Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-02-06
The hove Of
Col. Pi1kington
BY q. H. TAhMADGE.
,ss*is:%%'sf'f%f'r'-'''s 's''''''s't''''
(Copyright, ISQl by Authors syndiestel

NOL. LEROY PILKINGTON, aged 60,
irongray of hair and beard, gruff
OF voice and kind of heart, paused one
afternoon in the course of stroll
upon the streets of a great western
city to crafty a whim. He plunged
his hand (he had but one) into his
pocket and drew forth a 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 undignitied
and unmi,itary dance, while his face
became distorted with emotion.
"The rose!" he cried. "The rose!
AT last! New York! Great heaven!'
Eyes" said the captain, taking him
gently by the arm; Eyes, yes, l know.
Come, now. People are stopping to
stare at us"
"Let 'em stare" vociferated the
colonel; sit is none of their business"
Captain" he said, in chOked voice,
"were you ever in lOve?"
The captain beheld a 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 affirma-
tive.
81 know, 1 know" the colonel went
on; "hang it! I've gone bit daft, l
think. Your dreams have all come
true, while mine-by George! 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 woman. l
have a reputation, ! believe, as a hater
of the sex. My mind has been made
up for 20 years to die bachelor L
have been reconciled. But now"
He looked about him, and perceiving
restaurant near by he made mo-
ton towards it with his hand.
"Let us go in there while tell you
about it." he suggested. II must tell
some one or shall blow up"
The captain was nothing loath, and
they entered the refreshment place,
calling for viands which they did not
eat.
81 fell in love with girl when was
very young man." the colonel began
"She was beautiful creature, winsome
as clover to a 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. l proposed to her.
She did not refuse me. ii am not GER
tain that 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" 30 let
time-a week, as l remember it-and
then pressed her for an answer Not
vet" 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 1 should have def
mite answer at the May day festival,
which was two weeks distant. IF
decide to marryyou, sir, she said, with
two dimples showing in her cheeks and
one in her chin, Il shall wear white
rose here" and she lifted her hand to
her head; but if 1 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
rec"
every WE'LL" said l, trife coldly'
for was exasperated, being naturally