New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
A LOST CHORD.
PATSY breaches A SERMON.
Edward w. Townsend in The Argonaut.

| PATSY breaches \ SERMON
Edward w. Townsend in The Argonaut.
| "OttOi1
See here Tommy, you've called Otto often
| enough. Let's 90 home
| Tommy Paget stared at the Anarchist; he was
! usually the last to leave the supper-table III
was there he had his cherished opportunities 10
! ekpound all the isms his editor dlsapproved
| ana 50 long as Lynn, Dunngan, Paget, or any Of
! The late men he chumncd with. would stay al
inc supper-tablc Patsy, the Anarchist never sus-
| gcSted leaving.
" Headache Patsy p" asked Tommy.
| NO, only You are such a complete ass aoout
! drinking, after you have had as much as man
should drink with lis supper
This response of Patsys was greeted with
! laughter by all the men AZ the table; Patsy never
| having distinguished himself by confluence in
cups Patsy himself grinned little and Their
ed" It's all right for You, DUNN and Lynn, who
nave been drinking with your suppers every
night these fifteen years, and always 60 home
as sober as Judge should be- but for this young
| chb 10 try 10 get ahead Of the malt-beveragc
| production OF the country makes ne
II makes You prosy, Patsy. interrupted Paget;
life IS too long, as it is. for us to endure the
Anarchist turned prosy. OTTO!
What. without asking. hitler hurried whencei
| on many a cup II tni, forbidden Wine
| Must drown he memory Of that insolence"
| Tommy Pagct trcd these lines as if they had
INC significance Of a sentimental sOng-and no
more; but the Anarchist started angrlly, then
/ laughed. and said
/ Y l
| story about the last time | heard a drunken
man quote a Rubaiyat. The story may also throw
an Illuminating side light on my present virtuous
| frame of mind concerning rum All right, OTTO
As you know was up North last week
gathering pearls Of scandal t. cmbroider on that
sensation Dunni has woven ont of the Mason
/ case
" To catch night train down was driven over
! from Oroyillc 70 the town of Gridlcy. and upon
inPuirng how much late the train would To, found
! should have the social delights OF the town at
| my disposal until >. O'Clock in the morning
had a book and found bcer-hall doing
very well until | was distracted by the demands
/ OF an inSu'lcicntlY drunken tramp 10 supply him
with the forbidden cup, for which he offered 10
exchange a song.
1T j, my belief that the cup is a benefccnt
/ agency IN promoting the survival of the iittcst,
/ 80 the bargain vas made. He took whlSkcy-
! ''rldlcy whlskcy and rs much the barkccpcr
would permit Then he wobbled over TO piano.
/ which bad tone like n keg OF nails, and pro-
cerdcd 10 make noises that gradually assumed a
resemblance to The Lost Chord rs he reached
the hrvura. 1t may he that only in Heaven, |
suddenly became very much interested He had
SWUNG into the hig accompaniment 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.
was suddenly conscious that was listening 10
. man whose name seven or clGht years ago, was
constantly IN every social column in the city.
lie had been society feature. Ills people were
good: his musical EDUCATION brilliant; handsome.
""iIdrcN~cd, and-clrrk IN "a mining office al $50
a month
"lou remember the ease. Dunni-only few
Thousand short-fricndS squared it-dlsappeared-
forgotten.
There were tears i'm his poor. shallow eyes
whrE | thanked him aud asked him 10 SIT at my
table. lie had mUstachc and beard like a ragged
chryhanthcmum, and very little resemblance 10
a human being, Yet II pleased me 10 act if he
were what had known him 10 he. After he had
accepted several payments for the song. and had
a brave and mcrry heart let him know that
knew hlW-h' had never known me.
" He told me 2raciou>ly that me- had Just opened
up tremendously rich quartzmine, and was then
81 his way 10 the city 20 order mill. but would
be- delayed a day or So. as h. had lost his trunk
from The stage, coming down from the mountains
The game soon bored me, and | lett him there
| walked lp amt down he main - reel for an hour
ncdttiIu- on o." I'll pcrvading sweetness and
hight 81 ~ istcncc ana the nHtlhllty " railroad
time tables. until ! was disturbed by cries from
III" halls of pleasure ned Last lcfi HGrrylng
train pasi mi ini hit found the proprietor ~
the place strengthening himself in righteousness
by kicking my singer into the gutter Is n
had already kicked hin into lgs'nSihllity which
suggested that hostIliti's .aSc They did not.
! accepted TIE pleasant opportunity of warming
myself by 'hri>ling tie somewhat amazed pro-
prrtor.
Tommy. when YOU give mp being Journalist,
and become newspaper man. by all means en-
dca"or to ,ci ouiof-foWr details. They afford
manv pleasant ana cLuobling experiences, and
some time II utN even be- your knlghtly fate 10
bark your knnck.:S against > bumpkns head in
defence OF 70 fcllowccaturc who is aS drunk as
BE- wants to be-
90 made the silent singer as comfortable rs tho
facilities Of the gutter permitted and resumed my
walk. my plcl>art pc'iltationS nov enriched with
"reminiscences of the last time had seen my singer.
He had tnl"n me eadiro part IN society drama
PLAYED 10y swell ania IRIS for fashionable charity.
! had reported the altar
" When | went to the station al o'clock the
agent told me that | hau hour longer 10 wait,
50 | Wa, not h1t-sorrv 10 find my Lost Chord on
The platform. ! wanted some one 10 talk 10. and
the Ntatlon-Igcnt wanted 20 sleep.
The I.ost Chord was in a pretty bad way. The
warmth of his cups had left him. and his clothes
not being wcother-pro he was rapidly shaking
himself ~ pieces. He hnd FORGOTTEN the kicking:
the superior agony Of iucipirnt dclirInm making
the ache Of bruised bones matter Of Indifference
II seemed both wise and charitable to assist him
10 cN pirr with fash. rather than let him merely
cease - exist FIR lack Of energy ~ shivcr longer
So | gave him my flask full one. He
minutes ago Tommy, and when my train came
along he was recliIng poetry with fcrvOr ard
clOqucncc. HIS barred and battered head was mp
turned 10 the ellnlng stars, and his rag-covcrcd
body gracefully erect was grateful tony
flask
The train was scarcely under way when there
was a sudden Jerking of the be-ropc. and pale
faced brakeman whispered 70 the CONDUCTOR a
-- tramp tried 10 jump us and fell between |
went back with the train hands. and as | leaned
over him the I4oN Chord smiled and murmurpd
Drink. for yOu know not whence YOU came,
why,
Drinli Tor you know not why you CO. nor where
In a few minutes he went-whcre and they
shovcllcd il off Ia ore side Of the track.
otto, Fill Mr. Pagct's glass
"No, Patsy Let's 60 home
Az INDIAN BRIvE'S JOKE