The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-07-26
The Major.
BY CHARLES EDMUND BARKER

no oome naturally by a nickname
Tue major was one of the NJ. ~,
ouical Oh men. Promptly -, -
CLOCK he came down fresh and ni ,
s nons pleaktast, read his mail in tba
Nolliortable seclsion of the wri.,no
Ioom' dictated the answers 70 b,s iat
'ers 10 the hotel stenograpbar u, =.
. ,oSn cigar ut the cigar stand, and Then
uuii o"slness cares were brushed asida
anu ne repaired with sprightlv Stans
70 the par. where he seated b,nsats
VI d IaVorite corner and began the 90
llous occupation of the dav NV ODD
,ng geFt!eman's drink of WHISKY -
o'nsr urinks followed at intervals
uuring the morning, varyed in strenetb
shu frequency by the character and
NUMBERS of the other visitors
BY the hour of noon he had reacbsd
stage of mellowness that develoned
rare play OF rich and spicy wit
IL was beneath the manhood NJ tho
ma!or 10 approach the dining-room
~hiie IN his cups When six o'cloc,,
came, his dinner was served to him
Al MS particular table in the corner az
the par, and the sitting. more often
IMAM not, was continued until mid
night.
with all his registering habits. If
should not be hastily concluded that
the major led an entirely useless or
purposeless existence. Many were the
taies CT MS generosity, When Dab -
the ola head porter, was laid I'D with
rheumatism, it was the major who WIS.,
ited MIN in his little hovel of a home
on The West Side" provided for his
tamlly and paid his Doctors bill. Then
every one knew of his kindly and sym.
pathetic interest when Miss McFee. the
old-maid stenographer, took pseu-
monia and died.
And then the new stenographer
came
She was a lump of girl as round
as pigeon, with frank, brown eyes
that seemed to challenge respect and
chivalry by their very innocence. Her
voice was soft and respectful, and IL
was an inspiration to see her personal
and complete interest in her patrons
Miss Mitchell was her name, and il
was hard to keep from becoming con-
fidential with her at the very first in
terview.
Almost from the first, the sharp OBJ
nta,e ,f l.,
Windsor, noticed that it took the ma
tor somewhat longer to dictate his
mail to Miss Mitchell than 1t had to
Miss McFee, and, moreover, he did moi
hurry away to the bar quite SO precipi-
lately.
One day in the midst of the letters
Miss Mitchell looked up for an in.
slant at lady who was passing
through the lobby.
What an exquisite bunch of vic.
let's" size said.
Very pretty" replied the major, fol
lowing her glance, and then they wen
on with their work.
The next morning neighboring or
lists Coy placed fine bunch of Eng
lish beauties in the little bud -ast
that had been Miss McFees, on Miss
Mitchell's desk, and morning after
morning this was repeated.
After the morning dictation during
one of the little chats which the ma
jor had come to allow himself, Miss
Mitchell, one day expressed very ad
verse opinion about the men who
drank and were fast"
This speech had marked effect
upon the major.
The very next day, after his bushes:
routine, the major left forwarding
address with the clerk on duty ant
registered out. His absence was no
ticed Immediately in the bar, and in
ouiries were made of the clerk.
A month-two months passed, ant
still the major had not returned to his
old corner in the Windsor bar. The
only ozark of his long residence at the
hotel was the little bunch of fresh VIC
let's which daily adorned Miss Mitch
ellis desk,
One day, as unheralded as had beer
his departure, the major returned &c
the Windsor. His complexion was
whittier and his eyes were clearer, 9th
erwise he was the same old major
careless. lively and jovial.
He dictated his letters to MISS
Mitchell as usual the next morning
hut it was observed and marked VIII
much special notice that he did moi
follow his old habit of turning TOWARD
the Gar Immediately thereafter In
stead of this, he stepped into DIE
automobile that stood at the door, ano
was away in a trice, He became
devotee of this big machine. A large
nortlon of the day he gave himself &c
-, and tours. Sometimes he car