Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-12-02
THE MAJORS VISIT

to New York.
The major was tall and spare, with
refined face and aristocratic bearing.
He did not look any too well nourish-
ed. His old fashioned, threadbare
clothing was scrupuously neat He
looked what he was. southern gen.
tleman who had seen better days.
The major stood hestatingly on the
corner of Cortland street and Broad
way. He really did not know what to
do nor where to 60. He would rather
have faced whole regiment of Yam
kee troops than this madding crowd
that flowed past him. humping and JOS
Ting him at every step.
He began to regret that he had come.
He thought of his home and wished he
We're there.
At this hour how quiet and peaceful
it was!
He could sec the room, with its
quaint furniture. the wreck of the old
manor house grandeur; the tea table.
with the family silver sparkling in the
freight; the big. sleepy cat doing on
the silk cushions; his sister. Miss Ma
tilda. plying her shining knitting nee
dies. He knew that at this moment
she was thinking Of him and wonder
ing where he was.
Why had he left that restful haven
for this babel, this atrocious place.
where no one knew or cared about
him. where people knocked each other
like straws out of their path? He was
too old to come. He should have
known better.
All. why? In his poor. tired old
heart the major knew that hope-that
ignis fatuus-had beckoned him; that
faint hope that his old friend, Colonel
Randolph Castleton. that great finan-
cier and promoter would do something
to aid him In his fast failing fortunes.
He had counted on that old comrade-
ship-counted in vain.
Disappointed, forlorn. heartbroken
almost, the major wandered on. grow
lab uOIC 0uLcu. I1c tOON
the wrong cars, the wrong streets.
Night had set In when the timid old
wayfarer, worn out and on the verge
of collapse, sat down on a doorstep
west of Sixth avenue. in a decidedly
unsavory part Of the town. his car
petbag between his knees and his ach-
ing head in his hands.
HE tbo,1nhfc ,h1o<7 Ho Fonoio1
himself away in the south. He saw
himself walking up the path between
the roses and hollyhocks to his mod
est door. 1t was Saturday night.
Tomorrow he must go to church with
Miss Matilda. He heard the bells now;
saw himself, shaver. immaculate. 60
ing to the village church. carrying the
prayer book his father had carried be-
fore him.
All, why was he not there-at home,
ut home?
His head sank lower-lower.
The major awakened with a start.
His eyes wandered languidly from one
object to another in the decent, hum
Die TOOlu
The bed, the chairs, the bureau came
under scrutiny. and then-the major
gave great start and, raising himself
on one elbow, stared intently at one
object on the table.
1t was picture Of himself when he
was Il boy.
AS the major stared open mouthed
| thn
woolly head, almost as white as the
majors own, was thrust cautiously in.
Then n bent form followed the head.
"Marse Bob" said a voice at whose
sound the major started violently
"Marse Bob, is yoh all eber gwine to
wake up, sab? At yoh ole tricks-ki-
yi-yessah. at yoh ole tricks-sleep all
day, sah."
The speaker came slowly toward the
bed. The major looked steadily at
him for moment, then held out his
arms.
you black rascalw was all he said.
The black man flung himself into the
majors embrace. II Dress Cord" he
sobbed, dat done fin yoh sittin' dar
alone on dem steps. You wuz clean
tuckered out, sab. jest picked yoh
up an brunged yoh ter dis yeah miz-
Fable room OBJ min. Bress Cord. Marse
Bobw
"Sam! Sam! Is this really you"
gasped the major.
"Yessah, Marse Bob, deed it's me,
sab. yoh ole Sam-yoh ole black ras-
cal, sab. An now. sab, yoh all mus
git up an dress quick. sab. rs got
yoh breakfas' all ready an yoh close
laid out an brushed, an yoh all mus
hurry, sab, for de cahhadge'll be heah
directly. Marse Bob"
Carriage. you old black scamp"
roared the major. do you keep
carriage, too, Sam? I'll warrant you.
Just like the impertinence Of niggers."
mo- sah." Sam chuckled; mo. sab,
doan' keep no cahhadge. Marse Bob.
But yoh friend. Kunnel Castleton. do.
an he's comm heah dis mawnin' ter
take yoh to his fine house, sah."
How in the deuce did he know
was here, Sam?" asked the major.
| trembling with excitement.
"'Deed. Marse Bob. l went an de-