The suburban citizen., 1901-03-02
TIE MAKING OF JONES.


Il am glad you are here, Jones" "
said the other, and he looked at the
tall, sunbroWned surgeon admiringly.
! This was not the Jones Of seven years
ago The old Jones had shown few
qualities to inspire respect, and this
was 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 leave here tonight, while
you'-he glanced significantly at the
low buildings about the parade ground
will probably remain for some time.
am Off on special duty l may return
here and l may not. 1t makes little
difference. anyway. Since mother
! died have nothing To-"
He turned away his head and his
/ shoulders 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" writ
ten appropriately in blue across its
face. Presently he recovered himself.
Il may as well tell you where l am
going" he said Possibly some Of my
old friends will inquire for me. You
can tell them, il you wish, that there
was a post in the South stricken by
| yellow fever, and that l went there
to do what / could-at my own re-
quest l would rather do it than not.
They will be so glad to see me, you
knoW-those poor chaps from whom
the others have run away. All, it is
worth while to have some one glad to
see you! You can't imagine what it
means to a fellow like me, who was
missed somehow when the qualities
of personal charm were distributed.
1t is so glorious when ones motives
are understood and appreciated"
Il suppose it is" said the other. He
was thinking Of the time when this
man was the butt Of the village fun,
and ne was conscious of a feeling of
shame for the part he had taken in
the cruelty. Jones'" said he, extend
ing his hand suddenly, forgive me-"
Forgive your Jones was quite as
tonished
Yes, fOr-for not knowing you. You
are worth in the sight of heaven more
than all the rest Of DIS put together"
"BOsh| said Jones. But his lips
qulvered again, and the clasp Of his
hand was exceedingly warm. 1T is
good of you to say so. 1t is very graft
flying to me to have one of my old
friends say chat, even if it is not true.
am no more worthy than l was
seven years ago"
1t was not reproof and yet It was.
The other hung his head. Don't let
lis talk of it, Jones'" he said; don't
let us speak Of those times"
very WELL" said Jones. And then,
with a suggestion of hunger in his
eyes he said goodbye.
Six months later the two men met
again, Jones bore the appearance of
one TO whom physical rest has been
long unknown, but there was a spar
ile in his eyes that the other had
never before seen there, and he car
ried his chin high, as one who is sat
isded with himself. He greeted the
other with something like effusiveness,
| and the other wondered and said so
| frankly, whether he was in the habit
OF assuming a new character twice
each year.
GOD is very good" said Jones, in
explanation Of the lightness of his
heart "Those people down there were
more glad to see me than l had ex-
pected. They actually showered me
with blesslngs-regularly honest bless
ings, that entered into my life and
lifted me up. / shall never look upon
yellow fever with horror agaln.
don't know when l have enjoyed my
! self as l have during the last six
months. There would. be little to
drcad-llttle OF sorrow-in the world
were it not for human ignorance. Pos
sibly it is better so. Man would be a
| wild, dangerous sort of animal If his
spirit were not subdued with occa-
s.onal hot irons, The keenest delight
I known TO us is that which comes with
calamity unrealized. Yes, yes, it is
well that we are ignorant"
You are philosopher Jones"
Don't call an old friend Names"
said Jones, grayely zone day down
/ there word came from out in the coun-
try that family-a whole family
was down with the fever. There was
no one 10 give them care. The mes
! seuger, q negro boy, asked II we could
not send some one to them, and It just
/ happened that | was 50 situated that
l could &c. 1t was too good an oppor-
,unity to lose. 1 knew they would be
! glad 10 sec me. II was worth the long
ride under the broiins sun and
through the choking dust to meet an
honest, heartfelt, feryent welcome
from some Of ones fellow creatures.
| IL -- was worth the go Whlle-and-
more.p