The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-08-13

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"Haue 1 forgotten sOmethtn0f"
"Did l ever tell you that story about
Jason Brigham, the man without o past!
An, thought not! Well, II you care to
spend the fag end Of the night listening
to an uncommon incident I'll spin the
yarn. Our train don't start until seven,
and 1t isn't worth while to go to bed at
tour"
The speaker was the major. For the
purposes Of this story that 10 all that
need be said Of him, perhaps. However,
better all around newspaper man one
would not find anywhere; q more com.
panionable fellow one would not care to
meet. We were the last ones left in the
majors den in The Tribune office, for
the paper had gone to press and the
night gang had deserted the rooms.
That we remained was due to the fact
that our annual outing was at hand, and
ct seven a. m. we were to cut away for
two weeks-the major making . flying
trip south, going for little fishing up
near the Sault Ste. Marie.
Light a fresh cigar" said the major.
handing one Of his favorite black weeds
over. at will help keep you awake II
the story don't. Tough work this, tell
ing stories, but its better than missing a
train for the sake Of catching nap that
at best would make fellow feel stupid,
90 here goes.
"Iguess you know that in seventy was
on the Memphis Avalanche. There was
no end Of good fellows in town then, aud
the papers were holding up long string
Of bright men who were doing space
work It was kind Of haven for the
fellows who were drifting north or south
"a half way house where they staid
awhile to recruit As matter OF fact ]
was doing q little recruiting myself, and
had sort Of brevet place on the city
staff, which enabled me to pay the rent
Of o room and cherish a faith that ]
might eventually liquidate my board bill
u no Unforeseen bad luck befell me. ]
came into the office one night, and the
city editor said to me:
"Gilman, we have new man on the
police work tonight-just arrived from
st. Louisiana looks Q little the worse
for wear. Jones Is on spree and put
him on. Hadn't you better take him
home and look after himr
"Well," replied, I'm used to almost
all kinds Of bedfellows, and ! guess ]
can stand Il II he isn't too bad"
There is something about him !
fancy" replied the city editor, rather
something that appeals to me. I'm not
usually susceptible to that sort Of thing.
but this new man looks to me as though
he would stand some care, and I knew ]
could ask yod without your feeling
offended"
"In other words, you knew I wouldn't
be particular who l roomed with" I re-
torted laughingly.
And 90 the matter was settled. Really
the man dropped out Of thought until
the nub Of the night was passed and the
work well out Of the way, Twas vague
" conscious when he came In and sat
down at his desk, though the boys kept
dropping in and going out all evening,
but along about two O'Clock l finished
my assignment, turned In the last page
Of copy and Lit my pipe. Then thought
Of the new arrival, and looked over to
where he was sitting. His head rested
on his arms a. they lay folded on the
desk In front Of him. I thought him
asleep He was Of middle height, slender
In build. with full head Of dark hair,
and hands that had been tanned by the
wind and sun. After watching him
Gwhile went over and laid q hand on
his shoulder to waken him, but he looked
up instantly, and said In wonderfully
sweet voice. Have ] forgotten some
thingY"
mo, I guess not" replied; "what
makes you askY'
II don't know" and he stammered Q
little in confusion, "but sometimes I
have Q feeling that I have forgotten
what I set ont to do. Are you the gen.
tleman the city editor spoke to me