Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-19
ONLY JONES'.

The officers Of her Majesty
Twenty-fourth and Eighty-fourt
Infantry were sitting around thei
mess table, in Castletown, the cap
tai Of the Isle of Man, one evenin
more than thirty years ago-tha
is, all except one, but then, tina
one was only Jones. Nobod
minded Jones. Even his PECULIAR
ties had begun to be an old subjec
for chatting" and, indeed, b,
paid such small attention to theil
"chaffing" that they had come t.
find it little pleasure, and after some
weeks of discomfort, Lieutenan,
Jones had been allowed to choose
his own pleasure 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 il hurt his
conscience /; and be did not care to
fiirt or visit the bellies of the
capitalize said it hurt his affec-
tons. Once Captain DeRenzy
lispingly wondered whether it was
possible to hurt "his honor" and
Jones calmly answered that sit was
not possible for Captain DeRenzy
to do So"
Indeed, Jones constantly violat-
ed all these gentlemen's ideas of
proper behavior, but for some rea-
son or ether, no one brought him
to account for it. 1t was easier for
them to shrug their shoulders
and call him "queer" or say it was
"only JONES'" or even to quietly
assert his cowardice.
One evening Col. Underwood
was discussing hunting party for
the next day. Jones walked into
the room and was Immediately &C. .
'osted:
Something new, Lieutenant. I !
ind there are plenty of hares on
his island, and we mean to give
'uss a run tomorrow. heard
'ou are a good driver. Will you
Din us Z"
"You must excuse me, Colonel :
uch thing is neither in the way :
duty nor my pleasure. l thank :,
on, Colonel, for your courtesy, =
ut l have no reason for accepting. r,
am sure my horse will not ap-
owe it; and am not a good =,
der; therefore l should not en- '. :,
y it." III
"You need not be afraid" said 6.
Q Colonel, rather sneeringly. ",
he country is quite open, and m
ose low Manx wall are easily a;
Ien." -.
Excuse me, Colonel, am afraid. hr
l should get hurt it would cause 49,;
mother and sister very great Oh,
run and anxiety. 1 am very GO,
ch afraid of doing this" int,
What was to be done with a ]
q so obtuse regarding his con- me
tionalities, and who boldly as pai
ed his cowardice Z The Col he
turned away half contemptu- sau
y, and Ensign Powell took like
es' place. wre
he morning proved to be a van
bad one, with the prospect of sbo
Sing storm, and as the party S
hered in the barrackyard, Jones boa
earnestly to his Colonel: "
am afraid, sir, you will meet me
! a storm" A
think so, Lieutenant but we Ion
Missed to dine at Gwynne Hall, che
we shall get that far at any ecb
" on
they drove rather gloomily to
7 in the rain. Jones attended fast
10 military duties assigned him, to
then about noon walked sea- sma
|. 1t was hard work by this and
to keep bis footing on the com
Nv quay; but amid the blend "
pray and mist be saw a crowd the
en- going rapidly toward the chat
shelving scarlet rocks, q mile that
nd the town. He stopped an ~
Iilor and asked: child
anything wrongr "T
little steamer, sir, off the TT
" Man; she is drifting this Will
an, indeed, fear she will be tepc,
ks afore tonight" ment