two or three hours, he felt
the exhilarating effects of the alcoholic
draught, and fancied himself happy, as
he could sing and laugh; but as usual,
stupefaction followed, and the man died
out. lie 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 quickly saw Tom.
Peter" she said, not in pleasant
mood, "why don't you send that misera-
BILE Tom Darcy home? He's been hang
ing around here long enough"
Toms stupefaction was not sound
sleep. The dead coma had left his brain,
and the calling of his name stung his
senses to keep attention. He had an in
sane love of rum, but did not love the
landlord. In other years Peter Tindar
and himself had loved and wooed 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 had gloated over the misery
of the woman that had once discarded
him.
Why don't you send him home ?" de-
manded 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 it be-
fore he goes home. I'll have the kernel of
that nut and his wife may have the
husk p
With a sniff and snap Betsy turned
away, and shortly afterward Tom Darcy
lifted himself up on his elbow.
All, Tom, are you awaken
Yes"
=" Then rouse up and have a warm
glass"
Tom got upon his feet and steadied
himself.
"No, Peter, 1 won't drink any more
tonight"
at won't hurt you, Tom-just one
glass;
81 know it won'tp' said Tom button
ing up his coat by the solitary button
left 81 know it won't"
And with this he went out into the
chill air of midnight When he 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 gravel, Peter Tindar is taking the
kernel and leaving poor Ellen the
worthless husk-a husk more than
worthless and am helping him to it. /
am robhing my wife of JOY, robbing my
dear children of honor and comfort, and
robbing myself of love and life-iust
that Peter Tindar may have the kernel
and Ellen the huskl Well see p
1t was revelation to the man. The
tavern-keeper's speech, meant not for
his ears, had come on his senses as fell
the voice of the Risen One upon Saul
of Tarsus.
Well see" 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 ?"
les, ION. she did not tell him
that her sister had given it to her. She
was glad to hear him ask for coffee, in
e cad of the old, old cider.
q wish you would make me cup.
good and strong"
There was really music in Toms
voice, and the wife set about her
work with a strange futter at her
heart.
Tom drank two cups of the strong, fra
grant coffee, and then went outEwent
out with resolute step, and walked
straight to the great mandatory, where
he found Mr. Scott in his Office.
" Mr.. Scott, | want to learn my trade
over again"
/" Eth, Tom what do you meanf'
mean that it's Tom Darcy come
back to the old place, asking forgiveness