The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-05-20
@MAJOR AND MINER"

duties had temporarily placed me II
Chicago, and IL was In "A semi-gentee
boarding house that our first meeting
took place.
In appearance he was Of the medium
height. and inclined to stoutness. A
thin fringe OF gray hair still fingered
In the neighborhood OF his neck.
Under the influence OF violent emo.
ton little waves OF color mounted 10
his forehead and ripplcd to the back
OF his neck.
He had the prominent eyes and
apoplectic cheeks.of Levers military
heroes. A tweed suit of doubtful
pattern, which, from constant wear,
had assumed the outlines OF his rug
ged form. was his weekday wear.
On warm Sunday mornings u blue
and white striped linen blazer was
his favorite costume. but upon win
tor nights he assumed gorgeous
quilted satin smoking jacket. u pres
ent from fair acquaintance.
Our regard for each other was 10 a
certain extent mutual. and many an
evening have / spent in the little
prophets chamber on the third hoor
that he called his own. smoking the
ripe OF friendship, and occasionally
i,dulging in the stronger and less
1nsient delights Of malt liquor.
The major was host in him self
A fund OF anecdotes was always AT
has disposal, and certain degree OF
wit. perhaps not entirely free from
nj Nm Ia
Twice wid0wer. his only child
was little sharp-featured woman
who paid him annual visits. and de-
scribed herself vaguely "a being in
millinery.
Our acquaintance had lasted sew
eral months, with every sign of be-.
coming permanent when an incident
occurred that threatened to end il.
Not finding the major in his room
ono evening commenced 10 make
inquiries and found TO my astonish-
Inent that he had taken To playing
poker. My surprise was unbounded.
Here was man who had passed his
sixtieth milestone OF life unscathcd,
suddenly falling into the embraces OF
the gambling goddess.
found the major ON the top aoOr
OF the house. lie flushed and looked
n little ashamed a he met nv eve.
There was half Apologize tone in
his voice "a he said. ..>it down. boy.
and take hand. | begged to he
excused. but stayed for i little while
to see the majors luck
The party was made up of FIVE per-
sons, mostly boarders in the house.
and il was evident even to my mex
perienced eye, that the major was
getting the worst OF II.
Despair sat solemnly on his feat
ures as the game progressed. and
gradually but surely his small stack
of blue and red chips dwindled away
and his Opponents stacks grew
larger II must have been five in
the morning. An unhealthy ray of
returning daylight stole into the
room. giving the gas n sickly hue,
discovering worn patches in the
shabby carpet and discolored smears
in the cheap paper on the walls. II
was back room. The only window
looked upon dismal yard where an
carly-rising, Misunderstanding cat
stole softly over the fallen snow. A
light breeze shook the window frames
and blew feathery fakes of snow
against the panes The majors face
looked haggard; the pouches under
his eyes heavier and more pro-
nounced the dull red of his complex
ion h,d faded into dull drab and
his lusterles> eyes followed the cards
rs they were rapidly dealt with an
cagrrncss that was almost painful.
An hour later the party broke up. IL
was thea q o'clock on Sunday morn
ing Snow had cease TO fall and the
ray of Sunshine. multiplied several
times, stole into the room. 4 couple
of sparrows perchcd on the window
sill and announced the arrival of day
b. number OF excited chiII,S The
ma or was the last to 30. He had
lost all he had Ills unsteady foot
steps echoed along the passage TO
his room. heard him shut the door
and lock il, then ] went TO bed
When the passion Of play seizes
man there is only one slavery that
can be compared to 1.-THE slavery
of drink. The major was fairly in its
tolls.
I said good-by to all the pleasant
little evenings spent in his strong
hold. sat alone on the steps in
front Of the house during the warm
summer months that succeeded win
ter and spring. The fall came and
business compelled me to leave the
city. the major came to see me of.
As the train pulled out Of the depot
saw him standing on the platform
waving his adieux. He had aged
greatly. The bright morning sun
revealed and heightened the shabbi-
ness Of his clothes. the wrinkles in
his cheeks, the thousand and one
characteristics that mark the rapid
advance Of cd age. Twice again
saw the major. Under what circum-
stances. You shall see.
Two years later ! returned TO CHI