The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-08
A CONFIDENCE GAME.

pathetic influence. did the colonel learn
the hapless young wife's story; how she
and Charlie had met and loved with the
heedleSsnesS and hope of ardent passion
how her parents had opposed the we'd
ding and discarded her after Il: how,
Notwithstanding, In their poverty, they
had managed to lease a little place and
10 subsist from the sale OF product and
milk for through their very happiness
was their strength renewed; how the COW
had strayed, and Charlie IN following.
had fallen into pit and injured himself
internally. and then, how euvious mis-
fortunes had thronged and pressed; how
food and medicine, until but yesterday
the last of all, her pet one, a "teenty
tainty lamb had been sold
A simple tale. and simply told, as IL
the fragile fingers on the demure little
lap that kept weaving TO II were a
child =; yet Is not simplicity the essence
OF pathos? The colonel tugged uneas,ly
at his grizzly mustachios, and over the
touching details OF that "teenty-tainty"
lamb his throat gulped with an honest
sob. And yet, even in the telling OF
these sorrows, a faint humor glimmered
betraying the sweet. Joyous nature, over
clouded, but not extinguished. Poor
CHARLIE unused the colonel, and yet
through his coincidence the strange
question flashed: Ought he not to be
nved?' Ere heir destination was reached
Col. Tom, with oompunction, caught him
self picturtng a future in which he ten
derry dried the widows tears
The night was black and soft, starless,
and hanging low with moisture, as the
train rumbled away and left them on
spot possessing no other sign of civiliza-
ton except the faint, dusty outline Of
crossroads.
Come this way. Col. Tom" cried the
erfWN hill II.
remembered how he had acquired the
persistent, unquenchable exuberance Of
her spirits. A little hand met his arid
palm. as If with a kiss; such warm,
sentient little hand. thrilling with the
satisfaction of home. All, Col. Tom, is
this the true spirit of brotherly love
toward your old neighbours unfortunate
son? Remember the tenth command
ment, Col Toni
Along the country way, too obscure for
shadows. they hurried side by side. over
a level stretch, then down into a raVine
And here once more the girl spoke and
her voice was as clear and penetrating
as a mountaineer's call. Here we are
at last. Col. Tom" she exclaimed, up
this bank TO the right. through this
clump of trees-ha, ha, hsr'
That soft, caressing cling vanished
from his hand, the rustic Of drapery
died away in the darkness. Instead on
either side Col. Tom was seized by an
overpowering grasp a cold rim of metal
was pressed against his temple, a harsh
life!' as nimble fingers unbuckled the
money belt under his waistcoat An
other rancOrous order rumbled Re
main where you are for a half hour at
your peril" There were hasty, retreat
ing footsteps. and then Col Tom stood
alone in the silence and gloom. For a
swhile he obeyed, for a good soldier will
stand under fire, and then a sensation,
an impulse. emotion overwh elmed
him. Ethel, EtheIT' he shouted.
Come back to me. | forgive you.
don't care about the money But you
to be with such villainsl Come back,
and j will take care Of YOU! And he
rushed hither and thither like a blind
man. distraught, inclosing the trees in
his futile embrace.
Col. Tom awaited the dawn, and bitter
thoughts gave speed to the hours.
There's no fool like an old fool" he
sOlilOquized, land of all fools / deserve
TO be the oldest. To think of il, that
l. with all my experience, with my
from the Long Con- in England To
Snatch Monte in this country, should
be done up and bunkoed by a damned
no. no. l won't say that-by a poor.
sweet little girl. "A teenty tainty lamb
and by JOve, l was well-nigh blubber-
L
as it is dark. and then this predicament
would come near my desertsp'
And yet into this long vigil there crept
odd comforting memories. What a soft,
tiny hand had clasped his own, frank
~, with such a warm kindly thrill! How
confidingly that trim, graceful form had
nestled against him as together they had
penetrate the obscurity. Come this
way Col. Tom' she had called, oh, 80
blithely; all. if now in the very acme Of
his chargrin. he could hear those tones,
how willingly he would follow And her
laughter? Merry, certainly; like that Of
a child achieving some innocent play; but
without a trace of mOckery or sinister
triumph! And I could have loved and
cherished her like a father" murmured
Col. Tom. and in the very utterance,
recognized the 'futility of such self-de-
ceptiOn.
The morning light danced over the hills
as jOcund as Ethel's laughter. Col. Tom
looked about him. He stood in the we'll
shaded approach to extensive grounds.
At one side. but a short distance away.
was lodge; and browning the rising lawn
was a mansion. capacious, attractive, as
If extending both arms in welcome. For
one moment Col. Tom hesitated. Here,
within a few steps termination lay much
needed rest and indignant consolation; and
more. the prospects of recovery and re-
venge. Lining the background he could
see the neat cottages Of laborers. I'm
doubleday an alarm would quickly assem-
bic a stout posse to scour the vicinity and
run down the miscreants.
Yes. he would show them that he was
not to be trified with. He laughed best
who laughed last All! but could he
laugh so merrily, could he laugh at all,
If those palIid cheeks should grow ghast-
ly from fright, If those deep. tender eyes
should gaze reprOachfully on him. Col.
Tom buttoned his coat tightly around him
as If securing a newly-forIned resolution
and turned his back on this tempting
scene. After a few hours peregrinations,
never to be described in an article en-
titled. 1.-THE Delights of Pedestrianism,"
he reached a railway station and there
succeeded in making out an elaborate
schedule whereby he would. under provi-
dence, reach the eastern city whittier ne
had to go before returning home
Been stopping up at Squire Brownser?''
asked the ticket agent.
"Huml Yet, no." faltered the colonel.
THAT is, near there
s'Brownser's," murmured the colonel
as he stretched himself for a doze on the
train At never heard that name before"
1t a week later that Col Tom en-
tered his sisters home at Baysborough
with a detection as profound as II was
unusual.
why. brother Tom cried the widow,
what is the matter with you. you look
so nl2"
simply the ravages Of old age, my
dear" replied the colonel
What utter nonsenseP' retorted Mrs
Maitland sharply, for she was but two