The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-08

evenipg, when We were all At home, except
Rebhins Who was ut the thesier. We sat
round the room and saw the garment put
on, expressing our delight In low murmurs
and sudden ejaou' ations Mr. Dawkins Was
proud OF his performance. The Major stood
la the mid lie OF the room the tails was
thrust aside that ali might see Mr. Dsvkins
pulled the tail down with jerk; then be
buttoned the coat across the chest; then he
made the Major raise aud depress his arms,
like cock Tapping his wings II fitted 20
perfection. IL was faultless The tailor
drew back aud looked at IL, with his head on
one side, then he turned his head the other
way, then he walked around the Major. No.
nothing nesdtd rectihoa,on Then he looked
al us all, one after another, seeking com
mendatioa He received "a. Perfection is
not often encountered In life, bat That coat
was perfection
You will find the bill in the pocket, sir"
said Mr.. Dawkins. After three months 3
per cent"
When Mr. Dawkins was gone. then all re-
straint on our enthusiasm was removed; we
almost danced round the Major Our ex
pressions OF admiration were lavish, aud, 4
must admit, exiravagant. The old man
smiled. sad bore litue banter. mixed with
the congratu latiors with great good humor.
Ills pleasant face was lighted with n smile,
and a little just n ltttle-rride. He was
conscious In mis- heart, he felt In every hber
OF his system, that he looked welt IN the new
greatooat
"i,it warm asked one
"WarmY II sends n glow through me, ;"
he replied. Now, my dear friends. j will
coniide something To you. am going
out % dibner tonigh' TO 10Y old
friend aad fellow soldier, Sir Archibald
Busby. Toe tailor has been very good; he
has kept his word aud given me- the & eat
G Dat 10 go in. he Promised IL for TODAY,
ana. rel Ing on his promise, accepted the
Invitation. | could not 20 In tue old great
coat; IL was inconveniently thin, and hardly
respectable
doing 10 dine with General Sir Archibald
susby, X. q Is We all rose IN our own
estimation, because We ate ~ the sam. table,
aud slept under the same roof aud warmed
our shns at the same Dire with one who was
invited O. ne with that distinguished sil.
der. SIR Archibald Bushy-a X q Il. also,
How we would talk 10 oar relatives I'd nc
quain'snces of our friend Cornelius. VINO
dlntd W tn SIR Ar, hibsld and lazy Basby !
We must positively see the Major in his
dresscoat, aud. help him on with his greatcoAt
when he welt forth it Vas time Tor hun TO
dress. 30 we went upstairs Doe OF us ex-
psdited the universal drudge with shaving
water another took al the loose hairs out OF
the general clothes. brush, third went down
To the boot.hole 10 mas sure that the old
Igentleman's boots we're brushed up brilliant
as patent leather
He came down a. last looking very bright
and fresh and delightful. The curl on n s
temple was turned with oorsnmmate art
His dress suit wa without speck. IL mad
not been worn for several years. His Collars
were very erect, ana Waite, and military
looking. We lowered about him in the pass
age The old lady on the first floor came out
upon the landing aud glowered over the
oanisters, and nearly dropped her teeth out
of her jaws Miss Jones rose TO the surface
from downstairs; the maid of all work, with
her nose blackened and polished, looked on
10 amazement aud far-of alteration
"What time may we expect you home
Msjor2" asked Miss Jones.
"Atout twelve or half past. / shall not
be late"
MARY Jemina shall sit up" said NJ SIS
Jones.
"Oh no! we will all sit up. We can't s'eep
till we have sesn the Major return from rs
dinner. Oh Major Corneliusl what raysgss
you will commit this evening on the hearts
of the lsdlss You are pc rfectly irrts s1ole
III Only they could see you In the gteatc0at!
he laughed; then three OF US rushed and
knocked our heads TO setner in orr esgernts IS
to help him into the new greatcoat. When
we had encased him, and buttoned him in,
we made him turn round under the gsslght
"Don't you feel temp ed to kiss him, Miss
JonesT' as kei one OF the youngsters
went down, down the kitchen stairs with a
blush GA her face; aud the MAID of all-work
went of into convusive gigg es
coed evening, sirl' we called, as he
went to the door. I'VE shall al sit up for
you; and may you veil enjoy yourself"
As he had his hand on the dooc the post
mans rap came lo1d and made the o d man
draw back with a start. However, he had
the door olen and had faced the postmsn
before the letter was put In the box.
For you SIR"
"All tight, thank you" He had no time
10 look at the letter then; be slipped it into
his gre.tcoat pocket, and went forth.
We dubbed together for bottle OF British
brandy, we heaped up the fire with what re-
NAMED of ais in the box. after Miss Jones
was gone We got the general Jemima
to supply us with hot water and tumblers
We persuaded Miss Jones TO let Us have a
bowl of sugar, 10 be charged IN or bills |
We sat up aud discuss ed the Major. We were
go pleased that the dear old mao bad gone |
out; it would brighten his life. He would
laugh and tell his stories, and recall old I'm.
iniscences with his fellow veterans; he would
associate once more with these in his own
rank of life. We did not say aloud. bnt we
felt, that he belonged to a different order
than ourselves. We were Jolly fellows, good
fellows, no nonsense about u.s. ana all that;
out we had not ais polish OF mind and man
ner, that indescribabl something which
forms an invs BILE yet impossible barrier be
tween the classes in life.
Twelve o'clock He promised to be home
by midnight, or shortly after, and the Major
was al ways punCtual. At 1920 we 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.
"The old gentleman has taken so much
port that he can't hit the keyhole. Wicked
old Msjorl" said one.
But, when the door opened and we saw
him, in the glare of the hall light the rising
Joke died away on our lips.
He arrived In his dress suit without the
greatcoat
Good gracious, Major Why what is the
meaning of this? Where Is the grestcoat?"
He came in, looking very white and de-
pressed, the curl over his forehead out of
twist, his collars limp, his shoulders stoop
ing. He walked more lamely than usual,
We made him come into the warm room.
His hands were like ice. We forced him to
take some spirit and water. We tried TO
rouse him. 1t was in vain. He looked ut
terry crushed.
What is the matter, sir? What has hap
pened?'
After a while we learned what had oc
CURED. The evening had passed very pleas
ha loff fhsl