Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-07-06
ooh +! Archie, I'll try, I'll try p cried
be young girl. wringing her hands.

ooh Archie, I'll try, I'll try p CRIED
the young girl, wringing her hands
"Can you walk, Archie? Come right tc
father, if you can, he's yonder in the
house." and she led the way into the
kitchen where farmer Drake was already
astir.
"What's this ?" he cried, as the totter-
ing figure in the soaked, disordered gar.
mshts came into the cheerful light of the
bright fire.
Virgie sprang to her father and chung
around his neck. "Father, honey" she
whispered, trembling all over, "it's
Archie Moulton, and I want you to hide
him."
A few words sufficed to explain the sit.
uation, and farmer Drake rose to the oc-
casion with impulsive kindness, and I'm.
dertook to do what he could to save the
son of his old-time friend.
First of all he babe Virginia break the
news to her mother, and get the poor
fugitive some of his clothes and some
feed, while he himself ran for file to free
him from the handouts.
"I'n do what / can for you, Archie, y
he said, "but the whole country'n be
reused after you, and God knows if I'll
succeed in gettin' you clear; but 'twould
be hard heart that would turn against
you in your wretched plight, my lad,
even if you are fghtin' on the wrong
side. Here! let me get at them cuffs, .
he cried, enthusiastically grasping his
instrument, "we'u rid you of them, and
then Virgie'n give you something to eat. /"
Thereupon Virginia began admins
tering breakfast of hot coffee and corn
cake to the poor fellow, who ate and
drank almost mechanically, with his
eyes fixed on the pretty, fearful face
and busy hands that ministered to him.
By this time Mrs. Drake had Joined
them, and was devoutly groaning over
the wretched object before her. The
farmer dispatched her in haste to bring
some old clothes, while he turned to his
daughter, bidding her fetch some yellow
clay from the farther end of the garden.
She did as she was bid, and when she
returned with the clay was desired to
keep out of the room for few minutes.
''Mother, what ever is father doing?"
she inquired.
"The Lord only knows, honey! he's
some plan in his head, while I'm
thinkin' what'n become of us all if
we're found out, and [ can't see how
it'll turn into any good, anyhow. Oh!
Silas, what ever are you about ?" she
cried, addressing her husband, who came
out Of the bedroom III his best broad
cloth suit.
"I'm going to show this new help
where he's to plough that bottom land
before I ride into town." said the farm
er. with a sly wink at the two women,
who stared open-eyed at the change of
the condemned man, dripping with mud
and sand, with fettered wrists, into the
careless, easy-going young laborer, with
his trousers tucked into a pair of sub
stantial boots, to which were sticking
bits of yellow clay, while huge straw
hat, slouched over his clean-shaven face,
and a clay pipe was held between his
teeth.
CHOW, come ahead. It's time to be-
gin work; his names Tim Green, Virgie,
and he comes from over yonder in Nor
gan county, and has been with us for six
weeks or So"
The young man, taking his pipe from
his mouth, said solemnly: Whatever
happens to me, May God Almighty bless
you, Slas Drake, and you Mrs. Drake,
and you Virgie," and he wrung their
hands all around.
"Come, it's six O'clock" said the
farmer, "and we must start the plough.
Virgie, you bury the clothes in the
chicken yard right away"
Half an hour afterwards he was riding
slowly to town on his colt, casting eau
tious glances backward at the field by
the river where he could see his horses
ploughing, and his "help" toiling
quietly after them.
The town was IN a state of widest
confusion and excitement, and the throng
on the prison hill was so dense that the
farmer could scarcely proceed step.
Everybody had his or her version of the
escape, as Silas Drake elbowed his way
through the crowd to where side street
branehed off the hill, half way up which
was situated the Episcopal parsonage.
He knocked at the front door, and was
admitted by the clergyman's wife her
self.
"Mrs. Vincent, I've somethin' [ want
to say to you very particular" he said,
speaking in low voice. '.sCould I see
you alone? 2"
81 am all alone in the house this
morning, Mr.. Drake" she answered.
''come right into the study"
"By your leave, ma'am, I'll shut the
door," Then walking over to the table
he said earnestly:
"Mrs. Vincent, I can trust you.
am in great trouble, and don't see my
way clear at all. You're a lady, ma'am,
and good friend to me and mine. It's
another mans secret, and you must give
me your word not to betray it, else I am
afraid to speak"
"You may treat mea Christian and
a lady, said Mrs. Vincent quietly.
Thus assured the farmer unfolded his
story, and begged the lady's counsel,
adding, 81 came right to you as you're
the only northern-born person around
these parts, and I felt sure of your SYM
pathy for the poor fellow
81 hardly know what to advise you,
Mr.. Drake" she said as soon as she
could speak for establishment, ct am
afraid in cYoito Of oil yUo CON do tho Moon