The Ordeal of Colonel Johns, George H. Smith [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗
- Author: George H. Smith
Book online «The Ordeal of Colonel Johns, George H. Smith [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗». Author George H. Smith
"You came through the battle with only a slight wound and lived to a ripe old age surrounded by grandchildren," the Professor told him.
"Then I reckon I won't go back to Pennsylvania with the other boys. They figure that since their enlistments are up, it's time to get back to the farm and let them New Yorkers do some of their own fighting."
"Oh no! You weren't thinking of going back—of leaving the fighting?" Mrs. Johns-Hayes demanded.
The Colonel shifted his wad of tobacco and looked at the woman carefully as though he couldn't quite believe the evidence of his eyes. "No, ma'am, I don't reckon I am. I don't exactly look on it the same as the other boys do. I kind of feel like if we're ever going to have a country, it's worth fighting for."
Mrs. Johns-Hayes beamed, as did all the other officers of the Daughters. "Well, your faith and heroism have been rewarded, great-great-great-great-grandfather. I know you'll be proud to know that these ladies whom you see before you are the present guardians of the ideals that you fought for."
"Well, now, is that so, ma'am? Is that so?" Peter Johns looked around the convention hall in amazement.
"And that I, your descendant, have just been elected their President!"
"Well, what do you know about that! Maybe all the hard times and the danger we been going through is worth it if you folks still remember the way we felt about things."
"It's too bad," Decker whispered to MacCulloch, "that we can't let him see what the country is really like. I'm not sure these ladies are representative."
There was a worried look on the Professor's face. "That's impossible. The reintegration is good for only an hour or so. I hope nothing goes wrong here."
Mrs. Appleby-Simpkin took charge of the Colonel and ushered him to a seat of honor near the podium while the new President prepared to deliver her speech. Decker and the professor managed to obtain seats on either side of Johns just as Rebecca started. He managed to whisper to them, "I'm sure amazed! I'm sure amazed! All these nice old ladies feeling the same way about things as we do."
ecker had a premonition of trouble as Mrs. Hayes' words poured forth. He had hoped for a cut and dried acceptance speech with nothing but the usual patriotic platitudes, but, as she went on his worst fears were realized. Inspired by the presence of her ancestor, the woman was going into superlatives about the purposes and aims of the Patriot Daughters. She covered everything from the glories of her ancestry to the morals of the younger generation and women in politics.
Decker watched the Colonel's face, saw it changed from puzzlement to painful boredom as word after word floated from the battery of speakers overhead.
MacCulloch was whispering in Johns' ear in an attempt to draw his attention from the woman's booming voice but the man disregarded him. "Am I really responsible for that?" The Colonel jerked his head in the direction of Mrs. Johns-Hayes.
"I'm afraid, Colonel, that you're getting a distorted idea of what America is like in our time," Decker said. The Colonel didn't even turn to look at him. He was scowling at his Amazonian descendant as her screeching reached new heights.
"... and we hold that this is true! Our simple motto, as you all know, is: One race, one creed, one way of thinking!"
Colonel Johns began to squirm violently in his seat. The professor found it necessary to grasp him firmly by one arm while Decker held him by the other.
The president of the Patriot Daughters had finished her speech amidst thunderous applause and started to present suggestions for the formation of new committees, for the passing of new by-laws and for resolutions.
"A committee should be formed to see that the public parks are properly policed to prevent so-called 'spooners' from pursuing their immoral behaviour.
"A new by-law is needed," and here Mrs. Hayes glanced aside at Mrs. Tolman, "to prevent members being accepted unless their forebears were lieutenants or of higher rank in the glorious Continental army."
The Colonel was a strong man and both Decker and MacCulloch were older than he. With something between a snort and a roar he shook them loose and started for the exit.
"Oh my," MacCulloch moaned, "I was afraid that this whole thing was a mistake."
Colonel Johns had taken only two steps toward the door when he seemed to stagger. MacCulloch leaped to his side and caught him by the arm. There was an uproar in the auditorium as the Colonel faded slightly and the professor hurried him down the steps toward the Reintegrator.
"I'm afraid the Colonel isn't going to be with us much longer," the professor explained.
Thank goodness, Decker thought, I don't believe the poor man could have stood it much longer.
"I'm afraid the reintegration time of Colonel Johns is running out and he must return to his own time," the professor went on.
The grim-faced Colonel said nothing as MacCulloch led him up to the machine.
"Goodbye, great-great-great-great-grandfather," Mrs. Johns-Hayes called from the platform. "It has been so nice having you with us."
"Goodbye, Rebecca," the Colonel said as he began to fade away.
"Give my regards to great-great-great-great-grandmother."
The figure in the dirty, faded blue uniform was gone but Decker and MacCulloch heard him mutter just before he disappeared altogether, "I will, if I ever see her again!"
MacCulloch turned to stare at the platform and Decker turned to follow his gaze. A sudden dizziness overcame them both and there was a slight haze about the auditorium. When it cleared, the podium was empty. Mrs. Johns-Hayes was gone as if she had never been.
"My God!," the professor gasped. "I was afraid something like this might happen. He must have married the other girl."
"I suppose," Decker said quietly, "that we should consider ourselves lucky that he didn't decide to go back to Pennsylvania." His voice broke off and he wondered what he had been saying. He looked up at the speakers' platform trying to remember why he should think it strange that it was draped in Union Jacks and that Lady Appleby-Simpkin should be saying, "And now, my dears, I know that all of you, as Loyal Daughters of the British Empire will be happy to know...."
... THE END
End of Project Gutenberg's The Ordeal of Colonel Johns, by George H. Smith
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