Okolona messenger., 1906-08-15
The Major.
By CHARLES EDMUND BARKER

lie was one Of the kind of people
who come naturally by nickname.
The major was one OF the most meth
odlcal OF men. Promptly at nine
O'Clock he came down fresh and pink
Lrom breakfast, read his mail In the
comfortable seclusion of the writing
room, dictated the answers to his let
ters to the hotel stenographer, lit a
fresh cigar at the cigar stand, and then
dull business cares were brushed aside
and nc repaired with sprightly steps
70 the bar, where he seated himself
In favorite corner and began the Sc
rious occupation Of the day by order
Ing "gent!eman's drink of whisky"
Other drinks followed at intervals
during the morning, varyed in strength
and frequency by the character and
numbers of the other visitors.
BY the hour of noon he had reached
stage of melloWness that developed
a rare play of rich and spicy wit
y 1t was beneath the manhood of the
major to approach the dining-room
while in his cups. When six o'clock
came, his dinner was served to him
at his particular table in the corner of
the bar, and the sitting, more often
than not, was continued until mid
night.
With all his registering habits, it
should not be hastily concluded that
the major led an entirely useless or
purposeless existence. Many were the
tales Of his generosity. When Dab"
the OLD head porter, was laid up with
rheumatism, 1t was the major who Wis
tied him in his little hovel OF home
on "The West Side," provided for his
family and paid his Doctors bill Then
every one knew of his kindly and sym
pathetic interest when Miss McFee, the
old-maid stenographer, took pneu-
monia and died.
And then the new stenographer
came.
She was a lump of a 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 1t
was an inspiration to see her personal
and complete interest in her patrons.
Miss Mitchell was her name, and It
was hard to keep from becoming con-
fdential with her at the very first in
terview
Almost from the first, the sharp OBJ
servers among the frequenters of the
Windsor, noticed that it took the ma
jor somewhat longer to dictate his
mail to Miss Mitchell than it had to
Miss McFee, and, moreover, he did not
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 a lady who was passing
through the lobby.
What an exquisite bunch of vio-
let's" size said.
every pretty" replied the major, fol-
lowing her glance, and then they went
on with their work
The next morning neighboring 4.or-
lists boy placed fine bunch of Eng
lish beauties in the little bud --ase
that had been Miss McFee's, on Miss
desk, and morning after
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 a very adj
verse opinion about the men who
drauk and were fast"
This speech had a marked effect
upon the major.
The very next day, after his business
routine, the major left a forwarding
address with the clerk on duty and
registered out. HIS absence was mo-
ticed Immediately In the bar, and in
uuiries were made of the clerk.
A month-two months passed, and
still the major had not returned to his
old corner in the Windsor bar. The
only 1aark of his long residence at the
hotel was the little bunch of fresh vio-
let's which daily adorned Miss Mitch
ellis desk.
One day, as unheralded as had been
his. departure, the major returned to
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,
but it was observed and marked with
much special notice that he did not
'ollow his old habit of turning toward \
he bar Immediately thereafter. In
stead of this, he stepped into a big
that stood at the door, and
was away in a trice. He became a
levotee OF this big machine. A large
portion Of the day he gave himself to
.uns and tours. Sometimes he car
fed friend or two with him on these
but they were rarely any
If his old friends of the bar.
At least once he asked Miss Mitch
il to ride with him, but she met the
proposal with a cheerful mo, thank
you," that left no room for doubt
bout her decision.
A morning came on which he at