The Democratic advocate., 1884-08-02

hour came for the public house to b'
cleared, no one took much heed of Daddy
He had fallen exhausted on bench some
time back. He breathed stentoriously witt
eyes half closed. Some vague glimmer ol
reason left to him enabled him to staggel
to his feet at the sound of shutters closing
The bar-man supported him to the swing
doors, through which he disappeared into
the night.
Outside the street was almost empty, one
by one the denizens of various courts anc
rotten tenements having reeled or skunk
home Daddy had not penny in hi:
pocket The sixpence he had earned II
the afternoon had found its way into the
pockets of the publican, to supplement the
drinks bestowed upon him by admirins
friends. The old man, tottering uncertain
ly, with skinny hands stretched out to the
walls of dwelling places, crept along tho
uneven pavement. He made for the up
permost part of the lane, the most remote
from the river. Here there was friendly
doorstep which he knew of old. He lait
himself down, and pillowed his white head
upon 1t.
Not for long, though. An unusual
amount of vigilance had been remarked
about the police in this locality recently
The division in charge had manifested g
determination to subdue rioters and to
sweep away all waits and strays. Daddy
was marked by virtuous patrolling officer
Within ten minutes of going to rest pow.
erful hand was placed upon his rags. The
Jealous officer failed to shake sense into
him. He muttered I'm not thirsty" as
though it might be friendly clutch invit
ing him to enter some familiar bar. Turn
ing round, he drowsily embraced the cold
stone.
$50, drunk, are yer? Come along OF
me to the lock up. We don't mean to have
no street rows here
The old man was ruthlessly dragged tC
his feet by vigorous pull. He looked
about him in bewilderment, but made nc
effort to escape till the policeman laid s
forcible hand of persuasion upon his arm.
''Yer don't want to come my ways F.! No
1 dessay not Most of yer doesn't.
Reused by this indignity of arrest, Dad
dy showed fight in feeble fashion, shout
ing in cracked voice all the way to the
station house.
The next morning the wretched old maj
woke in his cell, fully alive to his situation
Some how or another luck had favored hin
throughout years of drunkenness. He ha(
always escaped the law hitherto. Now h'
would be charged with being drunk ant
disorderly, and probably the magistrate
would commit him to prison. To prison
All Daddy's numbed perceptions revived
now. The thought penetrated his dul
brain with consciousness of final disgrace
If it was possible to rouse in him degree
of life, this aspect of affairs did so.
The magistrate before whom he woulC
be brought was reckoned philanthropist
by the world, man of whom it was de
clared that he was not altogether tit tt
administer Justice. When Daddy hearC
Mr. Ruthven's name banded about BY
other sinners in the same condemnation a
himself, flicker of intelligence made itsel
manifest in his eyes, which never seemed
to see quite clearly. He rubbed his ear
as though doubling their evidence.
"Who did you say they would take u
before p he said, pulling the sleeve of
vicious looking navy There was sharl
intensity to the old mans voice.
''Oh, haven't you heard? There's a nev
beak in these parts Ruthven they call
of him. Not bad hloke neither. HI
don't bullyrag chap afore sending Of hin
to quod. There's some as he lets off won
derful easy, but they amt my sort, Shut
up, Daddy, yer cursed old fool ~
The wretched sinner had fallen on hi
knees on the stone floor, grasping his gray
head in his hands. His senses were nov
sharpened, and these lucid intervals were
very terrible to him. What help, wha
anodyne was there for him but in drink ?
"My God, my God, before himl' h'
muttered inaudibly to the rest.
"This Ruthven he amt been here long
and I'll go bail he'll soon tire of his work
There's too much of it, never no white
gloves here" said the navy, with prouc
anu
Daddys was the last case on this day
When the policeman led in his miserable
victim with a virtuous air of having donC
his duty, the court was half empty. L
was not tempting spot to remain in oil
a sweltering August day, and the various
friends and relatives of delinquents haC
taken their departure as promptly as pos
sible.
Mr.. Ruthven was genial looking maj
of well-preserved middle age, prosperou!
and portly beneath the burden of three
score years. He was an absolute contras
to the down-trodden and despised culprit
who was led forward Yet he looked al
the trembling sinner with glance of com
passion. The old man never lifted hi
eyes to his judge, and from his immobility
it might well be concluded that the pro
ceedings were incomprehensible to him
Daddy was let off with a reprimand and ;
warning, and skunk out of court in a noise
less way, without regarding this most mer
ciful magistrate.
Yet what need had he to fear? How
was it possible that Mr.. Ruthven SHOULD
recognize in this disreputable old man al
associate of former days, comrade in the
counting house, familiar friend at home
Ay, truly life's trump cards had beer
dealt to John Ruthven at his birth. So
ber, frugal, discreet, what wonder that he
should score the game Of responsibility ant
success.
As Daddy reached the door, he cast onC
swift glance of anxiety toward the magis
trate. If he had known him? If by
chance he should go home to his luxurious
dwelling in the west, and speak to her be
fore her children, of miserable old maj
brought before him-one he had recognized
as a friend of youth long thought to b.
dead? Would she care? Would sh,
remember and shed tear fora wasted life
After this event Daddy sank lower by
degrees. His degradation was hopeless
and it appeared that his life had not Ions
to run.
hout this time stranUa evanfs fool