Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-03-12
THE TRAVELLERS STORY.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

dred and ninety nine, relative Of mine
came limping down, on foot, TO this town
of Chatham. l call it this town, because
if anybody present knows to nicely
where Rochester ends and Chatham be-
gins, it is more than I DO. He was a
poor traveller, with not farthing in his
pocket. He sat by the fire in this very
room, and he slept one night in a bed that
will be occupied by some one here.
My relative came down to Chatham
TO enlist. in cavalry regiment, if a cav
airy regiment would have him if not,
to take King Georges shilling from any
corporal or sergeant who would put
bunch of ribbons in his hat. His object
was to get shot but he thought he might
a; we'll ride to death as be at the trouble
walking.
Ny relatives christian name was Rich
li. out he was better known as Dick.
lie dropped his own sirname on the road
-ge0, and took up that Of Doubledick.
Il vas passed as Richard DoubIedick
= twenty two +; height. five foot ten !;
4tiye place, Exmouth which he had
never been near in his life. There was
CD cavalry in Chatham when he limped
over the bridge here with half a shoe to
Lis dusty foot, so he enlisted into a regi-
uent Of the line, and was glad to get
drunk and forget all about it.
You are to know that this relative Of
niue had gone wrong and run Wild
His heart was in the right place, but it
was sealed up. He had been bethroth-
ed to a good and beautiful girl whom he
had loved better than she-or perhaps
even he-beIieved; but in an evil hour,
he had given her cause to say to him,
solemuly, Richard, 1 viii never marry
any other man. I will live single for
your sake, but Mary MarshaIrs lips
(her name was Mary MarzhaID never
address another word to you on earlh.-
90, Richard. Heaven forgive you >
This finished him. This brought him
down to Chatham. This made him P ri
yate Richard Doubledick. deep deter
minatiOn 10 be shot.
There was not more dissipated and
reckless soldier in Chatham barracks, in
the year one thousand seven hundred
aaL ni1ety nine, than Private Richard
Dou5l5d.ck. He associated with the
dregs Of every regiment, he was as seldom
so5er - he could be, and was constantly
und4g punishment. It became clear to
the whole barracks that Private Rich
ari DoubIedick would very soon be fog
ged.
Now, the Captain of Richard Double
dicks company was a young gentleman,
p: above five years his senior, whose
Bye had an expression in them which
af5cetd Private Richard Doubledick in a
ery remarkable way. They were bright
handsome, dark eyes-what are called
laughing eyes, generally, and, when seri
cus, rather steady and severe-but
fhey were the only eyes now left in hi
narrowed world that Private Richard
II DoubIedick could not stand. UnabasheC
4 by evil report and punishment, defan
NJ of everything else and everybody else
n be had but to know that those eye
II l0oked at him for a moment, and he feI
+ ashamed. . He could not so much as 50
F lutte Captain Taunton ia the street, Hk
1 any other officer. He was reproache,
{ and confused-troubIed by the mere pos
II sibiIity Of the captains looking at hin
4 Ia his worst moments he would Tathe
turn back and 60 any distance out Of hi
way, than to encounter those two hand
some, dark, bright eyes.
One day, when Private Richard Dou
Il b-sdi-k came out Of the Black HoIc
+ where lie had been passing the last eight
'--i@L ~ tlDuLsg dL4u III WAtLu LELACdb u
II s2ent a good deal of his time, he was o.
II darsd to betake himself to Captain Tau1
II pos quarters. In the stale and squaIi
II eiate Of 4 man just out Of the Black HoIt
he had less fancy than ever for bein
se=n by the captain but, he was not :
pad yet as to dizObey orders, and cor
e4lently went up to the terrace over
o'Ilng the parade ground, where the O
ee's quarters were, twisting and break
ng Ia ais hands, Is he went along, a b
straw that had formed the decorativ
lfni-ure Of the Black Hole.
Come inr cried the Captain, whe
knocked with his knuckIes at the doc
H7ate Richard DoubIedick pulled 0
Is cap took a stride foreward and fe
.'y conscious that he stood in the ligE
The dark bright eyes
There vas silent pause. Priyat
-laa9d Doubledick had pat the stra