Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-03-27

Fl OF ET1ef, 70 slJ curing the afternoon
on his accustomed bench with the 9th
er caddies. In The morning he beset
himself to find new engagement. He
was in receipt Of a small pension from
his late master IN recognition Of so
many years Of faithful service, but the
sum did not suffice to give him indie
pendence. He was soon engaged, for the
links were thronged with players
This time his employer was new
conner, who knew nothing OF "Slcw-
back's' peculiarly. He was nearly
stunned with surprise at what he deem
cd the caddie's fnsolence on his first Mt
terance Of the inevitable words. He said
nothing, however, on the first offense,
but when ii was repeated expostulated
in unmeasured terms. TO his surprise,
his rebuke brought 'Slowback" to the
verge of tears. Then, partly by his OPP
ponent and partly by the opponents
caddie, the situation was explained.
He found himself able to mingle meas
ure Of pity with his wrath, but through
out the round the ejaculation, many
times repeated, in the speakers own
despite. spoiled his intended stroke and
led to the immediate payment Of the
caddie and rejection Of his further serv-
ices
Several times during the ensuing
weeks did now one and now another,
in ignorance or III pity, engage the I'M
fortunate man TO carry clubs, but in no
case could bis idiosyncrasy be endured
beyond tho limits Of a single round. He
made efforts that were absolutely heroic
to overcome it, swathing the wooden
comforter around his mouth until as
pbyxiation threatened him, but through
all the folds of the stuff came, with
muflled righteousness, the hateful ex-
clamation which the man would have
given worlds to have withheld. Do
what he would he could not rid himself
Of this damnosa hareditus, begueathed
to him, along with his slender pension,
by his departed master Gradually he
grew to recognize the hopelessness of
his condition and ceased even to seek
employment. lie spent his days sitting
dejectedly On the accustomed seat, grow
ing thinner and more gaunt as poverty
set its grip more firmly upon him,
grateful if now and again one of his
friends on the bench would give him a
fill Of tobacco for his seldom replenished
pipe.
AT length he ceased to frequent the
links altogether. For some days no one
seemed to notice his absence. Then it
was noticed that "Slowback" had dis
appeared, and we began to ask questions
about him His cronies knew nothing,
only that he had not been down to the
links for day or two. We inquired
where he lodged and with some diff
Guilty found the locality. 1t was up a
steep stair in little house of back
street His landlady told us that she
feared he was not well. For some days
he had not left the house and had eaten
next to nothing; said his stomach re-
fused food, and that he had no appe-
tite. We asked her whether she thought
he lacked for money, but the woman
said no, basing her information ON the
fact that he had kept his small rent
paid up.
When we went in, it appeared at Cnce
that he was very bad. He lay On the
bed terribly wasted, scarcely more than
skeleton of man. We asked whether
he had seen a doctor and being told
no sent off for enc at once. He seemed
to recognize us, and a strange smile of
pleasure struggled across his thin fea.
lures. He even tried to speak but the
only word we could distinguish was his
terrible ejaculation of Slow backp'
though whether he were trying TO speak
of himself thus by his familiar sobri
quot or whether he deemed himself
still carrying" for his old master on
the links we could not tell. Then he
relapsed into silence and seemed to
sleep. =.
At length the doctor came. He took
but one glance at the poor figure en- the
bed, passed his hand beneath the
clothes and laid it for moment over
the heart. Then he turned to us, with a
grave face. "Slowback" was dead
Cornhill Magazine.