Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-04-28
"MAJOR AND MINER"

that | first saw the major. Business
duties had temporarily placed me in
Chicago, and it was in semi-genteel
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 nelghborhood OF his neck.
Under the influence OF violent emo
tion little waves of color mounted to
his forehead and rippled to the back
of his neck.
He had the prominent eyes and
apoplectlc 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 a blue
and white striped linen blazer was
his favorite costume, but upon win
ter nights he assumed gorgeous
quilted satin smoking jacket pres
ent from a fair acquaintance.
Our regard for each other was TO a
certain extent mutual, and many an
evening have | spent in the little
prophets chamber on the third floor
that he called his own, smoking the
pipe of friendship, and occasionally
indulging in the stronger and less
transient delights Of malt liquor.
The major was a host IL himself
A fund of anecdotes was always at
his disposal, and certain degree of
wit, perhaps not entirely free from
vulgarity, favored his "reminiscences.
Twice a widower, his only child
was u little sharp-featured woman
who paid him annual visits, and de-
scribed herself vaguely as being in
''millincry.
Our acquaintance had lasted sew
eral months, with every sign Of be-
coming permanent when an incident
occurred that threatened to end IT,
Not finding the major in his room
one evening l commenced to make
inquiries and found to my astonish-
ment that he had taken to playing
poker My surprise was unbounded.
Here was man who had passed his
siXtieth milestone of life unscathed,
suddenly falling into the embraces of
the gambling goddess.
/ found the major on the top floor
of the house. He flushed and looked
little ashamed as he met my eye.
There was a half apologize tone in
his voice as he said. "Sit down, boy,
and take hand" | begged to he
excused, but stayed for Il little while
to see the majors luck.
The party was made up of five per-
sons, mostly boarders in the house,
and it was evident, even to my mex
perienced eye, that the major was
getting the worst of it.
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. 1t must have been five in
the morning. An unhealthy ray of
returning daylight stole into the
room, giving the gas sickly hue,
discovering worn patches in the
shabby carpet and discolored smears
in the cheap paper on the walls. 1t
was back room. The only window
looked upon a dismal yard where an
early-rising, Misunderstanding cat
stole softly over the fallen snow. A
light breeze shook the window frames
and blew feathery flakes 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 had faded into dull drab and
his lusterless eyes followed the cards
as they were rapidly dealt with an
eagerness that was almost painful
An hour later the party broke up. 1t
was then o'clock on Sunday morn
ing. Snow had ceased to fall and the
ray Of sunshine, multiplied several
times, stole into the room. A couple
of sparrows perched on the window
sill and announced the arrival of day
by number of excited chirps. The
major was the last to go. He had
lost all he had. His unsteady foot
steps echoed along the passage to
his room. heard him shut the door
and lock it, then went TO bed.
When the passion of play seizcs a
man there is only one slavery that
can be compared to 1.-THE slavery
of drink. The major was fairly in its
tolls.
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 off.
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 checks, the thousand and one
characteristics that mark tho rapid
advance Of old age. Twice again
saw the major. Under what circum-
stances? You shall see.
Two years later ! returned to CHI
cago. Winter again had the city in
Its icy grip. Twas living thon three
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