Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-31

Patsy breaches n sermoA
". Townsend IN The Arronaut.

Edward W. Townsend In The Arsonaut
''Ottor'
''see here. Tommy, you've called Otto ora
enough Let's 60 home"
Tommy PAget stared At the anarchist: he was
usually the last 10 leave the supper table. II
was there he had his cherished opportunities
TO expound all the ''isms" his editor disap-
proved, and 30 long as Lynn. Dunnigan.
Paget or any Of the late men he chummed with
would stay at the supper cable, Patsy, the
anarchist. never suggested leaving.
Headache. Patsy" asked Tommy.
mo. only you arc such a complete An about
drinking. after Won have had AZ much a. a man
should drink with his supper"
This response OF Pat-ys was greeted With
laughter by all the men at the table Patsy
never having distinguished himself by cont
nerce In cups. Patsy himself grinned q little
and then said:
IFS AL right for you. Dunni and Lynn. who
have been drinking with your suppers every
night these fifteen years. and always SO home
as sober as a judge should be, but for this
young cub TO try 10 get ahead Of the malt
beverage production Of the countrymakes me-"
1T makes you prosy, Patsy" interrupted
Paget; life is too long. il is. FOR 60 endure
the anarchist turned prosy. ottoi
sns xs.t without sssSs si,ssr ssrsa wsssOs'
IN. many CUP Of this fortdden Wine
4
had the significance Of a sentimental song-and
no more; but the anarchist started angrily, then
laughed. and said:
We'll, Tommy. since You won't 90. III tell
you story about the last time 1 heard .
drunken man quote a Rubaiyat The story NAV
also throw an illuminating side light on my
present virtuous frame of mind concerning
rum. All right. Otto.
AS YOU know, 1 was up north last week
gathering pearls Of scandal 20 embroider on
that sensation nnnni has - h.
Mason case.
ITO catch q night train down I was driven
over from Oroville TO the town of Gridlev, and
upon mourning how much late the train would
be. found should have the social delights of
the town at my disposal until O'Clock in the
morning. had a book and found beer hall
so was doing very well until I was distracted by
the demands OF an insuf.ciently drunken
tramp to supply hira with the forbidden cup.
for which he offered 60 eNhange a song
1T is my belief that the cup is q benefcent
agency in promoting the survival of the fittest,
SO the bargain was made. He took whisky
Gridley whisky and as much as the barkeeper
would permit. Then he wobbied over 20 a
piano, which had a tone like a key OF nails
and proceeded 10 make noises that gradually
assumed a resemblance 20 The Lost Chord As
be reached the hravura, 1t may be that only in
Heaven suddenly became very much ill.,
terested. lie had swung into the big accom-
paniment az no one could who had not once
played It perfectly, his voice cleared on the
last notes and he took them with evidence Of
careful training.
Il was suddenly conscious that I was listening
TO man whose name, seven or eight wears
ago, was constantly in every social column in
the city. He had been society feature. his
people were good: his musical education bril-
liant; handsome. well dressed and-clerk in a
mining Office at $50 month.
| You remember the case, Dunni-only few
thousand short-friends squared it-disap-
| peared-forgotten.
| There were tears in his poor shallow ewes
when 1 thanked him and asked him TO sit at
my table. He had n mustache and beard like
q ragged chrysanthemum and verv little re-
semblarce TO a human being. vet 1t pleased me
to act as If he were what / had known him 10
be. After he had accepted several payments
| for the song and had a brave and merry heart
let him know that knew him-he had never
| known me.
"TIe told me grnciously that he had Jus,
| opened up a Tremendously rich quartz mine
and was then on his way to the city 10 order a
mill, but would be DELAYED a day or SO. az he
hac lost his trunk from the stage coming down
| from the mountains.
The game soon bored me- and left him
there. L walked up and down the main street
for an hour, meditating on the all-pcrvading
sweetness and light Of existence and the NUTS
bility Of railroad time tables until was sii--
| turbed by cries from the halls Of pleasure I had
last left. Hurrying back there-it is deadly
dull waiting fora delayed train past midnight
found the proprietor of the place strengthening
himself ir righteousness by kicking my singer
| into the gutter. As he had already kicked him
into insensibility, which was all the victim even
could have asked, l suggested that hostilities
| cease. They did not so accepted the pleasant
opportunity Of warming myself by thrsshing
| the somewhat amazed proprietor.
| Tommy, when you give up being Journal
| list and become a newspaper man. by all means
| endeavor 10 get out-of-town details. They az
ford many pleasant and ennobling experiences
ard some time it may even be your knightly
fate TO bark your knuclEles against a pumpkin .
head in defense Of a fellow creature who 10 rs
drunk as he wants to be.
| Il made the silent singer ss comfortable as
| the facilities OF the gutter permitted and re-
sumed my walk. my pleasant meditstions now
enriched with "reminiscences of the last time
had seen NV singer. He had taken the leading
part in a society drama PLAYED by swell anna
teurs for fashionable charity. 1 had reported
the affair.
when went to the station at O'Clock the
agent told me that had an hour longer TO
wait so was not half sorry 20 find my Lost
Chord on the platform. I wanted some one 10
talk to, and the station agent wanted 10 sleep.
The Lost Chord was IN q pretty bad why.
The warmth Of his cups had left him, and his
clothes not being weather proof he was rapidly
shaki' e himself TO pieces He had forgotten
thu kicking, the superior agony Of incipient
deirium making the ache OF bruised bones q
matte: OF indifference. IL seemed both wise
and charitable 10 assist him to expire with
fash. ra.her than let him merely cease 20 exist
for lack Of energy TO shiver longer. so gave
him my flask full one He was soon a. bold
and happy a being ass you were q few
minutes ago, Tommy, and when my train came
| along he was reciting poetry with fervor and
eloquence. His barred and battered head was
upturned to the glinting stars and his rag
covered body was gracefully erect was grate-
| full tony flask.
The train was scarcely under way when
there wasa sudden jerking Of the bell rope and
a pale-fsced brakeman whispered to the con-
ductor: "A - tramp tried 70 jump and fell
between. 1 went back with the train hands
and rs leaned over him the Lost Chord smiled
| and murmured:
'Drinki for you know not whence 20 came, Dor
why
Drink for you know not why you 80. or wherer
In a few minutes he went-where?-Aud
they shoveled il on TO one side Of the track
''Ottol Fill Mr.. Paget's glass"
''No, Patsy! Let's go home"
ABOUT GLASS EYES.