The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-01-25
THE MAJORS VISIT

he MAJOK - NASA
The major was confused when he
turned into Broadway The roar OF the
traffic The endless rush OF the feverish
crowd. worried and alarmed him.
he had hoped that his ola friend
Colonel Castleton formerly OF Ken
lucky. would have met him On Jersey
city Tie had taken paius 70 wri,,
him warnins hin % Ms proposed VISIT
20 New York
The major was tail aud pare. with
refined face anu nristocratic bearing
TIE ala not look any TOO We'll nourIsh-
ga. HIS Old fashioned, threadbare
clothing was serupuoasly neat Ire
looked what ha was. d southern gem
tleman who had seen better Gays
The major stood hesltatlngly On the
corner 81 Cortland street mid Broad
way. IIn really did not know what 20
10 nor whore % 50. lie would rather
have faced whole regiment ~ Yam
kee troops than this maddlug crowd
that flowed past him humping aud jos
ling bin az cycry step
He began 10 regret that he had come.
lie thought OF bis home ana wished he
were there.
AT this hour how quiet ana peaceful
It vast
He could see the room. with its
quaint furniture. the wreck OF the old
manor house grandeur; the tea table.
with tie family silver sparkling IN the
freight; the big. sleepy cat doing on
the SILK cushions; his sister. Miss Ma
tllda. plying her shining knitting nee
dies. He knew that az 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? lie was
too old To come lie 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 falling fortunes
He had counted on that old comrade-
ship-comted IN vain.
Disappointed. forlorn. henrthrolSen
almost, the major wandered on. grow.
ing continually more dazed. lie took
the wrong cars, the wrong streets.
Night had set In when the tlmid old
wayfarcr. worn out and on the verge
OF collapse, sat down on doorstep
west Of Sixth avenue. IN decidedly
unsavory part Of the town, his car
petbag between his knees and his ach-
ing head in his hands.
His thoughts rambled. lie fancled
himself away in the south lie saw
himself walking up the path between
the roses and hollyhocks 20 his mod
est door. II was Saturday night
Tomorrow he must go TO church with
Miss Matilda. He heard the bells now;
saw himself. shaven, immaculate, go
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 start.
His eyes wandered languidly from one
object 10 another In the decent. hum
BILE room
The bed the chairs. the bureau came
under scrutiny. and then-the major
gave a great start and, raising himself
on one elbow. stared intently at one
object on the table.
II was a picture OF himself when he
was boy.
As the major stared open mouthed
the door was softly opened, and a
woolly head. almost as white as the
majors own, was thrust cautiously In.
Then bent form followed the head.
"Marse Bob said a voice at whose
sound the major started violently