Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-08
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tIpDIlnutQ HON urst rage
exclaimed the son, interrupting in his
turn, and with much more than the |
widows force Of expression. Don't talk
to me any more about Susan Ackley, |
mother-never, She and be off-that'
all, and that be enongh.''
..You and Susan Why Dick,'' That
was all the widow. literally overwhelmed
by such intelligence, found time to say
for Dick, bearing both his old and new
griefs about him. strobe away from the
little cottage-porch in which his mother
was standing under the yet unfaded vines
and climbing flowers strobe away
through the rustic gate, closing it with
bang enough to have shown his temper
without any other evidence, and took his
way across field, as the widow could see
in the lingering September light. towards
that portion of the picturesque struggling
hamlet Of Nunscroit where stood the noted
ale-hoUse known as the Nine Chickens"
The water-place OF all the carriers who
fraversed that wcll-frequented road; the
lounging- place. and, alas , the tippling
place of the thriftless and the idle of a
whole neighborhood as such houses have
been, time out Of mind, in other sections
Of Merrie England than that bordering
the Vale Of Evcsham.
Good old Dame Harlowe would much
have preferred that Dick should assuage
his grief. even at a quarrel with Susan
Ackiey, As well as any discomfort with
herself, in some other mode than by a
night at the ale-house, with its company
lower than himself as well as much less
intelligent; but she sighed remembrance
that ''his father before him, God rest his
soul, did so - closed the door, and went
in to what light labor yet remained to do
by the dim evening lamp. She was re-
solving, meanwhile, that the foreetfulness
OF which her son had complained should
not again occur-that she would do, yet
that night or certainly on the morrow.
what she had so grieved and angered
him by neglecting to do, that day.
Dick Ilarlowe, meanwhile, strobe on to-
wards the Nine Chickens" lie was
in that desperate folly Of youth. so quick
to find duplicated ut any earnest search;
so hard to resist. so easy for any one cX-
cept the sufferer to ridicule or argue away
He had not "A penny in his pockets-not a
ha'penny-not a iirthing; perhaps it mad
been to make that discovery, that his
hands went SO deep down into those
pockets; but he had credit at the ale
house, and a score consequent thcreupon;
and If he had any intention at all, rs he
strobe, 1t was 10 get as ''booZy.' that
night, rs still old ale could make him and
then decide in the morning, 1--WE do decide
those things so much the better in the
morning. with eyes REDEEMED and heads
splitting } what he would especially do
10 spite cruel Susan and better his dull
prospects.
Arrived at the ale-house. fortune proved
more kind TO the young fellow. in the way
OF providing cheap potables for ut least a
part of that wise resolution. than he
could possibly have anticipated. Two Of
his village companions dropped into the
tap-room of the Mine Chickens" very
soon after his arrival; and they euzzled
ale comfortably at each meeting; with
Dick llarlowc making more stupid and
Intellectual attempts to be Jolly, than any
of the others remembered of him. But
these dropped away again somewhat ear
ly-the evening being II remarkably I'M
productive one. for some cause to the
hostelry; and. at no very late hour, Dick
found himself alone in the company of the
very pleasantcs: fellow he had ever met
certainly the most entertaining CONVERSE
tionalist, and quite rs certainly the most
liberal handed
This gentleman, who sat at one of the
side-tables in the tap-room seemed to take
an especial interest in Dick, from the mo-
ment of meeting-an interest highly flat
tering to that young person. He wore
red coat, and had Il bunch of colored rib
bons on his cooked hat he told the most
interesting and appetizing stories Of the
adventures he had met in His Maiesty's
service. in Spain. Flanders. America
everywhere. He insisted upon being pay
master for the ale again and again; and
then, declaring that the malt seemed to
be flat and stale to one who had drunk
wine in the countries where the grapes
grew ordered II bottle of that beverage,
followed it.wth a second. and insisted up
on Dick appropriating much more than
half OF both the orders.
Dick Ilarlowe grew almost confidential
with the very pleasant stranger who treat
ed him like an old friend and prince
contided to him Git is to be feared) some
OF his few hopes and all his many troubles
had dim impression of being invited
by him to join in the gayest, brightest.
easiest. best paid of lives-that of the SOL
der; and of refusing to arrange for doing
so.-at least before the following morn
ing--and then he did not seem TO rcmem-
Der anything more, and he did not; for
he dropped his head over on the table and
. slept the sleep of the young and the
drugged
Yes, drugged-that was precisely the
misfortune into which Dick Harlowe had
fallen He was. rs the recruiting ser
geant ut once recognized valuable prize,
for whom the premium paid would be
much higher than for an ordinary clod
hopper; and he had engaged the young
fellow in conversation, without naming
his peculiar profession or business while
any sobrietv remained in his victim-then
substituted wine when he found ale TOO
slow and doubtful in bringing him to the
proper state of Inconsistencies adding
secretly a few drops of 4 well-known
preparation carried in his pocket for ex-
IRENE cases Now the deed was accom-
plished; His Majesty had another SER
want. sure and certain, for he had extract
ed enough drunken words from Dick to
be able 10 swear to his willing acceptance
of what he had. ut the last moment.
adroitly dropped into the gaping pocket
of his velveteen trousers-the kings