Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-29
- AL
From the July Overland.

From the July Overland
s41?'' ...
<eThat's me, sir.
sfLet me see your arm. .
@'It's all right, sir. s-.a
"All right, is it,, In my humble
opinion it's about as wrong as wrong
can be. a......
All looked down at the bruised flesh
agla broken bones he had affirmed to
be sail right with half contemptu-
Gus smile, and then, resigning himself
TO the Inevitable, laid quietly watching
the white hands of the young doctor as
he prepared splints, 'bandages, etc., and
commenced the work of setting the
bone, nov rendered doubly difficult by
the swe- ! the bruised flesh.
The lghJ OF the setting sun stole into
the room, Illuminating with sudden
glory the bare walls and comfortless
surroundings, and throwing into strong
relief the two figures which gave life to
the picture. The doctors frank, good
hundred face, slight easy figure and
air OF careless good breeding could no
have been out of place under any cir
cumstaDces; but the other seemed
strangely in unison with, and yet in
contradiction to, his surroundings.
His muscular frame might have served
as model for strength and beauty-a
Hercules III a prison dress His
hands, roughened and hardened by toll,
had been as tender and well-shaped as
the doctors own. His face, bronzed
by exposure to all weathers, was still
high-bred and refned-aquiline feat
ures, clear, brave eyes, and above all,
the close cropped hair Of a convict. He
had that air Of reserve, totally distinct
from rudeness, which only well-Dreed
people possess, and which impresses
even the most vulgar and obtuse.
Though the sensitive mouth betrayed
his delicate, nervous organization, moth
ing could be more stoical than the com
posure with which he bore the torture
he was suffering.
Why Oh earth, man, don't you say
something, or cry out ?" exclaimed the
doctor, half impatiently.
Noticing the gathering whiteness
around his patients lips, the doctor
hastily poured something in a glass,
and, bidding him drink it, went quickly
on with his work. After few minutes
silence he glanced up suddenly.
"What's that ?'' pointing to a small
blue figure on the brawny wrist.
'EThat? O.! my crest. Ibid it when
i was boy, said the man indiferently.
Your crest q
Ibid I say that?'' and a flush crept
over bis face. 81 must have been
dreaming people do dream, sometimes,
don't they @
The doctor did not answer, but looked
keenly at him, as he turned away his
head with a short, embarrassed laugh.
What is your name ?"
fsNo. AL"
Il don't mean that I mean your
NAME - persisted the doctor.
stJim Brown"
DR.. Harris laughed. "Jim Brown!
Why don't yousay Bill Scroggins? One
name would suit as we'll as the other"
AL trowned slightly. "Why should
tell you my name %
Tn sure / don't know was the
answer unless because [ want you
to. That crest on your arm is very
like my own: [ thought perhaps we
were related"
"And Il We were? You wouldn't own
me-"
"Why not? I'm not bad fellow in
my way, neither do think you are
Why shouldn't [ own you %
The man raised himself on his arm,
and looked searchingly in the doctors
face.
ga convict 2" he said, slowly.
"Weu, said the doctor, dryly, CT
don't see much society except convicts,
at present, and I can't say but what [
like them as well as do those who
think themselves good deal better
I've found out it isn't always the worst
that are caught, by any means. I'm
RADICAL you must know" he added
quantity, land very much disapproved
of by the family"
AL looked out into the gathering
darkness for some minutes, and then
said, quietly:
Well, sir, if you care to hear con-
vict's story, sit down awhile. I've
never told it to any one, andl I don't
know why [ should tell it to you; but
the moods on me, and I might as well
talk as tAink, maybe; and then you've
guessed my secret partly-at least, you