Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-02-01
The hove Of
Col. Pi1kington
BY q. H. THnMHDGE.
roL. LEROY pILKINGToN, aged Ct

OF voice and kind of heart, paused one
afternoon in the course of stroll
upon the streets of great western
city to crafty within. lie plunged
Alis hand Che had but one) into his
pocket and drew forth nickel,
which he inserted in the slot Of pic
ture machine. After which he put
his eyes to the holes provided for the
purpose, and saw things.
Capt Dilforth, who was with him at
the time, states that for an instant
he thought the colonePs intellect had
collapsed, for the colonel, after brief
period of attention to the scene the
nickel had revealed to his gaze, gave
utterance to an exclamation indicative
of shock, Immediately succeeding
which he executed most undignified
and unmiItary dance, while his face
became distorted with emotion.
"The rosel" he cried. 1.-THE rosel
At lastl New York! Great heayen!"
"Yes,p said the captain, taking him
gently by the arm; yes, yes, ! know.
Come, now. People are stopping to
stare at us"
'Let 'em stare" voeiferated the
colonel; sit is none of their business
captain" he said, in a choked voice,
"were you ever in love?"
The captain beheld mental image Of
a certain dwelling, in which he was
wont to associate with numerous col
lection of family and family's family,
and replied promptly in the atiirma-
tive.
81 know, / know" the colonel went
on; ''hang It'll I've gone bit daft, |
think. Your dreams have all come
true, while mine--by Georgel I'm not
sure but mine are coming true also.
I've never married, captain. You may
have observed that l have retreated
in good order at the first suggestion
of an engagement with a woman. |
have reputation, believe, as a hater
of the sex. My mind has been made
up for 20 years to die q bachelor. |
have been reconciled. But now"
He looked about him, and perceiying
restaurant near by he made mo-
ton towards it with his hand.
LET us go in there while / tell you
dOohA II. ht 9HS N9eNS. - fN-N - =
some one or / shall blow up"
The captain was nothing loath, and
they entered the refreshment place,
calling for yiands which they did not
eat.
Il fell in love with girl when / was
a very young man." the colonel began.
"She was beautiful creature, winsome
as clover to fiery colt, such as | was
then, but, like the rest of the sex, / pre-
sumo, in disposition. She was mettle-
some and inclined to shy at the pros
pect of restraint. | proposed to her
She did not refuse me. II am not GER
tain that i like you well enough for
that" she said, placing the most adora-
BILE emphasis upon the final word. Let
me wait and think it over" So let
her wait and think it over for long
time-a week, as l remember it--and
then pressed her for an answer. Not
yet" she said; dear me, I've not had
half time enough" And three times
more this happened, but the last time
was slightly different from the Others
for she told me that she had nearly
decided and that l should have def
mite answer at the May day festival
which was two weeks distant. "If
decide to marry you, sir" she said, with
two dimples showing in her cheeks and
one in her chin, 81 shall wear a white
rose here" and she lifted her hand to
her head; but il | decide not to marry
YOU" and the expression of her face
changed to one of gloom, and tears
came to her eyes, 1.-The rose Will be
red
very WELL" said l, trifle coldly
for was eXasperated, being naturally
short of temper, as you know, and did
not take kindly to a further postpone
ment. In fact, l had resolved that in
case she refused me an answer on this
particular instance, would drop the
matter entirely, pain or no pain, and
go away 10 the war and get shot full
of holes. was rather foolish"
sYou were" assented the captain
''My wife acted in much the same man.
ner towards me, and / simply took her
by storm. 1t required more courage
than was required TO lead the old troop
into action at Shiloh; but l did it
and, by Jove, sir, it was precisely what
she wanted me to do"
"The colonel groaned. II see my mis-
take" he said. II saw it long ago
/ should have known by the dimp,e.
had my perspicacity not been so com.
pletely outweighed by my jackassity
But instead Of doing what / should
have done, / went off 10 the war V~ss4h
out seeing her again. did not attent
the May day festival. imagined that
i was a devil Of a fellow, which was
true in sense; and for months / KEEP
my neck stiff and nursed my idiotiC
pride, or whatever it was, with con
siderable satisfaction. / drew fancifu
pictures of the scene which would en-
sue upon my return to the old town
/ saw myself, courteously dignified
paying the girl back in her own coin;
and taking her at last, condescending