The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-02-10

for the Office that he could not think
for moment of accepting it himself
Then he sat down, and everyone knew
that he meant the colonel. And they
also knew that he would stand by what
he had said, and so the colonel was
elected Northumberland by acclama-
ton, and in the same way the major
was elected major.
/ And they went through this war as
they had gone through the other, and
when it was over they returned to their
native town and looked each other in
the face, and by that look inquired:
"What shall we do now?r For, hav-
ing lost the inherited property which
had been ample for all their wants,
they knew it would be necessary to
turn their hands to something to earn
at least meagre living. The colonel
had Studied a little law" the major
had "done little surveying" There
fore they decided to open a small office,
and soon on one of the doors appeared
a modest sign bearing the colonel's
name and informing the people that he
was "Notary Public and Commits
sioner in Chancery," and on the other
side sign with the majors name, and
beneath it simply the word Survey
or" And then they sat in their Office
and waited for patronage to come, and
now and then little did come, and by
| pinching and scraping they were able
TO pay for their Office and the bedroom
back of it, and irregularly to pay their
board at Miss Sallie Carter's, ''around
the square,"
Once the colonel spruced up a bit and
began to "pay some attention" to Miss
Sallie, but he soon dropped back into
his old ways, and this brief departure
comprised the entire history of the
courting days of the two friends.
Thus into a quiet routine their life
! settled, and so continued for 20 years.
Every morning when they awoke it
was, "Good-morning, colonel, | trust
you slept well last night" and, ayes,
thank you, major; do you feel refresh
| ed yourself, sir??" And then they dress
ed and brushed their clothes and walk
ed around to Miss Sallie's where they
paid their respects to the charming
hostess" and whatever boarders were
at the table then; and after breakfast,
asked if the Daily Landmark had come
and if they might "glance over il, "and
said they We're thinking of subscribing
for it themselves, and then with bow
and pleasant day TO you alp they
went back to The Office, and the colonel
would say, "Well, major, will you be
very busy to-day?r and the major
would reply, mot very, colonel" Ah,
neither have | much on hand to-day;
how would you like to try game of
checkers?" "Very much, colonel"
And then, if the time were winter, they
spread their board near an open coal
fire; if summer, under the old maple
tree in front of the door; and there they
played until the dinner hour. Then,
''Dear me, we have occupied the entire
morning; this will never do; our busi-
ness will suffer-" Then dinner, then
''work" then supper, then smoke and
talk of old times, then to bed. Good
night, major, pleasant dreams" Good
night, colonel, hope you will sleep
well after the fatigues of the day.
Thus, with rare exceptions, the days
went by, the weeks, the months, the
years, until the twentieth had come
and gone.
Then the letter came. 1t was ad-
dressed to The Colonel, and read as
follows:
"SE LOUIS, Mo, - -, IS.
"My Dear Cousin-You have prob
ably forgotten, if you ever knew of,
my existence. am the grandson of
your fathers brother who went TO
KeDtucky so many years ago. My
father afterward moved to Missouri, rs
you probably already know, and here l
was born and reared. Ny family con-
ysists of myself, wife, and two children,
and we are the only representatives of
my name, that L know of, except your
self. / recently met gentleman who
proved to be Virginian, and he told
me that you were not in the best of cir
cumstances. Now, have acquired a
considerable amount of this worlds
goods, and shall be more than delighted
ifyou will consent to come and make my
house your home for the remainder of
your life. Indeed, / shall take the priv
ilege of a kinsman to insist that you do
so. The wife and children have often
heard me tell the traditions of my an
cestry, and are all eagerness to see their
| Virginia relative. To show how
much in earnest / am, / enclose the
lrailroad ticket necessary TO bring you
,i2 Us. Please write me at once that
VI are coming, and when.
..esvith the highest cousinly esteem
Infection am,
"Yours, etc,
Ct as the letter, and the eolonel's
go ~ sparkled as he handed it to
y