Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-01-09

evening lOungers gathered, almost
maddened HIM, and he begged one
man after another to give him Just
one drink, but all were obdurate,
for they knew of the part that Tom
was to play, and they wanted him
to be sober enough to do all that
was planned for him.
At the stroke OF eleven, he arose
in desperation and went out OF
doors to keep the sight and smell OF
his liquid enemy from tormenhng
him any longer. The night was
bitter cold, so he sneaked into a
little bedroom in the stable, and
stole the sleeping coachman's ulster
to keen him warm while he walked;
in a short time he would he would
have a pint of rum then he would
be warm enough. He turned up
the great collar of the coat, so that
it covered his ears; he thrust his
hands deep in the pockets; he felt
gloves he put them on. Then he
laughed to himself and muttercd :
Nobody could tell me from a
gentleman-here in the dark. l
wonder how it would feel to wear
an ovcrcoat and gloves by daylight
again? By, l half feel as if l was
a man again; l wonder
What he wondered he could
never afterward remember, for he
suddenly encountered something
that felt like post, but which, as
it fell over, proved to be q man
with lantern, beside whom a
woman appeared to have been
walking.
sYou stupid fellow! exclaimed
the man as he regaincd his feet
sWho are youY
tom Dolser,' replied the drunk
ard defantly; he seemed to have
absorbed q great deal of courage
from the coachman's coat and
gloves. Now do you knowF
The man with the lantern brushed
snow from his sleeves and muttered
something to himself, to the effect
that he had never heard the name
before, and hoped he might never
meet its owner again, but the lady
broke into a musical laugh and ex-
claimed
what an odd way to meet an
old friend Don't you remember
me, Tom, Alice Barrow and let
me make you acquainted with my
husband, Mr.. Arthray.'
This materially alters the case,
said Arthray, extending his hand.
ANY old friend Of my wife may
run against me in the street when
ever he likes
Oscar is going to ring the chimes
in our old church tonight, and I'm
with him for company said Mrs.
Arth1ay. Wont You come with
us. so ] can chat with you about
old times? Oh, Oscar, this very
Tom Dolscr beat these very same
chimes on our wedding.day-didn'I
you, Tom?'
'Yes,' is a very small word but
Tom had great difficulty in uttering
lit. lie asked himself what he was
to do, in these unforeseen and EN-
barrassing circumstances. Mrs
Arthray answered the question by
taking one of his arms and telling
her husband to take the other and
hurry along.
ELSE the year will get there be
fore u.s. she exclaimed. Then,
after a little pause, sh G continued
'You don't tell the TRUTH said
Tom, getting possession of his
tongue at last but I've been toe
astonished to speak. I'll walk a
little way with you, but ! mus
hurry away then course tina
school.house bell! thought he tt
himself. 'rd cut the job il 'twasn'
for the pint that's waiting for me
| hope Arthray won't got his Ian
tern in my face.9
Hurry home to your wife and
family?' asked Mrs. Arthray.-
Glow many children have you
We have four
tTm not married. said Tom
and as he said it through his teeth
Mrs. Arthray blamed herself fo
not having kept herself well enough
informed about her old friends Il
avoid distressing topics. Sh'
hurried back to the subject of TIN
chimes.
'Oi, l forgot to tell you, this il
an entirely new set Of chimes, Sc
you must come and try them. On'
of the old bells, or gongs, As Oscal
persists in calling them, was crack
ed, you know, and my husband go
the vestry's permission to replace
them all, and he thinks the new
set will be sweeter than the OLE
that you and ] heard so oftel
when We were children. You vii
come just for few moments, won
your
do Mrs. Dolser, said Arthray
'and help us to double the mean
ing of
"Ring out the old, ring in the new.'
with the greatest of pleasure,
said Tom. lie felt that he was un
der false colors, but he believed
they would protect him if only tina