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

the Fountain Of Youth flowed right In
his native town OF Baysborough, and
was quite satisfied with it's quality and
quantity. Should any one ask: why.
colonel?" the answer Is that a former
adjutant-general Of the state had mus
tered several paper regiments with their
headquarters in his brains; but furnished
with gallant officers OF veritable flesh
and blood. and plenty Of both, too. Of
whom Col. Tom was very much one.
Should this inquisltive any one next in
quire why, Tom2'' the answer is TO be
read in his bonny. frank eyes, alight
with merriment, despite a half century's
beaming.
A fine. soldierly-appearing man was
Col. Tom. in defiance OF the supernu-
merary nature of his service: tall. erect,
and spare. with slender gray mustach-
los. and just the limb Of a grizzly I'M
perial. A hearty, whole-souled man was
Col. Tom; IL slap on the back didn't
announce his presence. his Irresistible
laughter excused the omission. He lived,
as the conventional phrase goes, with
his widowed sister, Mrs. Maitland: he
was a lawyer by profession, according
10 another set expression; but so breezy
and original was his being that it might
more properly be said that the world
was his home and humanity his voca-
ton.
A popular man was Col. Tom, and on
a really rational basis. Should any one
in Raysborough be asked: why do you
like him SOP" the answer probably would
be: why not, he likes met And so
he he did. he liked them all, and with
all had established the jolliest sort Of a
mOdus vlvendi-with little feminine
exception. For with the comfortable
matrons and the plump spinsters who
made up his sisters friends, Col. Tom
was as chummy possible, administer
ing metaphorical digs in the ribs to mu-
tual delight But young girls, slender,
tender. graceful young girls, large of
eyes and pallid OF cheeks, and oh so
pensive of mten. these made him discon-
certed. He hardly knew what TO say,
they might not understand a joke, or,
worse still, might detect an unintended
offense in ii. They scarcely seemed real
to him, and yet he dared not seek tangi-
bic proof. Perhaps, too, in their pres
ence he became dimly conscious of the
contrast which his closely cropped white
hair. and his sinewy. leathery hands 81
lently demanded.
Though independent Of means. Col.
Tom was always seeking money; though
inOfhciOus, he was ever busted with the
concerns of others. In fact. his amia-
bility. which should pTesage a gracious
Incidence, had led him into the house OF
bondage or. rather into several houses.
He was here and there and everywhere,
finding his rest in sleeping cars, and
scurryfng the country like the father of
lost child. He had been persuaded,
cajoled, bullied, and dragged into mani
fold benevolent and fraternaI societies;
and once in, was inevitably and unani-
mously elected grand almOner, supreme
treasurer, exalted bursar, as the case
might be- EleemOsynary funds fairly
poured into his keeping. to be disbursed
by his gentleness, subject only TO the
approval of his judgment. Thus it hap
pened that, for man of leisure, Col
Tom. as he himself expressed it, was
always on the jump: from his impulsive-
ness it followed that some day he would
leap before he looked
Appropriately enough, this some day
occurred at nighttime One evening in
early summer Col Tom was aboard a
special express returning home from the
far West. He had been on a missionary
errand on behalf of a newly-protected
home for Weakened brethren. and the
results Of his persuasive powers in avail
able funds and cash, were secured in
belt around his waist. For Col. Tom had
fancy for ready money, which his
friends regretted as weakness.
There's a certain all-there sense about
II" he was wont to say, apOlogeticaTy.
"One OF these fine days there will be
certain not-there sense about IL, my
sweet youth Judge Blanders had re-
tOrted, only the evening before, at the
club at Susville, and Nevins and Browne
and old Campbell had chuckled assent.
All very well, but he knew what he was
about. did Col Tom
At this hour in question Col Tom was
stretched at full length on the double
seats Of his section, if not doing, at least
musing audibly. He was conscious that
the train had stopped, and then started
again; but he ruminated, special eX-
presses always do start after they stop.
and sometimes before. He was fully
aroused, however, by hearing the sleep
ing car conductor shout interrOgatively:
col Thomas NOdyne?" Here re-
sponded the colonel promptly, as If his
name were NewcOmbe That function
airy, whose utility is in inverse proper
ton TO his buttons, languidly fetched a
telegram, and then leaned against the
side, as If he had earned the eternal Sab
baths of his rest. Col Tom opened the
dispatch which was dated at ''Poma"
and read as follows: stop here Am
dying in mysery Ethel will meet you.
Charles Judd Osborne"
The colonel dropped the sheet and
gazed for a moment with lack-lustre
eyes What a handsome reckless. bow
ish face this name recalled. Charlie Os-
borne the only son Of his neXt-dOOr
neighbor. and old friend, the rogue. the
scapegr race, who had left town between
two suns, and only just quick enough,
dying in mvsery so far from home. All,
what sorrow what anguish lay in those
few words, significant in their CconOmf-
cal paucity. Of course, ne would stop;
perhaps the dying might be prevented,
at all events the misery could be ale
Waited Col Tom sat bolt upright as If
ashamed of the ease Of his former posi-
ton
Conductor" he asked. what sort Of
a place is POma?"
1.-THE Oue-hOssiest town of a one-hoss
state. sir
Then why do we stop there?"
"CnectiOns with s'west," replied the
man with a "fan-me-please" look
Hum. And what time are we due?''
'11.57." with a regretful gasp for the
three minutes grace from midnight
Thanks, that VIII do" And away
tottered the official. with every waver
OF limb and fold Of raiment Indignantly
protesting Il should say so"
Il wonder who Ethel is?" reflected the
colonel
At 1851. then. Col Tom alighted at
POma. One glance assured him that the
sample offered did not belle the con-
ductor's words, that is, if to be one
boss" betOkens a state of lonely insta-
bility. He was alone on q long board
walk, a mighty tangent to the dot of a
station. Alone. yet no, for. as he was re-
alfzing that ne must move some way
and wondered which way was right,
since either end was a hopeless distance
from the other. there was a timid touch