New-York tribune., 1884-11-16

| accepted the invitation. could not 90 in the old
grcatcoaht; i was inconvenienty thin, and hardly
=, Going to dine with General Sir Archibald Busby,
| &c. b.! We all rose in estimation, be-
SANE sam, ro1f, and warmed our shns at the same fire
! with one who was in vited 10 dine with that dis
tnguished soldier. Sir Archibald Busby--a X. {. b.
also! How we would talk to our relative sand ac-
! quantances Of our friend Cornelius who dined with
Sir Archibald and Lady Busby We must posi-
lively see the major in his dresscoat. and help him
! on on WIN ms greatcoat when lie went forth 1t was
tiine or MIN TO dress, so he went upstairs. One OF
us expedited the universal drudge with shaving
! water another took ali the loose hairs out of the
genesraal ciothes,brush, a third went down to the
poot-hoe to make sure that the old gentlemans
po2ts were brushed mp brilliant as patent leather
ne came down at last looking very bright ana
fresh and delightful. The curl on his temple was
tnrned with consummate art His dress suit was
without speck. 1t had not been worn for several
years II is collars were very erect and white. and
mn ary-iooking. We hoyered about HIM i'll
a dhe passage The old lady on the first
over the banisters, and nearly dropped her teeth
! ont OF her Jaws Miss Jones 10 the surface
from downstairs; the maid-of-all-work with her
nose blaekened and polished, looked in amaze
mcnt and far-oif alteration.
oo,N Mhat Rai tune may we expect you home Major y
About twelve or half-2ast shall not be late"
:. Mary Mary Jemima shall SIT up said Miss Jones =,
" On no we will ali sit up. We can't sleep till
We nave seen the Maio return from his dinner. Oh
Mayor Cornelius what ravages you will commit
tins evening On the hearts of the ladies, You are
pertectly Irresistible If only they could see you
| III the grcatcOat ~
lie, laughed: then three Of us rushed and
kn knG,kGd k our heads together in or eagerness to
| heIp MN INTO the new greatcOat. When we had
| encaseh hiln and butoned him IN, we made HIM
turn round under the gasllght.
Don you feel tempted to kiss him, Miss Jonesv
| astrd one OF the youngsters
For shame On. ~ Then Miss Jones went
down. down the kitchen stars with a blush on her
| vulsive giggles
" Goo Ecyenlng, sir!' called. as he went 10
the door. = We shall all sit mp for you; and may
| you wei ENJOY yourself"
| As he had his hand on thc door the postman's rap
came loud and made the old man draw back with
start. However, he had the door open and bad
faced the postman before the letter put Ill the
| box.
:" For you sir
An right. thank you." He had no time to look
at the letter then he slipped II into MS greatcoat
pocket ana went forth.
We clubbed together for a bottle Of British
brandy, We hcaped up the fire with what remained
OF Goals IN the box, after Miss Jones was gone. We
got the general Jemima to supply us with not
let III have a bowl full of sugar to be charged IN
our hIlIs. We sat up and discussed the Major. We
were SO pleased that the dear old man had gone
out 4; It would brighten his hie He would laugh
ana tel his stories, and recall old "reminiscences
with ms icliow-veterans he would associate once
more with these In his own rank of life. We did
not say aloud, but we felt, that he belonged toa
different order than ourselves. We were jolly fel,
lows, good fellows, no nonsense about u.s. and all
|
ncr, that indescriba5e something which forms an
invisible yet lmpassablc barrier between the
Twelve o'clock He promised TO be home by
midnight. or shortly after and tae Major was
punctnal At 1920 heard his key in the
door, but he seemed unable to open it. One OF us
went into the passage to unlatch Two or three OF
us stood up and filled the doorway of the sitting
room
"rhc old gentleman has taken so much port that
he can't hit the keyhole. Wckedold Major| SAID
one.
" But, whom the door opened, and we saw him. in
the glare OF the hall lightiie rising joke died away
on our lips.
He arrived in his dress suit, without the great
Good gracious. Major Why! what is the
meaning OF this Where IS the greacoat -
He came in, looking very whlte and depressed
the curl over his forehead out of twist. his collars
limp. his shoulders STOPPING. lie walked more
lamey than usual: We made him come into the
YARN room HIS hands We're Ike ice WV we r;og ioTc9o go
rouse him 1t was in vain. lie looked utterly
crushed. ~
After Il while VIC learned what had occurred. The
evening had passed very pleasantly never more
So When he left the drawiug-room, he descended
10 the hall and asked for his greatcoat. 1t was
lost. 1t was nowhere hanging up lt had not
fallen behind bench. 1t was not lying across q
afraid thar some rascal, taxing advantage of the
door being open upon the arrival OF guest. had
sipped iufo tIc hall unOb4ei we'd, and hal walked
off with the newest and best OF the grcatcoats.
Thus the disappearance accounted Tor 1t
could be accounted for othcr nNpotnrsl-
"Shail we lend yOu one of Sir Archlbalds 10 go
home in Z sad he servant.
No. thank YOU" so the Major walked home in
his dress snit without his groatcOIt. That was
Ios-o, for ever. There was bat the smallest pros
pect of its bcl1g recovered The poor old man was
utterly cast down. Without the grcatcoat he coud
no longer walk abroad respectfully. lie sat IN the
armchair with his mead down and his han shak-
ing. We did our best to encourage HIM; but what
could we promise He could not possibly raIss me
money for Il new greatcoat. BESIDES tins one now
lost was unpaid for He would not take more than
"a little drop of brandy aud water lie could not
look before him. The future was nor to be Faced
without a greatcoaI Presently he stood ND and ut
his candle he would go to bed He was tired;
perhaps tomorrow he would be better
We squeezed his hand, and sat specchess, listen
ing to his foot as he went mp stairs He dragged
his lame leg wesrlly after hun.
Poor old chap! SAID he seems done for COM
pletcy.'
Next morning We were all assembled at break
fast-that IS, all but the Major-when a rap came
at the the front door and ring al tue bell. Jell-
ma answered moment after she came III with
the greatcoatyes, he Identical greatcoa, over n9r
arm. Sir Archibads valet mad brought IT.; lie
had seen IT, with the other III tho hall had belleved
II 10 belong 10 geatleman staying ~ cue us
and to avoid confusion, had removed TO the I'D
rary: The mistake had only been found out wnen
all the guests gone and the Servant hld come
over with the greafcoat the first thing III the morn
fran upstairs to rouse the Major with the joyful
news | knocked at his door. but received no ail-
swer. I opened 1t and looked III. ! saw the Ola
man on his knees by his bedside. He was saving
his prayers. would not uist,ro NM ~ ~ 49,
back. He was long time over these same prayers.
looked in again. He had not stirred. lhen WIN
"A start saw that the bed had not been slept In.
and the Major was in his dress suit. went up to
him and touched him.
He dead. .
The loss of the greatcoat had been the last disap,
pointment he c0nld bear The brave old heart hid
given up the battle, and had stopped beating.
When. afterwards, the greatc0at pockets were
searched there were found i'll them two letters
One was the bill for the coat the otner pore al
American stamp 1t was from his brother-a penn,
tent letter; he was doing well. aud he enclosed
10 Major Cornelius draft for hundred POUNDS.
/ he letter had not been opened Inc Oornhi"'