Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-10
NO 81.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE BOUNTY SHILLING,
BY (THE LATE) G. r. R. JAMES.
Continued from Yesterday

There was q murmur Of satisfaction in
the tap-room. extending TO the people
with out. Such words rs those OF Sir
Thomas Barclay were not too often heard
in the old land at that day. be it remem-
bered; and a single good word sometimes
makes long link between authority and
those subject TO it.
The magistrate did not, rs he could not,
recognize the signs OF approval. Ills
next words were to the unfortunate re-
cruit.
What have you to say, young man!
Speak truly as you know Did you en-
list, or did you not?''
Il be 'shamed to confess, your wor.
ship" answered Dick Harlowe, his face
expressing all the humiliation he alleged.
THAT do not know quite all ha' done
or ha' not done: | was drunk last night.
your worship, more than half thanks to
him."
"Shame. indeed. for young man Of
your speech and appearance ~ said Sir
Thomas, sorrowfully. ''Well, what
morep p''
IL coined from home, last night. your
worship, in anger with my old mother,
there, and she Il widow.-:,lso with the
young lass Susan Ackley, there, that ha'
been contracted with Tor more than
year.
That's true, Your worship, and am
not Il bit ashamed of it % the young girl
could not avoid throwing in with cour-
tesy.
Il coined here to the Nine Chickens,
half desperate like--likc fool" the
young fellow went on, with one glance OF
helpless and hopeless gratitude to Susan.
Il found this man here-this man wi the
red coat; and l was Il bigger fool not to
know that he was the Kings officer. look
ing for us poor fellows. / drunk ale with
him-then wine-he main free about pay
in the score. Then | must ha' been
drunk. for remember nought more. He
do say that listed, while he was talking
to me and giving me wine but | don't
remember nought OF it. And that be all
your worship, as can say for mysels."
The countenance of the justice fell,
after "a glance at the young girl and ar
other at the compelled recruit. lie was
evidently disappointed in a momentary
hope of.being able to find some pretext
for relieving the young fellow from his
painful position, without trenching upon
the law of which even he stood in natural
fear.
''If you were drunk last night, no mat
ter how you became so, young man." he
said, very gravely, 'you cannot be com
petent witness rs to anything that occurred;
and shall be compelled to accept the
testimony of this officer. who, however
unustly he may have dealt by you morally
can hold you for the Kings service, if he
has the letter of the law with him.
''Oh, my son. Oh Dick, what will l
ever do without zee - broke out the poor
widow hearing this final destruction of
her hopes and falling weeping on the
shoulder of Susan, who might possibly
have indulged in some corresponding
weakness if she had not been (let the
whole truth be told) too much in a rage
at the folly of Dick and the trickery of
the officer, to be yet ready for any such
exhibition of wOmanly tenderness.
Il be main sorry, your worship, if you
can do nought for me.'' said poor Dick,
very humbly. at be hard to 20 away
from everything that one loves; but if 1
ha been a drunken fool, | must e'en lie
the bed ha' made, | suppose, Saving
your worship's presence,) and bear it as
| may.''
81 never knowed that handsome, silly
fellow to look half so well, or talk half
so sensibly, as now when they be going to
take him away from me ~ commented
Susan, now more than half crying, but of
course not permitting that though to rise
above her breath that was just ready to
break into sobs of mingled anger and
grief.
There is one more question 10 be
asked" continued Sir Thomas, with the
same grave expression. II have your
evidence, sergeant. that this man enlisted ;
and must take it much as / may doubt
the means by which you secured his con-
sent to wear the Kings uniform. But
one thing remains,-did you offer him the
bounty money, and did he receive it ?'
"fIc certainly did, your worship: he
took the bounty shilling, and put it in his
pocket" answered the sergeant, with a
half smile OF triumph as he remembered
how deity he had slipped that coin into
the pocket of the muddled young fellows
velveteens
IL took 10 Bounty Shilling. never
seen anything of one! ~ exclaimed Dick,
very cnergetically. Then his face icll,
and he added: THAT is, don't remem-
Der nought o. any shilling, your worship -
''Of course not-they never do, after
they have had it!'' sneered the sergeant,
who knew how few OF them ever saw the
fatal coin until it was taken from their
persons in the investigation which doomed
them to the ranks and to exile.
'.Slence spoke the magistrate, stern
ly, and manifestly again directing that
correction at the sergeant. II am panied
to say. . he went. on ''that, there is probably
no doubt in the matter; but as mere
form we will look into the whole affair
and the young man shall lose none Of his
| ,av bapIS rrh~ <,<,.,, l..
as usual, sergeant, was it not p
Certainly, your worship.
.'IIas this young man been out of this
house, or out of your custody, since then,
so that he could have rid himself of it in
any manner?'' was the next inquiry.
'.Not a moment, your worship; it was
my business to keep eye and hand on him
and have done it!'' triumphantly an
swered the sergeant.
"Then, of course. il he received tht
bounty, he has it still about him. contin