The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30
THE MAKING OF JONES.


tive and overmodest perhaps he attach
ed an undue Importance to certain emo
tions which in the breast of ordinary men
are transitory, but certain it is that
the Gays of his early manhood We're deep
~ tinged with blue; that he fell back
ward in tie fight for place, and permit
ted btte.n ness to enter his heart, although
it passed not his lips; that he loved sim
cerely and with a constancy unwaver-
ing.
Those who knew Jones in his early
days found in his source of merriment
Poor chap! Every shaft of cheap village
wit found him vulnerable, and when he
struck back, which was not often. he
did it with such gentleness and awk-
wardness that ne appeared quite 1idicu-
iOus. His love affair with Mary Brown
furnished amusement for two summers
and two winters. 1t was not much CT
love affair. Beyond the fact that he
was snitten by the girls charms which
Were many, both OF mind and body, it
was not Outwardly love affair at ALL
There are reasons for thinking that
had the girl not sickened he would have
asked her to marry him, and would have
been refused But the sickness came
while the words were yet uspoken, and
one day he was missed He had gone
who inquired. She was afraid that he
would never return. He was a good
boy, she added, her voice breaking slight
ly, but he had never seemed able to
get along with the people He was not
understood. She had hoped to see him
and Mary Brown married, but he had
spoken to the doctor about it. and the
doctor had discouraged him. 1t was rot
right the doctor said, for folks with cen
sumption to marry. She was glad he
had not proposed to the girl; it would
have made it so much more painful for
the girl, poor girl!
More than one young man left the viii
laSe that year to seek his fortune as
the saying is 1t was like other villages
"a place to be born In and to be reared
In; that is ALL 1t offered no encourage
ment to the ambitious Occasionally one
of Its sons, battered and bruised by the
outside world, came back, haltingly and
trembilngly, to die: but few returned to
live. Some of these young men went into
the. market places, some into the gold
nelds, some here and some there; but
two of them enlisted in the service of
their country. And it came to pass, not
strangely at all, but naturally, that they
met at an army post in the far West
and accosted each other fervently and
with joyousness. One of them bore the
red cross on his sleeve, and the other
touched 1t lightly with his finger when
the long handshake was over.
How did you come to get into it,
JOnes?' he asked
There was the lightest of unfntention-
al emphasis upon the pronoun, and
Jones sensitive lips quivered for an in
slant.
Il don't really know he replied; at
just happened so. When I left home
seven years ago I went to work in a
drug store at Davenport 1t was not a
very good job. The druggist laughed
when l applied for it. He said he wanted
a boy. Still he would rather have a
big chap like me if I would be satisfied
with the pay. L didn't promise to be
satisfied, but I took the place I was
tired of looking for work, and the little
money I had was getting alarmingly
less. That was the beginning. In two
years, by hard study, I was registered
pharmacist and getting fair wages, but
1 wasn't happy. l don't suppose I'll ever
be regularly happy, although I've been
nearer that way since 1 got into this
than l ever was before. I never knew
before what it was to have any ones
face light up with welcome when they
saw me coming. [ never knew before
what it was to have my fellow men cling
to me and depend on me; and It's sweet
SWEET
He drew long breath, as If inhaling
n pleasant frangrance, and there was a
faraway look in his eyes, akin rapture
II studied medicine after 1 received
my degree in pharmacy" he went on,
suddenly recalling himself. 'I covered
the course in two years, and got my per-
nit to practice; but somehow-the same
old reason, I suppOse-no one seemed to
care whether I praeticed or not. For a
few months 7 drifted around looking for
a location. OF course, I didn't find it.
Young doctors have to push in these days,
and l couldn't push. 1 wanted to settle
down, but l wouldn't settle in any place
where the people weren't glad to see me.
Finally chance took me in hand. 1 saw
placard at the door of a recruiting Of
ice, and l went in It was a matter Of
sheer impulse. There were vacancies in
the medical corps. My credentials were
good I enlisted"
Il am glad you are here, Jones'" said
the other, and he looked at the tall,
sunbrowned surgeon admiringly This
was not Jones of seven years ago. The
old Jones had shown few qualities to
inspire respect, and this was a man who
had proved himself worthy of many
things. He was not to be laughed at
now.
Il am glad to have seen you,'' said
Jones, but l leave here tonight. While
you''-he glanced significantly at the low
buildings about the parade ground-"wiil
probably remain for some time. I am
off on special duty. I may return here
and may not. 1t makes little difference
anyway. Since mother died 1 have moth
ing to-
He turned away his head and his shout
ders shook His mother had died In
the first month Of his absence He had
not learned of her death until his letter,
written after securing work in the drug
store, had been returned to him with the
word deceased" written appropriately
In blue across its face. Presently he re-
covered himself.
i may as well tell you where T am
going" he said Possibly some of NV
old friends viii inquire for me. You can
tell them, if you wish, that there was
post in the South stricken by yellow
fever, and that I went thereto do what
] could-at my own request would
rather do it than not They will be So
glad to see me, you know-these Door
chaps from whom the others have run
away. All, it is worth while to have
some one glad to see you! You can'+
imagine what it means to a fellow like
me, who was missed somehow when tha
qualities of personal charm were dis
rlbuted. 1t IS so glorious when ones
motives are understood and aDprecia ted -
J suppose it is" said the other He
was thinking OF the time when this man
was the butt of the village fun, and he
was conscious of feeling of shame
for the part he had taken in the cruelty.
Jones'" said he, extending his hand sud
denly, forgive me-
Forgive you? Jones was quite as
tOnishcd
Eyes for-for not knowing you. You
are worth, in the sight of heaven, more
than all the rest of US put together
'Boshl' said Jones. But his lips quiv-.
cred again, and the clasp of his hand
was exceedingly warm 'It is good of