Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-01-20

A
place, but my poor child did. jim Draka
have we seen George? Oh, God haye
mercy on him Poor, dear Georsel lie
| don't knew we are freezing and stAving
| in our oryn home No fnel-nc pood-no
no
SIZE stopped and bAst into tears. aud
in moment more George Loekland
leaped to his feet.
sWhoecalled me ?" he cried gazing wild
~ around.
Kats sprang up instinctively, but ere
she reached her husband she. stopped.
The man saw her, and for &whIiahe was
riyeted to the spot. Soon he gazed aiound
upon the scene about him, and gradually
a lock- of intelligence relieved the utter
blank of his hitherto pale and maniac face.
No fuel! no food he whispered, gaz-
ing upon his wife. Starving God have
mercy Who was it said those words 2
Where am I P
'Georgel George cried the wife, now
rushing forward and finging her arms
about her husbands neck, Don't you
know me 2
Kate No fire 2--there's fire.
'Ay, George Lockland,' said Jim Drake,
now starting up; this aren't your own
home. Don't ye know where ye are 2
Again the poor man gazed about him,
and as fearful shudder aonvulsad his
frame, and his hands involuntarily closed
over his eyes, knew that the truth had
burst upon him.
No fuel mo food ? he groaned.
%, sir, whispered the wife, catching
Drake oonvulsively by the ara, take us
AWAY from here. Do
But you're cold, Kate
No, no, no. It's only littae way to
your house. / shall die here ....
will you go home with me, George I.
Jifs asked of the husband
Anywhere gasped the poor san.
%, my God No fuel No food ! Kate !
Kate Are you hurt p .
But the vita could not speak, and as
soon as possible the fat old villager had
the lantern in readiness and half dozen
went to help him.
Come he said. Lead George, one of
you. You take Kate2-yous are stouter
tban land I'll take the little one.' This
last was spoken to the stout teamster, and
he took the wife In his arms as Though
she had been an infant.
1T is only few steps, said Drake, as
SLdCLGu W IL SSuu your IhhlGJu
back, Mike Fisgle.' .s
And with this the party left the bar
room. l went to the window and saw
| them wading off through the deep snow,
and when they were out of sight turned
away. The host came out and began to
explain matters; but was sick enough
already, and with an aching heart / left
the room. O
On the following morning came down
to breakfast later than usual, for | had
slept but little through the night. About
nine o'clock the driver CAGE in and told US
the stage would be ready in five minutes.
I went into the bar room for aSsigar. Jim
Drake had just cotss in to bring back the
old cloak they had wrapped around the
child the night before.
'What'll We have this morning, Jim ?
I heard the landlord ask as he sot out a
tum-bler.
Nothing returned the fat man, en-
phatically. I'm done, Mike Fingle, I'rh
done with the STUFF I'll drink no more of
it. wouldn't have come now, only poor
Lookland was up, and his sweet little wife
was hanging about his neck. They were
cryin' SO that couldn't stand it, and /
had to clear out. o, it's dreadful, Mike
Fingle. You don't know what them poor
things have suffered But they shan't
have my example any more
All ready shouted the driver. And 1
was forced to leave.
The wind had all gone down the air
was sharp and bracing, and slowly we
wallowed away from the village.
reached Buffalo two days later than L
had expected wnen L set out, and having
transacted my business there, went on
to Mississippi, and so on down to New
Orleans. Four years afterwards l had
occasion to trsvel that same road again
aud stopped in that same village to take
dinner. The bar was still open, but
Michael Fingle had gone away. walked
out after dinner, and soon came across a
neatly painted Office, over the door of
which l read: George Lockland, Attor-
ney and Counsellor at Law la less than
five minutes afterwards saw fat, good
natured man coming toward me, whom l
at ouce recognized as Jim Drake. AS he
came up l said:
Excuse me, sir, but l wish to know
how Mr.. Lockland is getting on now 7
Squire Locklsnd, you mean ? he an
swered with a proud look. you know
him, then ?
i did once said Z.
Then you ought to know him now. He
is toe first man in the county-the first
man, sir. Four years ago this next month
that's coming, he was Sust about as low as
a man can be. Did ye ever know the
Squire's wife p
4 have seen her. l replied. l saw Drake
did not recognise me.
But you should see her now All
twas great change for her. That
their child-that little girl coming this
way. Amt that a picture for YEP
looked and saw bright-eyed, sunny
haired girl of eight summers, coming
laughing and tripping along IKE little
fairy. She stopped as she came to where
we stood, and put up her arms to Uncle
4 Drake AZ she called the old man, and
while be was kissing her and chatting
with her, moved on. | looked baok on
that happy, beauteous face, Just to con
trast it with the pale, frightened features
| had seen on that dismal night, in the
, bar room. @