Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-06-25

young man wore upon his glossy head a
n-burned straw hat with a chewed edge,
on his back very tight and shiny Prince
| Albert coat, whereof every button was
missing, their place being supplied with
| various-siZed pins; his legs were covered
with very baggy and wrinkled trousers Of
| snuf-colored cashmere, while his feet
| were incased in a pair of Congress CATERS
that were so patched and tied with strings,
and so run down and over, and burst in so
| many places, that it seemed a miracle that
they did not fall to pieces upon being looked
| at.
| The young man bore the scrutiny Of the
| servtor with easy good-natare, lingering
| his mustache the while, and seemed SO
self-possessed that John Thomas, who at
! first had but one mind, and that 20 shut the
| door in his face, began to have his doubts.
| "You wish to sec" he began, hesitat-
jngly.
"Mr. Theophilus Brown" said Mr.. James
| Brown Bartlum, suavely. "Yes. Take
him that card, my good man, and l will
walt an answer. Stay. On second
| thoughts, lead on, and Will follow"
| The man was too bewildered to protest;
besides, he was II w to the house, and al
though he felt that his situation was trem-
| bling In the balance, he meefdy moved to-
ward the library. followed by the pre-
sumptuous stranger.
| Mr.. Brown had just finished reading his
\ Spuc" > lbte Tile tulTl cfil. rs the ser
| want entered and laid the card on the desk,
and he had just ti:ae to glance at it, when
| the young man with the miraculous shoes
| seized his hand.
"The same old man." he cried, joyfully
"not changed a bit. Age can not stale nor
time wither an ounce of Th.oph! Bless
your heart, sir, how glad ON to see you:
How do you do.''
Mr.. Brown shot up from his chair like a
| rocket, impurpled with rage, and absolute
| ly glared at the intruder.
| "Who-what-what does this mean" he
roared, while John Thomas fled for his life.
"Who are you, sir: and what do you
| WANT"
"Who am Il" repeated the other, in ap-
parently great wonder. "Well, upon my
word this is humiliating indeed. Not re-
member me. Are We, then, indeed. so
soon forgotten when we are gone: Why,
sir, remember you like a book"
Every likely" said Mr.. Brown, fiercely
"you havn't answered my question. Who
are you, SIR"
II, SIR" replied the intruder, making a
| hasty but Intellectual search for Il handker-
chief, IAN James Brown Bartlum-my
card lies before you. In short, sir, am
| your nephew"
Indeed, :" said Mr. Brown, looking from
the card to the owner, and eying both with
considerable disfavor. $50 you are
| Jamesn'
"Yes. SIR" said James taking a chair.
and composing himself therein with great
care. 81 am the unfortunate young man
of whom you have no doubt heard a great
many tales"
And nothing good" said Mr.. Brown,
sharply, sitting down with a bump.
IL am sorry to hear it," rejoined Mr..
| Bartlum, with an air of great concern.
1.-The breath of Islander might have passed
ne by: but no matter. To change the SUBJ
ject: it has been five years since l last saw
You"
"Yes."
"You have not changed particle while
I-wel!, Pc seen the world, uncle"
"Indee,; sir"
81 hs. e Travelled from Hearts Content to
San Diego, and been all things to all men.
have surprised myself by working at
carpentry, driving n stage and editing a
paper, all inside of six months. l dined at
the Palace Hotel in Frisco with the Corean
| Embassy one day, and exactly thirty DAYS
from that date | was in Virginia City,
saving wood for my dinner. You never
sawed wood, uncle:"
| Never"
"You wouldn't like it; neither did l but
man must eat, uncle"
''There is no DANGER said Mr.. Brown,
dramatically, "of any man starving If he
will work"
"Humbug. my dear sir" cried Mr.. Bart
lum, cheerfully. 'Dont't you believe it.
have tried it, and know. Besides, a man
needs clothes and roof over his head in
addition to his daily bread. The world is
very big, uncle, but it seems to be all pre-
empted by some one else. l have knocked
all around the American part of it, and
here am back where | started, returning
to my native city, and spending the first
night in the station-house."
SIN the station house,"
"As a lodger, sir. Don't be alarmed, sir
your nephew is poor, but strictly honest
Through many trials he has never done
any thing worse than saving wood. Houl
spoons are perfectly safe, SIR"
"Then, SIR" said Mr.. Brown, sternly,
"perhaps you will condescend to tell me
just what you want"
Mr.. James Bartlum arose and stood be-
fore his uncle like statue. Mr.. Brown
looked at him from head to foot, and noted
i'll detail every article of his r;..ment, unit
his eyes became riveted on the Congress
| CATERS, and these proved too much for him
1T is very humorous" said Mr.. Bart
lum, smiling easily at his uncle's unbound.
ed mirth, "and have often enjoyed them
myself. | am quite a cartoon, know. and
if were wearing these clothes for fun,
don't know but that [ should see the funny
side more frequently"
/ Mr.. Brown suddenly checked himself and
became grave. 'Sit down." he said. 81
beg your pardon. You are in need of-oi
clothes:"
Everything-clothes, money. place tc
sleep, friends"
"Why did You come to me-"
| "Why does the drowning man seize @
, straw"
"What claim have YOU on me:'
"None-only that we are of one blood
| Understand me, sir. / know You are moi
| bound to support me. Let us forget ouI
, relationship for a moment. Consider
simply that am merely a starving man.
ready and willing to do anything for a
living, with not a c.Iance in ten thousand
, to get a situation. Consider that You are
rich, never know whatit is to go hungry t.
bed, and can count up ten thousand friends
Consider"
; "Silence :" Numbered Mr.. Brown, in 8
great rage. "Do you suppose | am going
to turn YOU out-of-doors: Nothing of the
, sort. This house is yours, sir, as long as
YOU behave yourself. You have been q
vagabond, sir-you are a vaSabond, sir
and have no pity for your misfortunes
5 John will show you to my sons room. You
+ remember George: You can make YOUR
, self presentable, dare say"
''Uncle, you overpower me! l expected
, nothing more than a dollar-and kick"
$50, sir! No more of your shameful
, levity. You shall pay me for this, sir
never fear. Throw away those shameful
) clothes, sir; and burn your shoes, sir
, burn Them
/ Mr.. Bartlum was a rapid dresser, bu.
when he returned, inside of thirty minutes,
, bathed, shaven, and attired in George
Browns best suit of black, his uncle had
vanished: so he planted himself in his
) vacant chair. possessed himself of book
and made himself comfortable. Hardly
had he done so when the door flew open
, and very dark young man and a very
! fair young woman rushed in aad almos,
, fell upon him.
80, sir!" cried the young man and ths
young woman in a breath; and then they