The age-herald., 1897-08-08
IN THE SHADOW OF THE GOLDEN DOME.
A CHARACTER SKETCH BY JAMES BROCK MANN.

John wanted whisky straight, it was his companions and not himself that had to be put in cabs and carried to a nearby hotel, where John had them stored away till they were sober.
 When he reached his boarding house he found letter on his writing table.
 His vision was clear and his under standing normal, and this is what he read:
 Philadelphia. Ala, Nov 12, 1S-.
 My Dear John-News is scarce, but will answer your letter and send you the last rose that has b1oomed on the bush, that grows by the end of the porch, where you, with so much patience, taught me to read and to love you Gold red-head, notwithstanding
 Bud Thomas fell off his wagon and broke his leg last week. Brother Mike went over to inquire about him last night and found him comfortable and jolly. He told Mike if he knew of anybody that
 corresponded with you meaning me, of course) to send you word for him, not to put on any airs in Washington, but to hold your own along side the best, but to always remember the many sum- mer Sundays that you and he have spent together roaming over old Blount hills looking for heart leaves with which to make hair oil.
 l don't suppose neighborhood small talk 1 will interest you very much in compari- i son with the multitude of great things l with which you are surrounded, but must tell you that Bill Skaters still has l at last been raided by officers and I sup | pose the old man will have to make the l trip" this time. You know John, your
 summer with that still was the only thing that stood in your light with me.
 The yarns Mike tells pa about how much l whisky you and he can hold and never l get tight often makes me serious. I don't believe I will bother bout it, 1 though, for it only shows what a great head you have, not to feel it. Leaving l all the ifs and and's out of the ques- tion, l will confess that love you more 1 and more and more.
 Address your next letter to me at T.. 1 for leave Saturday for boarding school.
 don't see why I did not fall in love with l Bret Jones (the miller). for then should l not need so much learning as I will re- l .quire to be lawyers wife. ..- | Write soon, lovingly. MOLLY. 1.-Two years later John graduated and formed partnership with firm in Bir- l mingham, and then started straight for l Philadelphia to see what Molly meant bby saying so much of late about Brother tsAeres. the newly stationed Methodist .preacher. 'h s--As ls A Methodist parson is a bad fellow to Iibuck against, but John dearly loved a l fight for what he got and was really more interested in his love affair than 1 he had been in his securer hours. Fin | ally John won the day, and the services Of Brother. Acres were called in for the
 marriage ceremony.
 Some weeks later John made some I hints to Molly about the devotion of her
 sky pilot" and her interest in him and l was little amazed at the confession
 that she never had any intention of
 Brother Acres nor he of her; but they had
 made it up between them that John ] should not find her too anxious for him l as she knew him we'll enough to believe 1 that the thought of possible loss would l spur him up if he had any indifference on the subject when he came home. Mol-
 lie was pretty confident though that l Brother Acres would have swapped | places with John although he had never
 told her so.
 So much for a womans conceit, or in-
 tuition. Which?
 l Washington, D. c. .----