The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-11


man; may God prosper you!' s..
Two big tears coursed slowly down the rough
cheeks OF the mechanic, as he grasped for a
moment the extended hand of his benefactor.
I'm never forget this, sir-neverl' he muir
INJURED. in broken voice. tt1t amt for the
likes of me to ask your name and who you are /;
nor yet to offer to pay you back when better
times come to meas they will now, as they will
now: But you've saved me from worse than
death this night, sir. Believe me, l never
raised my finger to take what didn't belong to
me afore. 1t was only want and desperation
that ever gave the devil chance to put it in
! my head. i shall get work now, thanks to YOU 4;
and I'll be an honest man still, as | always
have been.''
eyes, yes; of course you WILL said the old
gentleman, nodding his head in friendly as
sent, while his kind, mild-blue eyes glistened
MOSTLY under the gas-lamp. And look here,
| Reeves; if ever YOU get better off, and come
across poor man in want of a little help, YOU
help him, Reeves, dye see-you help him!''
VIII.
The blessing which the good Samaritan had
invoked upon the man he had saved from dis
grace and misery came down upon him. Reeves
prospered. Bit by bit, his cottage grew into a
cosy home, that he loved more and more every
day; his children became plump and rosy
checked, and his wife frightened and happy.
But in all his newborn prosperity. the CRATE
full mechanic never forgot his true friends
parting injunction to be tender to Others in
distress. II will only be necessary to mention
one occasion upon which he succeeded in imi.
tating very closely the sublime example of
magnanimous charity that had been his own
salvation. -
Reeves was returning from work. It was
rather late; and what few people were about
were hurrying out Of the binding seet and
piercing blast as fast as their legs could carry
them, and that was at no remarkable speed on
account of the atmospheric opposition they en-
countered. At one moment the wind sudden
ly increased to the fury of hurricane and
compelled Reeves to seek temporary shelter in
a friendly doorway. He was not alone there.
Some one else had adopted the principle of
''any port in a storm" 1t was man-gaunt,
hollow-cheeked, ill-clad. shivering and miser-
able.
"What fearful night-ain't it2'' observed
Reeves in a gentle voice.
pose tits; | don't care; it's all the same
to me. returned the man, hoarsely.
81 don't want to be rude, continued Reeves,
in the same tones of sympathy, "but you seem
to be hard up. I've been in the same case my
self, and can pity you. Pm only working
man, and | know what hard times mean.n
Ut amt that alone what's the matter with
me, mate; although you're right, so far. 1t
would puzzle anybody to be wuss off thanI am
just now. But it's sorrer that's a-killing me,
more than want. Pm a-dying, mate, that's
what ! am ....S
Come, come, don't talk like that; you'll feel
better after good supper and comfortable
nights rest. And I've got bob or two as
will pay for them.'
you're mana true brick 1t does chap
good to speak to the like of you. | thought
the breed had died out. But it amt suppers
and nights rests what'll give me back my wife.
| want my wife! I've been hunting for her
high and low all over London, from one end to
the other, for the last six months. And can't
find her. | can't come across her no how. 0,
Mary, Mary why did you run away from
us-why did you leave me and the
children when we were so fond of you! You
know we was! Why did you go.'' He leant
his forehead against the rough bricks and
walled forth the agony of his breaking heart,
unconsciously. Presently he drew himse up
and shook his emaciated fist in fierce rage.
"Curses!n he cried, "a million black, bitter
curses on the man as 'ticed her way from me !!
If | had him by the throat now-so, like that
I'd tear him limb from limb ~
For some time Reeves said nothing. He felt
lie was in the presence of trouble which no
words OF his could assuage. But by and by,
when the poor fellows passion had spent it.
self he ventured; Locke here, friend. You'll
find your wife one day. either on earth or in
heaven. God pardons such weak, misguided
creatures as she; and if you should never meet
her here you will there, depend on it. You
don't know how she has suffered: you don't
know how she has repented; you don't know
how her fault may have been blotted out and
her sins forgiven. Mate, shan't say anything
more about it, because l can't help you in that
matter. But can do so in another. When
get home | shall find bright, cheerful fire,
plenty to eat and drink, and a warm change
of'clothes. You won't have such luck as that,
The togs you've Cotton now wouldn't be much
use TO you in summer, let alone such night
as this. Pm going to leave you my overcOat
that's what I'm going to do. 1t amt ele-
Uant. llt IL will stand a thnndprippr lot of
wear yet; and it's warm and water proof.
Here, catch hold of it,' continued Reeves, di-
vesting himself of the garment, and throwing
it over the mans shoulders "Don't mind me-
can buy another tomorrow, thank God.
You'll find three or four bob in the left side
pocket; get yourself glass of something hot
a jolly good supper and a clean shake down.
No thanks, old chap; I'm not used to ZEN.
Goodbye, and good luck to you. Pm otfH'
Suiting the action to the word Reeves darted
out of the doorway and quickly disappeared
from view down an adjoining street.
A quarter of an hour later the recipient of
the generous mechanics bounty was recruit
ing his exhausted frame with half pork pie
and pint of hot ale, strongly favored with
ginger. While he was disposing of this, to
him, delicious fare, his eyes rested upon ten
days-old newspaper, that CHANGED to lie on the
bar OF the public house in which he stood. All
at once gray, ashy hue overspread his face {;
the knife slipped from his trembling grasp;
with shaking fingers he seized the paper and
gazed at one short paragraph with such an ex-
preston of horror and despair that the barman
on the other side was startled, and said
whats the matter! Are yer Ing
''Read that for me, replied the man, wildly.
81 can't see-I feel as if 1 were going blind.
Read that
The bsrman took the journal and read at the
place indicated: Found Drowned-The body
of a woman, aged about thirty, and evidently
belonging to the poorer classes, was yerterday
taken out OF the Thames, near Woolwich. She
had on an old cloth jacket much worn, a COM
mon black alpaca dress, jean petticoat, colored
stockings and buttoned boots, rather dilapida-
| ted Is marked with a small scar over the right
eyebrow. In the pocket were found a leather
purse containing fourpence in coppers and a
| bit OF card that had evidently been written
upon, although the words Joe and forgive
were alone legible. The body had suffered
! from long immersion. 1t was taken to the
mortuary.''
THANK your said the man, mechanically,
| passing his hand over his clammy brow.
SIT don't mean trouble to you, l hope?''
asked the barman, feelingly.
| "I'm Joe,n replied the other, as he staggered
| to the door aud left the house
| He walked on and on, quite needless of the
mingled rain and snow, that blew in gusty tor
| rents from every point of the compass Other
pedestrians might grumble bitterly, or swear
savagely, at finding themselves out in such I'M
| charitable weather. This man could scarcely
have told whether it was midsummer or mid.
winter. He didn't care. All weathers were
| the same IN him now. II WAS late when he