Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-11
A DlSSlPATED GHOST.

was a book keeper in Chicago at the
time OF the great fire, and like many
others. was left by it homeless, penni-
less and friendless, my employers being
too crippled by the calamity to continue
business. Unlike many others. though,
within the week had the good fortune
to accidentally meet civil engineer,
whom had known slightly when ! was
lad, and on making myself known to
him he offered me work as an assistant
on the preliminary survey of projected
railroad which he was then on his way
to make. 1t goes without saying that !
accepted gladly, and all the more SO be-
cause ! was Young and vigorous, detes,ed
Office slavery and coveted open-air en-
ploymen,.
The party to which | wss attached
was exceptional, in that the entire staff
were educated gentlemen and good fel-
lows, good-natured and jolly, with an
unlimited capacity for making amuse-
ment, while the laborers, the hewers Of
wood and drawers OF water" seemed to
follow their lead, and cheerfully took
their hsrdships like pleasures. Except
while al work, there was small distinc.
ton of rank, and many an evening did
we make the quiet night ring with the
united shouts Of the party as we laughed
over some comical story and banded jokes
with one another.
The chief OF our patty was an engineer
named Jones (of course, that wasn't his
name, but it will serve short, fat and
CHEEKY little man, with an imper,urt able
acceptance OF circumstances. however ad-
verse, which often struck me as an attri-
butte of d fatalist. Every one called him
Major, though nobody could tell why.
There was nothing in his bearing to in
spire the application of military title
rather the con,ray-but still we all called
him Major. never saw another man so
fullof straightforward energy, so thought
tul Of the welfare Of his subordinates, so
faithful TO his duty, and withsl so merry
and apparently light.hearted He seemed
to like the wild life Of preliminary sur
vey, and once told us, as we lay about
our fire at night, talking Of home and
our ultimate return there, that he would
like to die without ever seeing the settle
ments again.
This remark set US all to talking in a
reminiscent strain, and from mothers,
sisters and sweethearts we passed on TO
the rosy joys of the opera, the ballet and
the circus. The We talked "gourmand-
ise," and compared whiskey and bacon
with omelet souffie, frogs Ia poulette,
and champagne frappe. Finally the boys
drif,ed quietly off to their blankets, leav-
ing Jones and me to finish our pipes by
the dying fire.
We smoked in silence for few min
utes, and then the chief turned and look
ed at me, with far-away look in his
eyes that had never seen there before.
Presently he said:
"My boy, you were all of you wise
enough to take the good things Of life
when they were within reach, for the
time will come, alive or later, when the
ashes of remembrance will be all you can
hope for out of the glory of existence. l
enjoyed these things once-enjoyed them
so | don't like to talk or even think about
them. Thank your stars, old fellow, you
are still here to embrace the fragrant de-
light of them"
He leaned back on mis- elbow and look
ed off into the sky, diligently shooting
great mouthfuls of smoke at a cloud
which swung along the horizon. At
length he said, half to himself and almost
defantly:
~ think l will tell you my story. I
don't know why l shouldn't. ! know
you will respect my confidence, and it
will serve to bring me to mind sometime
when you are a staid old citizen and I'm
a rotting skeleton"
said nothing, but refilled my pipe,
threw a chunk of wood on the fire, and
stretched myself out again where could
could sec his pleasant face by the flicker.
ing freight.
After few more smoke-puffs he com.
mepced: