The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-11
"OnIy a Husk. "


grown to be very hard one. A
heart he might have been all right
but, other things being wrong. the
whole machine was going to the bad
very fast though there were times
when the heart felt some OF it's own
truthful yearnings.
Tom had lost his place as foreman
of the great machine shop, and what
money he earned came from odd jobs
of tinker;ng which he was only able ia
do here and there at private houses;
for Tom was genius as well as a me.
chanic, and when his head was steady
enough hc could mend clock or clean
watch as we'll as he could set up and
regulate steam engine, and this lat
ter he could do better than any other
man ever employed by the Scott Fall
Manufacturing Company.
One day Tom had a job to mend q
broken moving machine and reaper.
for which he received S5. and on the
following morning he started out for
his old haunt-the village tavern. He
knew that his wife sorely needed the
money. and his own two little children
were in absolute suffering for want OF
clothing. and that morning he held a
debate with the better part of himself;
but the better part had become weak
and shaky, and the de mon of appetite
carried the day.
So away to the tavern Tom went.
whore for two or three hours he felt
the celebrating effects OF the alcoholic
draught and fancied himself happy as
he could sing ant, laugh, bit as usual.
stupefaction followed. and the man
died out He drank while he could
stand, and then lay down in corner,
where his companions left him.
1t was late at night, almost midnight,
when the Landlords wife came to the
bar-room to see what kept her husband
up, and she quickly saw Tom.
Peter" said she. not in pleasant
mood, ''why don't you send that mis-
cradle Tom Darcy homer He's been
hanging around here long enough"
Toms stupefaction was not sound
sleep. The dead coma had left his
brain. and the calling Of his name
stung his senses to keen attention. He
bad an insatiate love of rum. but he
did not love the landlord. In other
years Peter Tindar and himself had
loved and wooed the same maiden
Ellen Goss-and he won her, leaving
Peter to take up with the vinegary
spinster who had bought him the
tavern. and Tom knew that lately the
tapster had gloated over the misery
Of the woman who had once discarded
him.
why don't you send him homer"
demanded Mrs. Tindar, with an impa-
tent stamp of her foot
Flush. Betsy. He's got money.
Let him be. and he'll be sure to spend
1t before he goes home. I'll have the
kernel of tho nut and his wife may haye
the husk!'
With sniff and snap Betsy turned
away, and shortly afterward Tom
Darcy lifted himself up on his elbow.
"Ah, Tom. are you awaken"
Yes"
.'Then rouse up and have a good
warm glass.
Tom got up on his feet and steadied
himself mo; I'll not drink no more
tonight"
And with this he went out into the
air of midnight. When he got away
from the shadow of the tavern, he stop
ped and looked up at the stars and
then he looked down upon the earth.
AYE" he muttered. grinding his
heel in the gravel. ':Peter Tindar is
taking the kernel and leaving poor
Ellen the worthless husk-a husk
worse than useless! and l am helping
him to do 1t. am robbing my wife
of JOY my children of honor aud COM
FORT and myself of love and life-just
that Peter Tiudar may have the kernel
and Ellen the husk. Well see."
1t was a revelation to the man. The
travern-keeper's speech. meant not for
his ears, had come on his senses as fell
the voice of the Risen One upon Saul
of Tarsus.
Wen see!'' he said. setting his
foot firmly on the ground; then he
wendell his way homeward.
On the following morning he said to
his wife: ELLEN. have you any coffee
In the housep"
"Ycs. Tom" She did not tell HIM
that her sister had given 1t to her. She
was glad to hear him ask for coffee in.
stead of old cider.
Il wish you would make me a cup,
good and strong"
There was really music in Toms
voice, and the wife set about the work
with futter in her heart
Tom drank two cups of the strong.
fragrant coffee, and then went out
straight to the great mandatory.
where he found Mr.. Scott in his office.
MIR. Scott want to learn my
trade over again"
"Eh, Tom. what do you meanP"
Il mean that it's Tom Darcy come
back TO the old place. asking forgive
ness for the past and hoping to do
heller in the futuren
"Tomr' cried the manufacturer.
starting forward and grasp ug his
hand. 'are you in earnestP Is it really
the old TomP"
ITS what's left of him. sir; and
we'll have him whole and strong very
soon, If you'll set him to work"
Work. Aye, Tom. and bless you.
too. There's an engine to be set up
and tested to-day. Come with me-"
Toms hands were weak and I'M
steady. but his brain was clear, and
under his skillful supervision the en-
gine was set up and tested; but it was
not perfect. There were mistakes