Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-01-31

CID young. so aristocratic in man
ners, such dandy, too-and to call hin
Colonel" 1t was incomprehensible
At the first opportunity 1 spoke to Mis-
CatherwOod about 1t. She looked a
me qulzzically for a moment, ther
burst into a fit Of laughter.
I'm in earnest" said, explain the
mystery"
But you are In the South, now, you
know"
'1 did not know it was a question OF
geography" I rejoined, somewhat Sc
verely. Il supposed it was a question
of war, that colonels were soldiers, and
grOwnup men at that"
"Col. Whitmore would hardly enjoy
your remarks. l am afraid"
'Coloner-there it is again, My
dear Miss Catherwool, is he really a
colonel?'
"a sort of one, by brevet of South
ern politeness. down here, you know, a
man may become a colonel in several
ways. In the first place he Is called
colonel when he is a fins-looking old
gentleman with white hair, and q some
what threadbare Prince Albert coat.
But in the latter case he runs some
chance of being called general. On the
other hand, if he is young but Of good
family, fine appearance and manners
and has once commanded a local mill
tary company, he Is also designated as
colonel. Col. Whitmore is of the la tier
class, but hush. here he comes now"
where the colonel was to be seen
promenading towards the hotel with
Mrs. O'Hara, widow Of General
0'Hara. -pe0ple- -saidIT To this day
don't know whether Gen. O'Hara won
his spurs in battle or out Of It, but no
matter. As the colonel came up I
viewed him somewhat more closely in
the light of Miss Catherwood's infor-
nation, and really l could not help
laughing-he was such grotesque fig
ure He might have been 30 years old
not any older. but walked with the
pomposity of sedate old man who had
made great mark in the world He
was rather heavy set, and wore a flow
cred waistcoat. l judged he was near
sighted. for he walked with a lean to
one side, as il slightly out of balance,
twisting his neck for better vision. He
wore light flannel trousers turned up
from a pair of handsome brown shoes
and yachting cap.
He was so much interested in one of
his 'inimitable"-the word Is Mrs.
O'Hara's not mine-stOries that he
hardly noticed us on the veranda- But,
poor man, 1 don't think he could see us
very well. At any rate he did not halt
In his narrative. 81 insisted" he was
saying. that / was an American citi-
zen from the State Of Virginia, but the
police would not hear to me and was
hustled off to Jail, without opportunity
to prove my identity. However.
bribed the guard to carry my card with
the one word Help" on 1t to our am
bassador and that same night he came
over in person and secured my release.
The matter threatened to sever the
hitherto amicable relations existing be-
tween the two countries, but 1t was
finally settled by paying me an indem.
uity."
What an exciting experience, col
onel," said Mrs. O'Hara, solicitously.
80, a mere bagatelle, I assure you.
One who has Travelled as much as 1
have learns to put up with such trifling
annoyances.'
Il think 1 must go now," said Mrs.
O'Hara, rising. Il hope we may have
many more such pleasant walks" She
rustled away and the colonel, lifting his
cap. bowed low, at the same time lay
ing his disengaged hand upon his
heart
When Mrs. O'Hara went the colonel
turned to Miss Catherwood with a gra-
cious salutation. He looked at me
somewhat hesitatingly and 1 said,
turning to my companions: 81 don't
think I've had the pleasure of being
formally introduced to Col. Whit.
more"
Miss Catherwood smiled. Sol
Whitmore, allow me to present Mr..
Montgomery to you, one of those sus-
picious newspaper men from New
York"
Again the colonel made a sweeping
bow and then sat down by us.
"A fine day." said Miss CatherwOod.
1 shall always think the question was
addressed to me, but the colonel an
swered 1t.
"A superb day, day when the soul
of man expands and luxuriates In the
midst of natures charms. 1t reminds
me of days in the Riviera or in the
Taunton valley in Virginia. Upon my
estate one has"
But 1 interrupted. "A landowner.
colonel? 1 congratulate you"
In a mild way. Some paltry hun
dreds of acres in the garden Of Vir-
ginia, sir; but what is land compared
to power intellectual influence? Why.
sir. If I were not so engrossed by my
landed interests I should repair to
some metropolis and give my services
over to the press. The journalist Is
the man ofinfuence to-day, sir."
1 was on the point Of trying to say
to discourage him from this
notion when dinner Was announced,
and ~ laft tia veranda- The colonel
....Y.-