The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-15

reached the age of 49, Fortunately, l
dlslIked the society into which | was
initiated, and after the first ilattering
assurance that / was "seeing life" /
backed out of Mr.. Croft intimate circle.
Indeed, | never entered into his estab-
lislment above two or three times-once
with my cousin, who, having secured me
the entree, allowed me alone to improve
the occasion. II was ON my third and
last appearance that | made the ac-
quaintance of jock Campbell.
After dining with the conveyancer
alone, left him to his work, went to the
theatre, and sat i'll the stall next Jock.
| looked much younger than my age,
which wis no more than seventeen.
When | left the theatre crossed the
liaymarkrt and passed up the little
court which lead to Croit's. had en-
gagged Ia meet my scapegrace cousin
there. He had daZzled me with the
promise To take me Ia scene of greater
bliss. At the door Of Bob Croft's, wait
ing for il To be opened Mt the necessary
stood the tall, heavy, but wcll-propor-
toned form that had sat next me ut the
thcntcr. Looking ut me rs We entered,
hr sad, IN tone al compassion:
"hllio! young man, You are beginning
carly. half-rcsented his remarks, and
with IN mir of superiority, ] asked the
waiter if Mr.. Allan M'rayish had ar
rived.
Allan M'ravish!" jock Campbell
murmured Ia himself, us, on learning
that my cousin had not arrived, | walked
into the first room.
a. .l...l
The gas famed, but the floors were
sanded. The space was divided into
boxes, Of which only two sides were
fenced oil. The atmosphere was thick
with smoke; and there was Ia he found
the refuse of race-courscs and singing
halls, with u large sprinkling of young
men rom the upper and middle classes,
gnarlsmen, and Others who, like myself,
imagined they were enjoying life.
Jock Campbell entered as II king, he
WAS rapturously greeted by all the
assembly
lie was II splendid icllow-tall, Mt
least six feet four, muscular, with great
breadth of shoulders, and handsome,
high-bred, fair-complexioned face, on
which he wore II moustache-am orna-
mrnt only known Ia men who, like him.
self, We're in the cavalry.
Good night, jock" the mob cried
out.
"Good-night," he responded cheerily;
and Notwithstanding the vile surround
ings, his presence and his voice showed
the good there WAS III the man.
He was not more than four-and-twenty,
aud the days had not died out, now NJ
most forgotten, when coarse debauchery
VA, deemed the extreme uf wit and good
company. Sprimgheelcd Jacks wrench
ing on duor-knockcrs, midnight sur
prlsrs. fights III the street. attacks on
the police-those were tine pleasures of
many Young men al the world, now staid
grundiathcrs and lights in their genera
ton. jock Campbell had fallen into
these ways from nigh spirits rather
than from depravity. He was full of
energy, strong, handsome and beloved
heaming with sympathy, which was en-
listed 10y his companions for the mo-
ment, whether these were innocent or
the reverse. Belonging to Il regiment
i'll which such pursuits We're the vogue,
he plunged readily into them. But he
was equally popular Ill bathrooms with
maiden aunts. or even little children, for
he was only pleased with giving pleasure.
Waiting for my cousin, | called osten-
tatiously for glass of "pale white, the
synonym for brandy -and-water in IN I'M
/ licensed institution. An inner feeling
seemed to tell me that Jock Campbell
/ had his eye on me: and half resentful, vet
half fascinated, l followed him upstairs
with my brandy-and- ter III my hand.
The room was much Larger, as supper
could he obtained there, and IL table
stood very near the whole length of the
room, covered with cloth spotted with
gravy, beer and strong drink. ! sat
down at IN unoccupied corner of this,
slipping my brandy-and-water, and smok-
ing cigar, newly-acquired accom-
plislment. A man with II broken nose
named Shepherd, ii betting man, sat ut
the other end. The rest of the room was
crowded.; for it was known Jock Camp
bell, who had beautiful voice, would be
asked to sing a song.
"Come, cook, song!" they all cried;
and he tr0lled forth, III u rich, strong
tenor, IN Irish song with Il rollicking
chorus, IN which the whole SOON joined
" Encore! encore" shouted the crowd
al 'ope the song won't be 80 noisy,
captain" said Mr.. Bob Croft, "acos Of
the prelcrs."
"All right" said Jock Campbell, as
he took puff Of his cigar, looking me
straight in the face; and leaning his chin
on his hand he sang in II minor key, and
Ill "a low tone, II pathetic Scotch song.
The effect was extraordinary. The
crowd was hushed while he sang; and
J ,rl. Lao hn hnn Iona Il
present were crying and sobbing like
children
On myself the effect was electrical
had often heard the song ut home. and
had always been told that it WAS unpub-
lishcd, and related Ia AN event in our
family history. 1t set me musing.
"COme, young man, said the broken
noscd rIfian at the end OF the table,
"don't yDu know It's your duty to stand
tn" company with champagne around p
VAS quite dazed with the speech.
elf you go wool-gathering, young
man.. continued Shepherd, "I'll bring
you too soon enough"
Don't De too hard on the yolingster,
Tim Shepherd" said Jock Campbell.
eff he don't stand champagne I'll
knock his head of, replied the bully.
"No, You won't, Tim" rejoined jock.
"a big fellow like you can't hit child
like that"
"No you can't, Tim," said the COM
pany, "we don't want no champagne. u
"You shall have some, however" de-
clared jock Campbell; and he ordered
half dozen Of Mr.. Croft, who brought
it up himself.
by this time Jock Campbell had come
near me.
"You must take II glass, yolmgster, u
lac said, eff only for the sake Of my song.
DO you know it?"
EYES," ] answered. "n my family
it is known as the song Of Lydia Main
warning, the Welsh girl who loved the
Scotchman."
"Where do you live, my boy? You
had better go home"
81 am waiting for some one"
"Alan M'Tavish won't come here to.
night. He has been taken h. aspongine
house. You had better leave this, AT
there il sure to he row soon. Can
give you lift?"
81 live in Baker street"
"What! with old Calvert M"ravish
Ii is not far out Of my way to the bar
racks"
His brougham was standing ut tho
door, and he took me home.
"Dont go any more to Bob Croft's,
he said ut parting. "Trust my word, il
is not good for you, and my name IL
Jock Campbell. We shall meet soon.
iii.