St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-01
BON CAMARADE.
BY NJ. f. HOLAHAN.

III ide me up from my despair,
"a And the ghost of a dream dreamed"
Owen Meredith.
3sWith that invisible hand of hers,
Night was drawing sable veil across
the worlds wild, desolate face.
A bleak, bad night it promised to be
in many localities, no doubt; but here,
on the exposed coast, a bitter and awful
one, not soon to be forgotten.
Up from the Sullen moaning sea swept
blasts full-laden with myriad knives of
December's quality.
Driving away inland, they pierced to
the very marrow in his bones any pc
deStrian whom duty, or perchance, bad
luck, might drive against that baleful
gust.
Sullen, gray, drearily overcast was
Der mOnOtOny gave room for the tiniest
star to gaze down upon the wind
wracked planet underneath.
Frozen, barren and pitileSSly bare lay
the adamantine bosom of Mother Earth.
Ii only fleecy shrOud there had been
to mantle her gaunt skeleton! to hide
away from human view that dead, spec
trail face so lately beautiful with life!
But how can one reasonably hope for
snow when the winds come bowling
down, apparently unobstructed, from
iceberg regions. and the thermometer
creeps steadily up to register their birth
place temperature.
FOiled of human victims the element
demons took fiendish, eXultant ven
geance upon such inanimate objects as
crossed their path.
They shook the windows, banged the
Chnttarc fWicta1 thn ri1HU xVnathnr-
cocks and mOaned around the caves in
an uncanny, diabolical way, calculated
to remind one of the first impressions
when thumbing an illustrated edition
of Millions Paradise Lost.
That night, if never again, outdoor
sports and polar-swept streets were
well abandoned in favor of indoor
pleasures and sparkling inglesides. for
it was Christmas eve. Yet-Ugh! One
needs must Shudder even while gladly
exchanging its pleasant greetings.
Back on the very outskirts OF Edge
combe stood, in weird, external solitude,
allow stone cottage, grayed by age.
Around it several trees mOaned and
tossed their naked arms like human
things in pain.
The rose bushes in frOnt-last June
rarely Sweet-beat a ghostly cadence
upon the window where John Howard
stood looking out.
So had h" stood for the last half hour,
perhaps, in his eyes strange look of
thought, thought so intense that, turn
ing somewhat impatiently as his house
keeper entered with a note, look of
pain depressed still half fingered on his
face.
Mrs. Mordaunt lit the gas and quietly
retired.
In the uncomprOmising light now
filling the handsome room, Howard
stood fully revealed, tall, commanding,
dark; a man of two and forty, perhaps,
and bearing upon his strongly marked
face evidence that not always had his
life lines fallen in pleasant places.
Time is strict accountant. He will
not be cheated of an hour-a moment,
eyen-and upon Towards full brow,
around his deep, inscrutable, cynical
eyes, he had marked a long debit for
''burnt midnight Oil and endless toil''
that had yet made Howard a brilliant,
successful lawyer.
He turned from the gloating light,
and, walking to desk near. took up a
pen and swiftly wrote:
'BOn Camarade: Yet still are we the
children of the heather and the wind.
Like all life's most coveted treasures,
your nice invitation came too late.
pray, hold me excused, and enjoy
yourself, ma chere. Don't you know
that sOured, cynical old bachelor, who
has had his day and lost it, should never
intrude on childish pleasures?
''Need say what pleasure your pres
ence, far from the madding crowd,
would be to me? And how quickly ]
would go to you but that the gods, and
a previous engagement, forbid.
"Your crusty, but humble correspond.
ent has promised himself at WaySide-
the residence of my charming widowed
client, you rememDer-fOr a rubber OF
whist, more suitable for the years and
graces of such donkey than skipping
he light fantastic toe with you young:
SterS.
But perchance shall see you to-mor
row. Who knows?
Anyway, wish you a merry Christ
mas, and send by bearer trifle, yet suf
| ficient, hope. to atone for the absence
| of Fate's particular butt, and not only
| cousin, but also your humble servant,
John HOWARD"
Slowly he read it over and smiled.
That smile was simply slight un.
| bending of firm, bearded lips, and Just
now almost pathetic with WEAKNESS.
1t did not, as usual, extend to his eyes
which were more thOught-cOncealing
! than expressive. Yet they seemed tC
| keenly absorb all things, visible and in.
| visible, and could no doubt express
whatever he pleased, had he ever given
view to the passions locked within his
| iron will.
Unlocking desk near, he took from
it tiny velvet case.
When he raised the cover it flashed
| forth thousand rays of light.
UnOn bed of crimson satin repOSed q
magnificent locket, set with diamonds
and held by a golden chain. In silence
the keen, eloquent, cynical lawyer sur.
veyed it moment; then for sensible
man he did very foolish thing, OF
which no one would have believed him
guilty.
Bending his head, the temples OF
which were fairly white, not only with
mental toll but yearS-he pressed his
bearded lips upon that cold, sparkling
bauble.
cit will lie upon her breast" he said
softly, touch of tender passion thrill
ing the words. Then:
"Bah!" he exclaimed, Struggling his
shoulders and laughing bitterly, as he
Strengthened up. "There is no fool like
an old TO oil. She will probably have an
ivory miniature of some handsome,
foolish young Apollo in it within a
week; and, indeed, why should l care?''
Indeed, why? Yet somehow he did.
Despite all cynical philosophy we can.