Sharp County record., 1881-06-23
v o,d ro,, oro virgie Drake y


he answered, flushing all over. /" o!
Virgie, for Gods love save me. I've
come through the sewer, Twas all night
creeping through it, an | swan the
river. an I'm most gone. You won'tgo
back on your old playmate, Virgie, will
Won! but you Il save him for the sake of
the old days, an God Almighty'll bless
you for it." -, .,
"O!Archie, I'll try, I'll try!" cried
the young girl, wringing her hands.
" Can YOU walk, Archie? Come right
to father, if you can, he's yonder in the
house." and she led the way into the
kitchen where farmer Drake was al
ready astir
" What's this?" he cried, as the tot
tering figure in the soaked, disordered
garments came into the cheerful light
of the bright fire.
Virgie sprang to her father and clung
around his neck. Father, honey"
she whispered, trembling all over, "it's
Archie Moulton, and want you to hide
him."
A few words sufficed to explain the
situation, and farmer Drake rose to the
occasion with impulsive kindness, and
undertook 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 food while he himself ran for a
file to free him from the handouts.
"rll do what | can for you, Archie, "
he SAID, "but the whole country'll 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'll rid you of them,
and then Virgie'll 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 yell
low 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 a
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 think
in what'n become of us all if we're
found out, and l can't see how it'll turn
into any good, anyhow. o! Silas, what
ever are you aboutP" she cried, ad-
dressing her husband, who came out
of the bedroom in his best broadcloth
suit.
"Tm goin' to show this new help
where he's to plow that bottom land
before ride into town." said the farm
er, with wink at the two women, who
stared open-eyed at the change of the
condemnedman, dripping with mud and
sand, with fettered wrists, into the
careless easy-going young laborer with
his trousers tucked into pair of sub
stantial boots to which we've sticking
Jumps of yellow clay, while huge
straw hat slouched over his clean
shaven face, and clay pipe was held
between his lips.
Nov come ahead. It's time to be-
gin work; his names Tim Green, Vir-
gle and he comes from over yonder in
Morgan County, an has been with us
for six week or So"
The young man, taking the pipe from
his mouth, said, solemnly, whatever
happens to me, may God Almighty
bless you Silas Drake, and you Mrs.
Drake, and you Virgie," and he wrung
their hands all around.
"Come, It's six O'clock" said the
farmer, land we must start the plow.
Virgie, you bury them clothes in the
chicken yard right away
lldll du uOul tlUcl w dll u0 was lluluSS
slowly to town on his colt, casting eau
tiouS glances backward at the field by
the river where he could see his horses
plowing and his "help" toiling quietly
after them.
The town was in state of widest con-
fusion and excitement and the throng
on the prison hill was so dense that the
farmer could scarcely proceed a step.
Every body had his or her version of es-
cape, as Silas Drake elbowed his way
through the crowd to where a side
street branched 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. Could see
you aloneP"
q am all alone in the house this
morning, Mr.. Drake" she answered,
come right into the study"
"By your leave, mann, I'll shut the
door," Then walking overto the table
he said earnestly:
Mrs. Vincent, can trust you. l
am in great trouble, and don't see my
way clear at all. You're a lady, ma m,
and a GOOD friend tO me and mine IFS