The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-01

man-here in the dark. l wonder how
it would feel to wear overcoat and
gloves by daylight again? BY -, |
half feel as if 1 was a nan again; I
WONDER"
What he wondered he could never
afterward remember, for he suddenly
encountered something that felt like a
post, but which, as it fell over, proved
to be a man with a lantern, beside whom
a woma appeared to have been
walking.
you stupid fellow" exclaimed the
man as he regained his feet; "who are
youP"
tom Dolser," replied the drunkard
defiantly; he seemed to have absorbed a
great deal of courage from the coach
mans coat and gloves. "Now do YOU
know?'
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
musical laugh and exclaimed:
'.What an odd way to meet an old
friend! Don't you remember me, Tom,
liz DdllO". IN z LIZ u "
acquainted with my husband, Mr.. Arth-
ray" Il
This materially alters the ~case,"
said Arbitrary, extending his hand.
'.Any old friend of my wife may run
against me in the street whenever he
likes"
''Oscar is going to ring the chimes in
u old church tonight, and I'm with
him for company" said Mrs. Arthray.
won't you come with us, so l cau chat
with you about old times? o, Oscar,
this very Tom Dolser beat these very
same chimes on our wedding-day-
didn't you, Tom?"
Eyes is a very small word, but Tom
had great difficulty in uttering it. He
asked himself what he wa to do in these
unforeseen and embarrassing circum-
stances. Mrs. Arthray answered the
question by taking one of his arms, and
telling her husband to taxi the other
and hurry along.
Elise the year will get there before
u.s." she explained. Then, after a little
pause, she continued: ''You don't seem
overioyed at meeting us, Tom?'
"Then my don't tell the
TRUTH" said Tom, getting possession of
his tongue at last; ''but I've been too
~astonished to speak. I'll walk a little
way with you, but I must hurry away
then" ("Curse that schoolhouse bell!'
thought he to himself; '.I'd cut the job
if 'twasn't for the pint that's waiting for
me. Ihope Arthray won't get his Ian
tern in my face.")
"Hurry home to your wife and
family" asked Mrs. Arthray. GLOW
many children have you? We have
four"
81 am not married." said Tom, and
as he said it through his teeth. Mrs.
Arthray blamed herself for not having
kept herself well enough informed about
her old friends to. avoid distressing
topics. She hurried back to the subject
of the chimes.
30, 1 forgot to tell you, this is an en-
tirely new set of chimes, S o you must
come and try them. One of the old
bells, or gongs, as Oscar persists in
calling them, was cracked, you know,
and my husband got the vestry's per-
mission to replace them all, and he
| thinks the new set will be sweeter than
the old that you and 1 heard so often
when we We're children. You will come
just for a few moments, won't you?s"
"Do, Mr.. Dolser," said Arthray, "and
help US to double the meaning of 3.
Ringing out the old, ringing in the new
"With the greatest pleasure" said
Tom. He felt that he was under false
colors, but he believed they would pro-
tect him if only that dreadful lantern
would be merciful. He would plead
neuralgia, tooth-ache, anything, to
keep his face hidden by the listers
collar; he would enjoy honorable COM
pany for a little while; the school-house
bell could wait-no one would miss it
while all the other bells were ringing.
Then he slowly learned that he could
chat, for Mrs. Arthray talked cheerily
of old times, and aroused memories
which Embossed his tontgue, so that by
the time the old church-tower was
reached, Tom had entirely forgotten his
task for the night and his remuneration
that was to last. for a week.
Arthray set his lantern in a window
ledge behind him, to Toms great re-
lief, took the two little mallets, and rang
out ''Old Hundred with great precis-
ion and force; no other bells had vet be-
gun, for the hour had not yet struck.
Then, like a good patriot, he rang
lduheG IOOult. luc ClOCh UGI DC-
low then struck twelve, and the general
jangle began. The delicate notes of the
chimes would be lost in such clamor, SO
the trio stood and chatted. Arthray,
who was as curious and ignorant about
local affairs as active business men
usually are, asked numerous questions,
to all of which Tom made prompt reply,
although frequently compelled to throw
himself upon his imagination-he would
commit any crime rather than have
Mrs. Arthray suspect that he was not
what she seemed to believe him.
One by one the bells grew silent, and
again Arthray rang the chimes; when
he rang ..Adeste Fideless," Tom broke
down; he had heard his mother sing it
thousands of times. He turned abruptly
to Mrs. Arthray and said:
81 must 90 now-this moment"
you won't fail to call, to-day?' said
the lady. You received my card, |
suppose?"
s.Alice,n said Tom in low, quick
tones, 'tyou don't know me. I'm the
worst drunkard, the lowest tramp in all
Thornton. l couldn't help being over
come by your kindness tonight, but
I've insulted you by even standing neal
you and speaking to you. I'm ruined,
ragged, vile, worthless-I've not felt
like a gentleman in ten years until to.
night. Now, if l do not call, you'll not
tell anything that will make other PEG.
pie make fun of me?"
..Not call?" said Mrs. Arthray, as
her husband turned away from the
bells. Certainly, you will CALI in.
sist upon it. Oscar, Mr.. Dolser must
hurry away to look after a reforming
drunkard who needs everything. ]
want to help in the good work; have
you any money in your pocket?"
Arthray handed his wife a small roll
of bank-notes; the lady went to the
lantern and counted a hundred dollars
from it, and handed them TO Tom.
CHOW. RING lust one time before Vol