Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-06-07
ONLY JONES.

fourth and Eighty-fOurth Infantry were
sitting round their mess-table, in Castle
town, the capital of the Isle of Man, one
evening more than thirty years ago-that
is, all Of them except one; but then, that
was only Jones. Nobody minded Jones;
even his peculiarities had begun to be an
old subject for chatting" and, indeed, he
had paid such small attention to their
chatting that they had come to find it little
pleasure, and after some weeks of dlscom-
fort Lieut.. Jones had been allowed to
choose his own pleasures without much in
reference These were not extravagant
"a favorite book, a long walk in all kinds
of weather. and a sail when the weather
was favorable. He would not drink-he
said it hurt his health; he would not shoot
he said it hurt his feelings; he would not
gamble, he said it hurt his conscience
and he did not care to firt or visit the
bellies of the capitalize said it hurt his af-
fections. Once Captain de Reuzy lisping-
ly wondered whether it was possible to
s'hurt his honor" and Jones calmly an
swered that sit was not possible for Cap
tain de Ruezy to do So" Indeed. Jones
constantly violated all these gentlemen's
ideas of proper behavior, but for some
reason or other no one brought him to ac-
count for it. 1t was easier to shrug their
shoulders and call him "queer," or say cit
was only JONES'" or even to quietly assert
his cowardice.
| One evening Colonel Underwood was
discussing a hunting-pa1ty for the next
day. Jones walked'into the room and was
Immediately accosted:
Something new, Lieutenant, I find
there are plenty of hares on the island,
and we mean to give puss run tomorrow.
l have heard that you are a good rider.
Will you join us ?''
''You must excuse me, Colonel, such. a
thing is neither in my way of duty or my
pleasure
'You forget the honor the Colonel does
you, JONES'" said young Ensign Powell.
Il thank the Colonel for his courtesy,
but can see no good reason for accepting
it. am sure my horse will not approve
of it; and am sure the hare will not like
| it; and am not good rider; therefore,
should not enjoy it,
"You need not be afraid. said the Col.
onel, rather sneeringly; 1.-The country is
quite open, and these low Maux walls are
easily taken"
Excuse me. Colonel. I am afraid. If
I should be hurt it would cause my mother
and sisters very great alarm and anxiety.
I am very much afraid of doing this.''
What was to be done with a man so OBJ
fuse regarding conventionalities, and who
boldly asserted his cowardice !? The Colo
mel turned away, half contemptuously, and
Ensign Powell took Jones' place.
The morning proved to be a very bad
one, with the prospect of rising storm;
and as the party gathered in the barracks
yard. Jones said earnestly to his Colonel:
Il am afraid, sir, you will meet with a
severe storm"
II think so, Lieutenant; but we prom
Used to dine at Gwynne Hall, and we shall
get that far at any rate.''
! So they rode rather gloomily away in the
rain. Jones attended to the military du-
ties assigned to him, and then, about noon,
walked seward. 1t was hard work by this
time to keep his footing on the quay; but
amid the binding spray and mist he saw
quite crowd Of men going rapidly toward
the great shelving Scarlet Rock, a mile be-
yond the town. He stopped an old sailor
and asked:
s'Is anything wrong %
"a little steamer, sir, off ia Calf of Man:
she is driving this way; an infect fear
she will be on ia rocks afore ia night"
Jones stood still moment, and then fol
lowed the crowd as fast as the storm would
I let him. When he joined them they were
gathered Oh the summit Of large cliff
watching the doomed craft. She was now
within sight, and it was evident that hel
seamen had lost all control of her. She
must ere long be flung by the waves upon
the Jagged and frightful rocks toward
which she was driving. In the lull of the
wind. not only the booming of the minute
gun. but also the shouts of the imperiled
crew could be heard.
eWhat can be done ?s said Jones to an
old man whose face betrayed the strongest
emotion.
Nothing. sir, am afraid. If she'd
manage to rount ia rocks, she would have