Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-10-21
COLONEL BOB JARVIS.

CoViu was al eulcTdlu SET ID the Gull golden
brown plain. Before the door an artesian
well ghttered in the sun like an inverted crvs-
tai bowl Esculapius called the spot Fezzan,
and gradually l came to think the well
fountain, and the sunburnt waste about us a
| stretch of yellow sand f.. ..t
| When had walked to the field of whisper
ing corn behind the house. and through the
struggling vines to the edge of the vineyard in
front, came back to where my invalid sat
beneath the feathery acacias, dreaming in
happy lonesomeness. '''
did you ever see such placid, bright, ethe-
real stiffness ?" asked.
Esculapius took his cigar from his lips, and b
looked at me pensively.l IL ,H..t .--'a p -rs 81.
1T may be my misfortune, hope it is not
| my fault, but do not remember to have seen
stiffness of any Sort" 74 9af 'l-le 70
Esculapius has but one shortcoGing He is
| not poet never wound him by appearing
| to notice this defect; so sat dow, on The dry
burr7clover, and made no reply. - r6
,'You think it still?" he went on in q man
| nish, Instructive way, 'but in fact, there are
thousand sounds. AT night when it is real
" quiet you will hear the roar of the ocean ten
| miles away. Hark!" .-
Our host was singing far down in the corn.
He was a deep-toned Methodist preacher,
trimming over with vocal piety.,g~7 .ta% So
tf ''Nearer the great white throne, s,..
Nearer the jasper sea" .,fr...r -..,, 81
| came to us in slow, ricn cauences.
| The fern like branches above US stirred softly
against the blue. Little aromatic whiffs
came from the grove of pale eucalyptus trees
near the house. Esculapius diluted the in.
toxicating air with tobacco smoke and re-
manned sane, but as forme the sunshine went
| to my head, and whirled and eidied there
| like some eastern drug.
| .'My love" said, wildly, "if we stay here
very long and nothing happens, shall do
| something rash." . ..-
The next morning hugh derrick frowned
| in the dooryard, and picturesque group of
| workmen lOunged under the acacias The
we'll had ceased to fow t...
| Esculapius called me to a corner Of the pi-
| aZza, and spoke in low hurried tones, bog u 3!
Something has happened" he said; ''the
well has stopped. Thought it might relieve
| your feelings to get off the quotation about
the golden bowl and the wheel and the pitch
| er and the fountain, etc.. then, if it is safe to
leave you, would like to go hunting, .l.. a..
| looked at HIM with profound compass
sion. -.........- ..-.
| II have forgotten the quotation" said,
''but think it begins: The grinders shall
cease because they are few'-perhaps you
| had better take care of your shotgun, and
don't forget your light overcoat. Good
| bye"
| Then took pitcher, and went down the
walk to the disglorifed well. The musical
drip on the pebbles was hushed; the charm
of our oasis had departed. In its place stood
length of rusty pipe full of standing water.
Some bits OF maiden's-hair had placed in
reach of the cool spray yesterday were already
withered in the sun. / sadly took the gourd
| from its notch in the willows. Some one had
| been before me and carved "Ichabod" on its
handle. filled my pitcher aud turned to go.
A tall form separated itself from the group of
workmen and came gallantly forward.
MADAM" said rich, hearty voice, "if
you'll just allow me, i'll tackle that pitcher,
and tote it in to you. Jarvis is my name.
| Colonel Bob Jarvis, well-borer. We struck
ten-inch flow down at Scranton's last week,
| and rather knocked the bottom out of things
around here" - ........ .
"But the pitcher isn't at all heavy, Colonel
Jarvis" '" A
''Oh never mind that, anythlng's too heavy
| for lady; that's my sentiments. You see
| I'm ladies' man-born and brought up to it.
| Nursed my mother and two aunts and grand
mother through consumption, and neverlet
one of 'em lift finger. Robert, my mother
| used to say. in her tin, sickly voice; Robert,
be true to God and the women; and by god
| frey, / mean to bel" ..s' f.t -a.t
| relinquished the pitcher instantly Escu-
The well was gone, but in its place had
found something one thousand times more re-.
| freshing. When, my husband returned. he
found me sitting breathless and absorbed un.
der the acacias. Fame. ..,f g.a,.J.. l..r.
Hush J" l said, with appraised finger; Ills
ten!" 81. 'Ih .1A
Our host and the Colonel were talking as ;
they worked at the we'll ,, ...lr ,.l' 'tle 9t.
"We've Tad glorious meetings this week,
of GOopnl Ioru tho mil iotn
was saying. II look for you every night. If
you could just come over and hear the singing
and have some of the good brothers and sisters
pray with you, don't you think A'''' '.. -
"Why, God bless your soul, man, inter-
rupted the Colonel; "don't you know that I'm
religious? I'm with you right along as to the
| first principles, that is but, you see, l can't
quite go to the Methodist doctrine. l was
| raised a, Presbyterian, you know--regular
| black and blue Calvinist-and what fellow
takes in with his mothers milk sticks to him.
Pm attached to the old ideas, infant damna-
| ton and total depravty, and internal punish
ment, and the-interference of the saints. You
| fellows over at the swamp are looselsl Why,
| by the way my mother used to say to me, in
her delicate, squeaky voice: Robert, beware
| of Methodists they're loose, my son, loose as
| a bag of bonesl No, indeed, wouldn't want
you to think nae indifferent to religion; relig-
ions my forte. Why, by and,by,I amean to
start Presbyterian church right here under
| your nose"
~ I'm glad of it, responded the, geodlmin-s
| Jarvis" I'M 4u'9 - ''' ''u' ~
"why man alive,lthat church IS in my
| mind day and. night;gl want to get about I
forty good pious Presbyterian families to set-
| tie around here, and bore wells for EN-, and ,
| talk up church business between times. You
saw me carrying that lady's pitcher for hef
| this m9rnings didnit you? Well by heIway,
that was religious move entirely, took
| her man for Presbyterian preacher the min
ute struck the ranch may, be it's poor health
| gives him that cadayerous look, but you can't !,
most always tell. More likely it's religion AT
i Escnlapius retreated in wild. disorder and
did not appear again till supper time. When
the meal was finished Colonel Jarvis followed
me as / walked to the pizza.
fitain'tpresuming, madame" hesafd con-
! fdentally. I'D like to ask.your advice. 1 take
it you're from the city, now" ,d ilaE 53I
Eyes" / answered with preternatural CRAWL
ty; t'what makes you think so?"4 1psd ,ea Sass
well knew by your, gait. mostly, A
woman that's raised in the country walks as
| if she was used to havin' the road to herself ;
city women are generally good,steppers. But
that amt the point. I'm engaged to be mar 81
| ried l"s'e''
My composure under this announcement
was good deal heightened by the fact that !
Esculapius, who, had .sauntered out after US,
humming an air from PinGfore, became
suddenly quiet and disappeared timultuous-.
| IT.. laI '.S tIssfh -" s'@ p9<A'
Engaged te.be marriedi'3I said. s'Let 4
me Congratulate you colonel. May II hope to
see the fortunate young lady ?"
| That depends Yeu see, I'm in row,
the biggist kind Of a row, by good deal and
thought you might give me q lift"
She's Frisco lady, you know; on of your
regular, high flyers black eyes, bangs, with
no end o. spirit. You see, she was visiting
| over at Los Nictos, and we male it up, and
when she went back to 1FFsco thought I'd
send her a ring so / bought this fumbiing