The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-25
A MAJOR AND
A MASHER.
The Gruff Old Soldier Conquered
In Spite Of Himself.
px SUSAN 4. ENplcoTT.

ECopyrigh4. 1909. by Associated Literary
Press.l
Major Jnmes Godfrey, o. s. A., re-
tired and hving in his own villa. with
wife and daughter. had several fads
and fancies to keep the family and the
neighbors busy. but one particular fad
was destined TO get him into Wouble
sooner or later.
He could read in his morning puper
with the greatest equanimity of muir
ders. robberies, assaults, thefts and
burnings at the stake. but when he
came across an item about a masher
he fired up at once and shouted out
that he woud give $500 out Of his own
pocket 10 see the scoundrel lynched OF
sent to prison for life.
His daughter used to look at him in
wonder when he broke out In this
fashion. while the wife was discreet.
ly silent. Perhaps the latter had fiirt
cd bit before giving her heart to the
major and he was remembering It in
his old age.
For three months Miss Kate had
wanted to attend an art school In the
city and receive instructions. During
those three months there happened tC
be an unusual number OF ''mashes" re
corded in the papers. and the father
would not bear of her even running Ut
to town to do a little shopping unless
he or the mother went along. HC
was as firm as the rock Of Gibraltar.
After a time. however, the record be
gan to peter out, and as he was pleas
cd with what his daughter had already
done with the brush and had hopes oi
her future the major finally gave hl,
consent II was only eight miles e
the city. and then a street car woult
take her right to the doors Of thC
school All she had to do. going ant
coming, as the father told her over anC
over. was TO keep her eyes cast dow
and her purse clutched tightly IN hel
hand.
Unknown to her, be took the SAINT
train TO the city with her for a week
and then, as nothing happened and hii
rheumatism got worse, be left her e
make her way alone.
Two weeks had passed when Mis-
Kate came home one afternoon In I
flutter, Her mother happened to b.
out. and she must tell some one. Sh'
therefore related TO the father tina
while on the street car en- route to tn,
depot and home some thief had snip
ped the chain of her purse and born'
the prize away. The prize held he
return ticket and a dime.
At the depot she found her tear
falling. but good Samaritan haC
come forward and handed her chang,
enough for the fare. She couldn't ex
actly say whether he was grand
father or a young man. homely or goo,
looking. He had spoken only a few
words and lifted his hat and retired
1t might have been n white hat or
black one-she could not tell Obey
ing her father. she had kept her eye
on the floor. and they were filled witt
tears besides
The major heard the story to In
end. and then he roared. The mat
who had taken pity on her financla
condition at the depot was n masher
of course. He had followed her hom
on the train. He would meet he
again and make the matter an excns
for addressing her
he was no grandfather but n younl
man and no doubt professiona
masher. Miss Kate should have re
pulsed him with scorn She shoult
have had him arrested. She shoult
have hired truck to bring her hom
or walked II all the trucks were busy
For a quarter Of an hour he scolde,
and growled and then wound up b,
saying that the art school busines
was at an end. She could attend n,
more. He would sit on the front We
randa with a shotgun across bis knees
and II that plotting masher evei
passed the house he should carr,
away buckshot. Tears were shed AM
loving appeals made. but the rock o
Gibraltar was right there.
Two weeks passed, and the mashe
did not appear. At least the major iii
not fire upon any of the young mel
driving or walking on the highway.
The daughter felt that the strange
had been actuated by the kindest INC
tives. He had spoken Just enough
not a word more. He had not offere,
his card. The fare was only 25 cents
but she felt ashamed that she coul,
not return 1t. Had opportunity offere,
for a second meeting she would hav
ins,s.. on aoing so.
!; Two waor- passed away. and thel
the mother went to the {. NY e 90
little shopping. She also came hcl
with a tale to tell She thought sh,
was telling 1t TO her daughter alone
but It so happened that the major wal
j1st outside the window and heart
every word She had finished he
shopping and reached the depot whei
she realized that she had spent all be
money. A good Samaritan came for
ward He smiled. raised his hat, and
that was all.
But Mrs Major Godfrey's eyes ha
not been Oiled with tears and cas-
down She had seen that he was
gentlemanly looking young man q
twenty-five and that be took the sam
train as she did and evidently live
farther down the line Then Mis-
Kate thought she remembered that |
the one instant she had raised he
eyes-quite inyoluntarily, you know
she had made out the same sort {
man
This decision had just been arrive
at when the voice OF the major wa
heard in the land. 1t was heard as
had nnf hann heard since he led