The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-01
The Recalcitrant Colonel.



sounded ominous, II believe you have been
console ntiously wrestling with the devil.
have prayed that God would give you
strength"
II thank you. sir" replied Brother"
Waive. Your prayer was granted. / am
strong as an ox-but / had laid 1t to my
appetite. You rather suspected my appe-
lite of being at least particeps criminis,
didn't you, Kate?'
II referred to spiritual strength" per-
sisted Mr.. wittmore. (which would en-
able you to rise superior to the pictorial
representations OF your vivid imagina-
ton"
"Ohi IL you mean the quail story. that's
nothing. / could tell you another one just
as true and heap more strange"
II beg you to desist.''
"Pshaw. no. let a man vindicate him
self. had such luck with my real bugs
i-quails take to bugs mightily-that /
, tried decoys. I put three or four out in
the field under a sun glass. I went back
In an hour and found seventeen quails.
sir. with their heads burned Off Wasn't
II seventeen, Kate2"
NO" said Mrs. Waive. who thought 1t
time for a quietus You are altogether
mistaken. SAMMY"
True. true enough reflected the un-
dsunted colonel. 1T was twenty-seven."
No one spoke.
! ut was n powerful, strong sun glass"
added the colonel.
! Being aware OF my hosts innate good
ness" said the preacher. addressing Mrs.
Waive. II regard his faults with unusual
leniency. | know he has a great soul
and that he means well. You have good
intentions" turning to the colonel. but.
dear brother, before II is too late, reflect
H. I..uI l..
\ In that case" roared the colonel who
saw a funny side to Il. you have a COR
ner on hell yourself. You had better
deputize me TO look after your large land
ed possessions. since you say / am going
that way. or his majesty will get them
for taxes. the same as do his agents
here"
Whether by virtue of Mr.. wittmore's
incessant prayers and pleadings. or a re-
ligious awakening on his own part, the
better side OF Colonel Valves nature
gradually predominated. 1t may be that
he was touched by the helpful and affec-
Tomato interest his spiritual development
excited In the community. 1t may be that
the growth of the new church building
which stately edifice had sprung from his
own pocket and caused people to gauge
his heart by the size of 1t. appealed to his
sentiment. Certain IL Is that he became
possessed OF a religious frenzy
He regularly attended divine service
He said Amen loud and often. He was
a father TO the missions. He never had
. done anything by halves and now that HI
had consecrated himself, his dollars wer,
, free OF advice. The good brothers who
from the first were individually ready tC
make affidavit that ne was irresponsible
needed n guardian and ought to be
|, ward OF the church. collectively agreeS
that he knew what he was about I'm TIA,
wasting OF his substance.
! II was the rapid diminution of his banl
|, account that called forth the first effec
/. tive protest against the Christianizin,
influences to which he was being subject
t, ed. Mrs. Waive was dissatisfied Sh
4 wanted her husband TO be saved, had n,
: doubt but that he would be. with or with
n out regeneration. With that blind kim
OF reasoning some women have (and tn
: better the woman the better her reason
2 ing), she argued to herself that II she
knowing him good and sound at the core
a could be patient with his imperfection
In this world. Cod who was equally wei
J.. Informed. would continue such treatmen
In the next. Moreover. she suspected tn
/. coionels religious fever was only ten
~ porary. she believed he would get over q
9 As his probation drew near its close. hi
zeal increased
Kate. he said. II am about to be in
a vested with the dignity OF a churchmar
have n feeling Of elation that Is not &
earth. and look upon my past as a III
70 count closed. Indeed. Kate. dearest,
:. am ready at the blast of Gabriels truu
~ pet to start with a crown OF gold on m
10 head and palm leaf In my hand"
, Think you'll need a palm leaf?" 81
interrupted.
e. Toward the regions of celestial bliss
he finished, ignoring the thrust
Celestial stuff, she laughed. "San
my, you'll come out OF this about like a
ce old dog that has tried new tricks. \
man with your capacity for hot biscui
~ Is ready for the ascension: a. least
~ Isn't hunting II. Now. dear, 7 am an
'" ious that when you get into heaven W
u" should have a crown your head on
stipulate that you keep a roof ov
Ne mine while you're on earth"
N He respected Mrs. Valves opinion
ns She had large sense for a small woma
VI OF course Hadn't she married him?
Amid great rejoicing the new chur
n was dedicated. and Colonel Waive W
IN n publicly thanked for the Assistance
~, had giver. The worthy colonel was
"s affected that the tears coursed down I
cheeks. Raising his wet eyes TO heavt
W he began In trembling tones:-s
.rs Sisters and brothers, this is the me
'ei solemn moment OF my life. Deeply Sc
sible OF the honor conferred upon me
he your favor. / yield obeisance to the
mighty. who has made me an instrume
eI. OF His Will"
m He bowed his head and silence reign.
Surely not In vain had Mr. WittmC
ed east his bread upon the waters.
rt- There was a nervous working of Color
If valves fingers. He raised his head.
nostrils expanding. In his eyes was
ish nascent fire.
the You may not believe Il, sirs," his vo
was clear and firm. hut twenty We;
'nu ago this scene. this church. these IA,
'"- appeared TO me In n vision"
There was thrill. then a profou
cry hush
'he II was In old Mexico, out gatheri
cactus leaves TO make green's The
AZ beat DOWN until I could smell my n
III" scorching under my sombrero. All
once rain came up. a rain. gentlem
Us that soaked the ground a foot In ten 8
onds. was swept TO my knees and WI
In that involuntary attitude of suppl
axe tion. saw falling straight from the q
Yer ith ball of lightning as big as a wa
neu tub. 1 caught II In my arms. and I'm
moment that held II there. saw pass
nc In quick succession every subsequ
levent OF my life-then II slipped from
Ir1Q nj hstr@