The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-29

OF amendment He knew that such O letter
would awaken his own generous sentiments. He
had seen Solomon and had obtained that legislat-
or's consent to move the bill AZ early day
1t might have seemed strange TO the ordinary
observer that the colonel did not appear co no.
tice very perceptihle tone OF WlcSedness II
So1omon's voice when he gave his consent, but
the truth 10 that the colonel had received let
ter the very day when he made his request.
letter that had caused his eyes to sparkle and
his cheeks to glow as with youth restored II
wss a letter from woman, and the picture en-
closed IN it of Elizabeth Gray, who was
q widow.
All through the early wesks of the session of
Congress. Guest very happy. Day after
day he went the Senate chamber andAsat in
the members gallery. Evening after evening
he remained in his Rooms gazing at the single
photograph that adorned his mantle, or be sat
in Mrs. Yatherington's parlor descanting on the
charms of his old love, and promising what be
should do when he again wore the uniform
of the United States So the days came and
went. That they were happy days. full of
sweet dreams, rejoieed all who knew The kindly
gentleman.
The day came when the bill was TO be taken
up. The colonel was in his accustomed seat.
and his anticipations were Frightened when ne
saw that Solomon was sitting next to Brief,
and the latter nodding assent to some
thing that the former was saying very earnest
ly
At length Solomon rose and requested that
the bill be taken up Guests heart stopped
beating, and faintness seized him when he
saw the tall figure of Senator Brief rise, and
Solomon made splutteriug speech IN which
he begged bis friend 10 withdraw the objection
he bad made. But whether he went too far
when he seemed to intimate that Brief was not
the friend of the soldiers, whether the calm
old man who despised hypocrisy was looking for
an opportunity 60 expose Solomon, no one but
he probably will ever know.
ssNo Mr.. President be said in measured
tones that through Guest like deftly
handled knife. II am not the enemy of soldiers
IL is because I am their friend that object to
a
habits unfit him TO be the commander of troops
and the comrade of worthy officers. NY knowl-
edge of this mans habits is partly derived from
personal observation and partly from the Sena-
tor who moves this bill
When Brief resumed his seat the bill was
killed. The people In the galleries pitied Solo
mon, who gave every sign that he keenly felt
the terrible exposure They did not know who
Guest was. nor did they care. The victim of the
heard the bling of their careless chat When
be recovered from the first shock of the blow he
rose and quilted the chamber. As he passed
through the door the old messenger who guard
ed it grasped his hand, but the poor colonel did
not feel the kindly pressure. He went diraetly
to his room and bolted his door The dinner
hour came, but Guest did not appear. When
Mrs Yatherington could escape from her duties
below stairs, she hurried with friendly footsteps
to her dodgers room. It was empty. Sadly she
went TO her own apartments and on astable there
found this incoherent note:
Have borrowed the "six-shooter" from the green
box Have no idea of having occasion to use it, but
Will be home early-perhaps half past 8.
Try of the novels the chair-head of my bsd
Don't be worried, but one must do justice.
Don't make any fuss or look for me. will doubt
less be home before II at the very latest ANY lnqu
ries or talk would only involve several instead of
three persons. YOUR FRIEND.
Don't worry! The kind heart could not help
worrying. She ran to the closet and found that
the green box was empty and that the revolver
was gone She sat through the long evening,
listening for the Colone's returning footstep.
She was wild with anxiety, and her excited
imagination pictured every evil deed that
angry man may do with weapon OF death. At
last Guest came and walked firmly to his room.
She longed to follow him and learn the terrible
truth, but she dared not question him. The
long night went slowly on, and with the early
morning came the old cook in state of great
excitement.
.'Oh, for de good Lords sake, Miss Yathain-
ton, come quick to de kyernuIs ROOM" she cried
through her apron which she had thrown
her head as if to shut out some terrible sight.
Lord has visited de po' gentrman with pow'ful
misty. Hes breavin' jest like de trumpet of
Isreum.n
Before she had finished her petition Mrs
Yatherington was in the colonel's room, and
there on the bed lay Guest. gray of face and
breathing in short. loud snortings.
Quick Winnie. quick-ges the Doctor" But
when the doctor came the colonel was dead.
1t was an old army surgeon and he looked
at the body he simply said.
lit is a case of morphine poisoning
Then he looked round the room and found two
bottles of laudanum. They had been bought
the evening before. The doctor looked at the
turned the dead face to the light and started
back with exclamation.
My Cod It's Guestp
ibid you know him. Doctor Gil1espie7" asked
anxious Mrs. Yatherington.
Know him? / served with hin, and he was
the best soldier and the kindesE Gentleman
ever knew
The two friends looked about the room and
found that the colonel had been writing before
his death. They looked further. and the light
which came struggling through the window
blinds revealed a white object stuck in the hasp
OF 3 trunk 1t was letter addressed to Mrs.
YAtherington.
do open and read it for me- doctor. It
seems to me can't bear to touch it, she said.
The doctor opened aud read it. 1t was filled
with ribald outeries of rejoicing that the end
was at hand and closed with these awful words:
Tell Solomon that died cursing him.
They found other letters One was on the
table under litter of papers. Another was in
the frame of the looking glass. A third was in
vase. fourth was pinned on cushion.
Another was held in a crack in the seat of
wooden chair. All were to Mrs. Yatherington,
and all were filed with madness. One began
about his love and broke off suddenly into some
instructions to what should be done with
the few books he had. Each had something TO
say OF Solomon. In one Guest called his old
chief numbering coward" in another "a
beastly hypocrite, who won his spurs my
work nd then killed me-"
TELL the sneak, he wrote again, 'that the
world will know him, some day, for the fraud
he isn
Aud yet his face was peaceful When the
full day flooded the room with light it was no.
ticed that crumpled card was in his and. and
when the stiff fingers were forced open it wac
seen that he died holding the picture of Eliza
beth Gray.
"The Ruling Passion Strong"
Harn rss Draxv