The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-06-05
As Through a Glass DarkIy.
BY E. BRUCE TOMBSTONE.

no nl OuXl d uldSS DdTklys
BY E. BRUCE TOMBSTONE.
There is letter for you from COL
i Kenyon" said my wife to me as I en-
tered the room with hungry mans keen
desire for his morning meal.
But you shan't have it till you have
eaten your breakfast" she went on.
Surely you know shouldn't allow a
letter from Kenyon to 60 unread a mo-
nent longer than can help" expostu-
lated.
"Ch, we'll, mere it is,'' she laughed, and
tossed the missive over to me. I tore it
| open eagerly. ::Dear jim it ran, "will
you come and spend few days with ME
at Ashley Court? Let no anticipation
Of an enjoyable visit or congenial society
prompt your decision. Besides myself,
my wife and little girl there is no one
in the house, and you will find me poor
enough company. AS you read these
words daresay you will smile and think
that l can never be that; but it is the
literal truth. l am wretched, and mis-.
erably worried. In short, l have some
thing weighing on my mind, and weighing
very heavily. want to tell you some
thing. feel must share my thoughts
with some one. Ny wife is no fit con-
fidante for what I have to say, and I
can trust you not to laugh at me for an
old woman with nerves when you hear
me. You, with whom have had many
rag in the good old Sandhurst days,
and who have been my comrade in stern
er work in the Soudan and Afghan cam
paigns, will know me better thai that
Yours ever, Kenyon"
I looked up from the letter in amaze
ment.
"Well, Owl, what are you blinking at ?"
cried my wife.
"Kenyon's letter is most strange"
answered. "He wants me to go and stay
with him. He declares he has something
on his mind, and, as far as I can make
out, wants me to act father confessor
for him."
"1ou will 60, suppose?"
Certainly. Directly have had break
fast l shall look up train and be off.
You might tell Chambers to put a few
things together for me, as you have fin
ished, DEAR"
My wife left the room on her errand,
and, hastily disposing of my eggs ami
coffee, proceeded to tackle bradshaw"
l found had just time to catch fast
train with but few stops, and was soon
on my way to Ashley Court.
Col. kenyon was on the platform
awaiting me, for I had wired the time of
my arrival.
When last I had seen him his for;l
face bore an unmistakable stamp of
health, and only a slight grayness in
mustache and hair showed that he had
passed the prime of life. Now was
shocked to find great change in him.
His face was deeply lined, his step less
firm, his hair grayer. He looked i'll and
worn-almost an old man.
"Jim, you can't think how glad l am
to see you!" were his first words.
"And to see you," was nv response
"But you look anything but fit, old man"
mo, and don't feel fit I am worried
beyond endurance"
ever since I got your letter I have
been wondering what you can have to
worry you. You have led a quiet life
since you left the army. You are de-
voted to your dear little girl, Eileen, and
her mother. You are not one to go dab
bling in stocks and shares and burning
your fingers. It is not the want of the
root of all evil that is worrying you,
is it?'
"No, Jim, it is not that. It is some
thing far less tangible!" Col. Kenyon
paused. "My heavens:" he burst out,
''what a nightmare the thing is to me.
Jim, when you hear what have to say,
you may be tempted to laugh, to ridi
Guile. implore you not to do SO, for
believe I should 60 mad"
Kenyon's outburst startled me by its
vehemence. It was plain that he was
highly overstrung. I endeavored to
soothe him.
"Dick," said earnestly, 'by the sacred
bond of our friendship swear that
will not outrage your confidence in such
a way"
We had been walking rapidly away
from the station, and now came in sight
of Ashley Court.
"Let me hear you directly we reach
the house," I went on. "The sooner you
share this burden with another the bet
ter"
Col. Kenyon nodded and led the way
to the billiard room, which we entered
from the garden. Going to a Tantafus
stand, he mixed himself a stiff peg and
| uIdllh IL O1l. L COOh Guc WHISKY ana SOFA
he handed me, and we sat down. For a
few minutes the colonel stared medita.
lively at the liquor in the bottom of his
glass. He seemed uncertain how to be-
gin. When he spoke it was with an
effort. 49,.
"1t is like this,'' he said. "Three nights
ago, after a quiet day and an evening
spent equally quietly at billiards witt,
a friend, went to bed and dreamed a
dream. Well, there is nothing very ex-
traordinary in that, nor was there in the
dream. It was, of course, fanciful, as
dreams are apt to be. I deamt that /
was one Of regiment of soldiers in an
encampment. I remember everything
quite clearly; as well as if had pho
tograph Of the scene before me. The uni
form of the soldiers was of q dust color.
with black facings. / cannot remember
the language they spoke They were
armed with modern rifles and equipment.
From their talk I gathered that some
sharp fighting was expected IN the course
Of the next few days. just now q sid