The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-04-30

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for him against jumpers at the risk OF
our lives. ''Old Blink" was our mascot.
We wouldn't have taken the richest lode
on South mountain for him, wretched as
he had made himself by a life OF wander
ing and dissipation.
And then one night he told us the
story of his life. We didn't believe it
then, but it had served to while away a
weary hour between supper and blankets
and we forgave him. 4 pack train from
Del Norte had brought up to camp a
fresh lot of supplies, including keg of
whiskey. The latter article was the key
which unlocked ''Ol' Bink's' lips. While
talking his eyes took on 6 far-away look.
as if they were resting on green pastures,
but his voice became vibrant with man.
hood as he talked about himself and Phil
Sheridan. T. could not attempt to give
you the story in his own language, be-
cause between me now and that summer
night episode, high upon the slopes of
the Sierras San Juan, nearly eighteen
years have in.ervened.
His name, he SAID, was George Blink
ley, and he was born in Somerset, o., his
family being Ell influential and wealthy
one. Phil Sheridan was his schoolnate,
and, although Phil's mother was very
poor, the two boys were inseperable
friends and companions. They had
grown up together, and their affection
for g ,ch other was that of David and
Jonathan. Then one day young Blink
ley's uncle, who was then in Congress,
secured for him an appointment to the
West Point military academy. Wild
with delight, he rushed across the way
to Mrs. Sheridan's humble home to tell
Phil the news The sturdy young Irish
lad burst into tears.
"I'm glad of it, George he at last
found voice to say, q but, oh, don't wish
I could GO, too. I've always sci my heart
on being soldier, but W" and the
youthful Poll gave vent TO his emotion.
"Old Blink" hurried over this part Of the
! narrative Ha talked to,Phil for time
| and tried to comfort him, wifh what Of
| fect the sequel disclosed He astonished
his parents and almost paralyzed his
uncle by declining the appointment, He
! didn't want to be soldier and Phil
Sheridan did. On this rock he stood i'm
| movable The world already knows
part of the result. The Irish lad, the
friend of George Buckley, went to West
Point. His history is part Of that Of the
nation. The hero Of Winchester and
half a hundred other battleS lids was
made possible by q friends magnanimity
and self-abnegaticn.
| And Binkley, what of him? Oh, there
wasn't much to tell, he declared. He
had gone through college with honors;
had been admitted 20 the bar; had tried
,ournalism; had printed several news
papers in lows; aud Nebraska; had drank
whiskey and indulged in the use of
opium until worn out; he had quit fight
ing and was now drifting with the tide
| toward sunset and night and silence He
had arifbed with other debris of wrstche5
humanity into thu mountajos, ard that
was all. He was still loyal to Phil. Did
Phil remember his old boyhood friend
and benefactor? Oh, yes, General Sher-
idan, he said, had repeatedly offered to
provide for him, but he was too far gone
to go back. That was all. "Phil was all
right, and "Old Blink" was all right, and
so what's the diiference?" Having de-
livered himself of this oracular bit OF
optimism, our mascot took another drink
of whiskey and fell asleep in his blan-
kets After deciding that "Old Blink
was an entertaining liar the camp fol
Lowed his example, and retired to rest
When bautered next day about his Phil
Sheridan romance" "Old Blink" re-
iteratsd his statement, and, finally grow
ing angry, relapsed into sullen silence,
and the subject was dropped.
The summer waned, and lower and
lower crept the dazzling rim of snow
down the mountain side. Already the
moaning pines gave notice in their dumb
way of approaching winter. The camp,
high upon the spur of the mountain, was
abandoned. "Old Blink" went with the
rest of us to Del Norte, and there we lost
sight of him.
Three years later l stood on Sixteenth
street in the city of Denver. It was q
gala day in the capital city OF the young
centennial state. The streets were
crowded by restless, shouting, push
ling mass of humanity, and flags and
banners streamed from every window
and every housetop. General Sherid IN
then in command of the Missouri hsi-
sion OF the army, was in the city, and
Colorado was also there to honor one OF
4 Grants greatest ieutenants. Denver
was wild with enthusiasm, and twas
with difficulty that I could maintain q
position on the curb which commanded q