The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-02-25

y
the men and reviling of the women, I
was marched off towards the village inn,
where q conveyance to take me, as they
said, "back to my CELL" was to be pro-
cured. On nay way, the policemen told
me that was not only charged with evad-
ing my sentence by running away, but
also with chjld-steo}ing, and gave me to
understand that "the gentleman whose
purse and papers I had last night stolen !"
had given notice at the Ivy Bridge sta
tion of my whereabouts, and that they
were on the way to Dame Foreman's cot
tage to apprehend me- when l had pre-
sented myself, and saved them the trouble.
1t was in vain / assured them that was
the gentleman robbed, and their inform
ant the escaped convict; equally in vain
that 1 told them the history of my finding
the child. No doubt" they said jeer-
ing!y; ''those fine clothes and that crop
Iped head looked like it. All escaped con-
victs and other malefactors, when appre-
hended, trumped mp some story to get off,
and they were not going to let me escape
for any such nonsense" | then gave my
name, and demanded to be taken before
the next magistrate, saying that if they
did not do so, l would proceed against
them the moment | was released Wheth-
Ter it was that they saw reason from my
words and manner to doubt whether |
really was the malefactor l appeared l
cannot tell, but on this strong remoustrance
they agreed that l should be taken to the
squire's and examined before they pro-
ceeded further. In this resolution they
were strengthened by the arrival of my
little Kitty and her grateful young mother,
who having heard her little ones account
of the matter, came to thank me for my
5 kindness to the .:3or baby. | think, In
} deed, that KittS's warm demonstrations of
affection did more to convince the men OF
Office that was not the culprit they had
} conceived me to be, than all my own as
t sertions and dissentient remonstrances put
t together. -'-
Matters had now begun to improve.
e My guardians assumed o more civil tone;
and the people of the house, who had
heard my story, cheered me by the assur-
j ance that "the squire twas a ''cute man, y
: and just, and that lfgad soon see irow mat
8 ters stood; and in compliance with my re-
S quest [ was at once marched up to the
: hall, followed by the beadle and half the
II parish; and within half an hour from my
e entering the village, 1 stood in the little
If justice-room of the squire, waiting unit
: he should be at leisure to examine me
d 1t will well be believed that my appear
e ance was not of the most prepossessine
n character. l was thin and gaunt from
: the effects of illness, weary and languiG
i from the effects Of the fatigue I had gon,
J through in the last twenty-four hours. NJ
hair had all been cut off during my fever
IS which gave me the true convict look;
O wore the prison garb and had neithe
IS shoes nor stockings; moreover, | was dir
n ty and grim-looking enough to represen
d any amount of scounGrelship you please
h Such was my appearance, when weH
J. dressed, rather leanish man of middle age
d followed by alivery-servantb bearing writin!
,e materials, entered the room. He walket
is towards the table with manner of Judi
le cial severity, took his seat, and withou
,r more than cursory glance at me, receiv
ii ed the poicemen's information of the ma
-e ture of the business, which was given il
of few words. He then looked up at me
( his eye wandered over my person, the
r fixed on my countenance, whilst strang
ID Pickering smile rose on his lip. Then h
ID looked more earnestly, jumped up from hi
1t chair with hearty laugh and outstretche
V. hand, exclaiming: CDR Brightman! Ho,
re dye do, my good fellow? Why, doctor
at who would ever have thought to see go
in in such a pickle! Tou the very ape {
lie FORM in runaway convict's garb! Como
sit down, my friend; you must dine wit
70 me to-day, and we'll soon trim you up
Is little. III be answerable for your rama
re scay, my good fellow said he to the pc
, lice. "He's no convict but my goo
in friend DR.. Brightman, of -, who help
a ed me out of deaths clutches last year
i and glad am l to help him out of your
] now," added he with good -humore
laugh.
70 "Come, my friends" said, "you hav
=. behaved eivilly, and done no more tha
10 your duty; so here's little recompens
+ for you out of the purse Of the gentiema
" whom l robbed;" and I gave them SOY
,s ereign, which sent them away in sufficient
of ly good humor with me, though vowin
IS vengeance on the traitorous vagabond VII
.. had put them on such false scent.
T. "But now come, DOCTOR" said my friend
re "come TO my dressing-room, and let N
al fit you out little before | present you
s. Lady Boughton and my daughters Bu
g how came you not to recognize me?"
ID why, sir John,o replied, "circum
lie stances have changed your appearance q
g much as my own Remember, the las
lc time | saw you, you were pale sick man
d, in night-cap and dressing gown, just clear
e. ing out of the smallpox; it was no won
S der that I did not know you; and the
] called you "the squire" SO that did no
10 help me-"
of "'Iis an i'll wind that blows no6od