A Voice From Old Kentucky

"So you carne back, after all, ('cilonel ? When I saw you in Paris two years ago you told me Paris was your horae. You Baid that it fit vou liko an oíd glove ; that the xulevards were made for you, and tlhat you never expected to come over to this side of the pond again. How come you to dhange your mind ?" "I got homestek." "Homesdck ? Homesiek ? WeU, that 8 gyood. Llke a schoolgirl, en ? Wlmt lo you think of that, gentlemn ? He, who han't had a home for thirty yeare- who has been roamng tihe earth ever since Lee surrendered. Touch the button, Colonel. Tlie drinks are on you." "Witfh pleasure, Judge, but pardon me if I fail to underetand the cause of your merriment. As the doctor says, It has been many years since I hiave known a home ; but - don't keep the boy waiting'. A little Iiourlon for me. Yes, maaiy years, gentlemen, many, many years. Rut I wns íomesick, just the same. And I confess that the incident that sent me beek will probably nppear trivial and absurd to you. I nuide up my mind to make Paris my home. For a wanderer like me it scemed about the proper haven. I like its vcays. ín fact, I like everything about Paris- except its taste In tlie matter of drinks. Bat you don't have to drink ubsinthe uniese you care to, and I thought I was at last eatisfied to settle down. I feit so tlíoroughly estoblished thnt I began to think of dolng some work, and actually Udd a little writlng. This went on for a year or more, and [ was íully determinen! to stay rig-ht there, like an old huil on the beach, uut il the timbers feil apart. "At last, some way ot other, bowever, I legan to feel a etrong feeling of lunrest. I got nervous. I began to worry about my liver. I consulted a doctor. He tOie idiot, advised me to quit smoking, and I advised him to go to that place where people are supposed to smoke forever. I decided tïuat I would run down to Rome, and &ee the gay old town of diirty begigars bid farewell to meat. It was just in time for the carniral, so to Rome I went. I did not enjoy myself. I met many people I knew, but none for whom I caretl. It's hard for a man to make merry all alon. I wondered who I had ever Been in the carnival before. I ha,d a personal grievance ngainst everybody wlio was enjoying himself. ■Vhen sone one threw a handful of confetti over me I swore. I made up my mind to etay it out, however. I had a good window on the Corso, near the Piazza del Poloio, and there was no uso running away. Tlie blue devils would have followed tne. You can imagine me sitting there all alone, biting a cigar and frowning down on tho g'ay crowd in the Corsa. Littlc nirls potated me out and threw confetti at me iiow and bhen, wlien I (lid mi hiuiïf. .said BometlhlBg abont the evil eye and pot away. The Doise made my bead ache. Some friends called t me (rom peaedng carriagee, and I almost forgot to return thelr eialutaüoo. But all of a suddeo my cars cauugbt a wliiif iA au old nielody. At first íf.ntlennai, I was not Bure. I tliouKlit the tuno was running Hirouiili my mind. But some one is siii-i'l.v BingtBg. Abovu all llie I could catch the song and the Mmfclrng m' banjos away down the Btreet. Aery faint, but coming nearer : Weep no mo', my Uwly, woep no mo' t o-ilay. For I'll tinii ome k -mg ob be old Kaintucky home, Ob de ole Kadntucky home so far away. "Do.-tor, I áoa'i know jut what vou wuiilil llave made mt oí a study f niy ln-ain when I cair-cht tEose unvii", Ihii I do know tiiat it dartod ''.iTiricity tbrowgb every nerve in my hmiy. The sinircr.s were coming my w.iy -four gocxi, Mrcmg American country boys, I'll bet. Thcy were in in open earrlage and wre blackened uip te kook llk darkles. AVhcn thcy got ander my wtadow I Jumped up and fravc a r'lx'l veil that Btaook t X'atirai'. Tlicy limkcil uj), laufihté, and kcpt on Btojflng. I stnained my car as tlicy went down the Corso, and cauirlit t lic last echo, hanir it. gentlemen, therc was a lnmp In my tlirnat a.s Be your fist. I sailn lor New Vork tho next wek, and tlirce weeks later I took a drink in I.ouisville." -