Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-06

what I speak. No-you needn't look at me so,
gaSe 20, %os e w ~ s1GS .s siy s@
wFetchP' 10 the recruiting sergeant,) "you have
played some trick on him.Iy0u know that you
call 1t. and flung away his old mother andme
and everything, OF his own W1il!n
az didn't list, Susan! as am man didn't,
so far as IknowI" said the poor fellow. Unjust
ha' been tr1cked, some way, as you say, or sure
1 would never ha done IT."
"Shame. shame to trap a man! Shame!
lips and seemed to express the general feeling
both within and without doors. There may
have been some sticks tighter grasped in ad-
aw To-
any attempted rescue by force unlikely as dan
gerous. The recruiting sergeant may, before
oeS he e
trouble.
in IL. Il know my rights, and the rights Of the
King. Don't put yourselves into the hands Of
the law, any Of you, or by the Lord you win
than the rest Of you, has taken the Kings
ter, dead or alive-mind that"
coat the eco Color Of bloodEugh!0 there might be
somebody going to worcester, dead; and Dick
HarloWe wouldn't be the mani" flashed out
the SUSPICION Of laugh even amid Tie paiafa{
surroundings, and perhaps creating an impress
sion among some OF the more thoughtful, that
II Dick Harlowe escaped the service and came
to his marriage. he might not only have loving
wife but bit OF handsome shreW into the bar
gain.
But at the moment another character came
upon the scene-the man who had been alight-
ing from his horse before the inn at the moment
OF the two w0mens enter1ng-and who had
been for those few minutes listening at the door,
nod hvy rVNfS0 Nf Tytf h n
they saw him, they knew him at once as Sir
Thomas Barclay, OF Teddingstone, Justice Of the
peace and ctstuS 1OtulOrunl Of the Vale of Ewes
nam. whose hurried altghting from his horse
had been no pretence, q message having reached
him a few minutes earlier as he passed through
Nunscroft, on his way to Stratford, Of probable
at the door, enough to possess: him very closely
of the state of facts at that moment existing,
through the conversation already recounted;
and now he advanced up the room al present
known upr1ghtness and dignity Of character.
"Whal is all this?" he asked. "Refusal on the
part OF recruit, to enter His MaJesty's service,
geant what does # all mean? answer, and the
TEST Of you keep I-ence."
PLEASE your worship, replied the sergeant,
and now denies service; and these people have
acted like making forced rescue. That is all,
your worship; and ti may be your worship may
Never mind what may think, sergeant"
replied Sir Thomas, with dignity; then adding:
yoa are quite sure Of what you saythat he
'Quite sure, your Worship" replied the ser
geant, again touching his hat. '.This man en-
listed last Light, as have already told your
worship. Look at the ribbons on his hat, and his
passing the night with me: would that have
been so If he had not taken bounty"
am not here to answer questions, sergeant
but to ask them and be answered." said Sir
Thomas, a second time with some severity:
"there have been somewhat too many COM
plants, of late OF what they call trapping re-
cluits; and am likely to make full fnyestiga-
but she can raise them fairly and honorably;
and when she cannot, let her beg for her rights
instead Of fighting for them by doing wrong to
There was a murmur of satisfaction In the
tap-room, extending to the people without.
Such words as those Of Sir Thomas Barclay
were not too often heard In the old land at that
day, be 1t remembered; and single good word
sometimes makes a long link between authority
and those subject to IL.
The magistrate did not, as he could not, recog-
n1Ze the signs OF approval. His next words were
TO the unfortunate recruit.
'.What have you to say, young man? Speak
truly as you know! Did you enlist, or did you
not?"
II be 'snamed to confess, your worship an
swered Dick Harlowe, his face expressing all the
humiliation he alleged, THAT I do not know
quite all ha' done or ha' not done; l was drunk
last night, your worship, more than half thanks
10 HIM"
''sLame, Indeed, for young man of your
speech and appearance!" said Sir Thomas, sor-
rOwfuliy. "Well, what mOre?"
=" l coined from home, last night, your wor-
ship, in anger with my old mother, there, and
she w1dOw,-also with the young lass Susan
Aekley. there, that ha' been contracted with
~, That That Is true, your worship, and am not
avoid throwing In, with curtsey;
desperate nke-like fool" the young fellow
went on, with one glance Of helpless and hope
less gratitude to Susan. II found this man
ger fool not to know that he was the Kings Off
Ger, looking for us poor fellows. l drunk ale
with him-then w1He-he main free about payin'
the score Then must ha been drunk for re-
but don't remember nought Of f. And that t1 be
all, your worship, as can say for myself"
The countenance Of the justice fell, after
Compelled recruit. he was evidently disap-
pointed In momentary hope Of being able to
from his painful position, without trenching
upon the law OF which even he stood in natural
fear.
.'If you were drunk last night no matter how
you became so, young man, he said, very grave
ly, you cannot be competent witness as to
anything that occurred; and shall be compelled
to accept the testimony of this officer, who, how
ever un1ustly he may have aelt by you morally,
can hold you for the Kings service If he has the
letter OF the law with him."
''Ch, my son! Oh, Dick, what will ever do
without eel" broke out the poor widow, hear
ing this final destruction of her hopes, and
falling weeping on the shoulder Of Susan.
who might possibly have ,ndulged In some
corresponding weakness If she had not been
Qet the whole truth be told) too much
in rage at the folly of Dick and the
trickery OF the officer to be yet ready for any
such exhibition OF womanly tenderness.
II DE main sorry, your worship, If you can do
nought for me" said poor Dick, very humbly.
ut be hard to go away from everything that
one loves; but If ha' been a drunken fool 1
must cen lie on the bed ha made, suppose
Saving your worship's presence), and bear it
as may!"
~ never knowed that handsome, silly fellow
to look half so well, or talk half so senstbly, as
now when they be going to take him away
from met" commented Susan, now more than
half-crying, but of course not permitting that
thought to rise above her breath that was lust
ready to break into sobS of mingled anger and
grief.
''There is one more question to be asked.n
continued Sir Thomas, with the same grave ex-
preston. II have your evidence sergeant that
this man tenlisted; and must take II, much
as may doubt the means by which you secured
his consent to wear the Kings uniform. Bat
one thing remains-did you offer him the Bounty
Money, and did he receive 1t?-
ale certainly did, your worship; he took the
Bounty Shilling, and put it in his pocket" said
the sergeant, with half smile of triumph as
he remembered how deity he had slipped that
coin into the pocket OF the muddled young fell
lows velveteens!
81 took no Bounty Shilling! Inever seen any