The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-08
Select Story.
ONLY A llUSK.

had only been right, but these being wrong
the whole machine was going to the bad
very fast, though there were times when the
heart felt some of its truthful ycarrings.
Tom had lost his place as foreman of the
machine shop and what money he had earn
ed 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 a
watch as well as he could set up and regu
late an engine-and this latter he could do
better than any other man ever employed by
the Scott's Falls Manufacturing Company.
One day Tom had job to mend a broken
moving machine and reaper, for which he
received s. and on the following day he
started out for his old haunt-the village
tavern. He knew that his two children were
in absolute suffering from need 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 appetite carried the day
So away to the tavern Tom went, where
for two or three hours he felt the exhilarat-
ing effects of the alcoholic draught, and
fancied himself happy, as he could sing and
laugh but, as usual, stupefcation 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 when the landlords
wife came into the bar-room to see what
kept her husband up, and she quickly saw
Tom.
"Peter she said not in a pleasant mode" ,"
"why don't you send that miserable Tom
Tracy home? He's been hanging around
here long enough"
Tom in his stupefcation was not sound
asleep. The dead coma had left his brain
and the calling of his name stung his sense
to keen attention. He had an innate 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 vnegary spinster who
had brought him the tavern, and he knew
|
misery of the woman who had once discard
ed 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 before he
,, goes home I'll have the kernel of the nu
, and his wife may have the husk!"
j. With sniff and snap, Betsy turned away
and shortly afterwards Tom Tracy lifted
: himself upon his elbow.
c "Ah, Tom, you are awake !'
c "Yes."
G "Then rouse up and have warn
glass"
c Tom got upon his feet and steaded him
c self.
"No, Peter, wont drink anymore to
C night"
c at won't hurt you, Tom--ju on,
c glass"
g 81 know it won't" said Tom, buttouinl
g up his coat by the solitary button left, 8"
c know it won't"
e And with this he went out into the chill
e air of midnight. When he got away fror
C the shadow of the tavern, he stopped an
&c looked up at the stars and then he locke
&c down upon the earth.
&c "Aye' he muttered, grinding his heel il
q the gravel, "Peter Tindar is taking the ke
mel, aud leaving poor Ellen the worthless
9r and / am helping him to do it. am rob
bing my dear children of honor and comfol
and robbing myself of love and life-ju
that Peter Tindar may have the kernel an
Ellen the husk Well see !'
1t was revelation to the man. The taN
ern keepers speech, meant not for his ear
had come upon his senses as fell the voice {
the Rising One upon Saul of Tarsus.
"We'll see w he said, setting his foot firm
ly upon the sand and then he wended h
way homeward.
On the following morning he said to h
wife
ELLEN, have you any coffee in tn
house"
"Yes Tom.' She did not tell him thi
her sister had given it 10 her, She was gla
to hear him ask for coffee instead of the col
cider
II wish you would make it good an
strong"
There was really music in Toms voic
and the wife set about her work with
: strange feeling at her heart.
, Tom drank two cups of the strong fragral
coffee and then went out-went out with
resolute step, and walked straight to II
|. great mandatory, where he found Mr.Sco
in his office.
: "Mr Scott want to learn my trade ovt
!. again, said Tom.
e "Eh, Tom, what do you mean ?''
. 81 mean that it's Tom Tracy, come bac
!. to the old place, asking forgiveness for ii
: past, and hoping to be better in IL
4 future"
= Tom" cried the manufacturer, startir
n n forward aud graspng his hand "are you
earnest Is it really the old Tom"
: ats what is left of him, whole and stror
very soon, if you'll only set him to work"
{ "Work? Aye, and bless you too The
= is an engine to be set up and tested to-da
u Come with me-"
g Toms hands were weak and unsteady, bl
), his brain was clear, and under his skillfi
. supervision the engine was set up and teste
g but it was not perfect. There were mistak
!. which he had to correct, and it was late
!. the evening when the work was complete,
. "How is it now, Tom" asked Mr.. SEQ
:. as he came into the testing department al
. found the workingmen ready to depart.
"She's all right, sir. You may give yol
"a warrant without fear"
!. "God bless you, Tom You don't kno
IL how like music the old voice rings. Wi
you take your place again I"