Weekly commercial herald., 1885-07-10

lng the air' would have had no arst-hand
value.
Before leaving Portland Be was told that
The Discharged Prisoners Aid Society
would doubtless do something for him. He
expressed his gratitude for tie information,
but added that unless from disuse bis right
hand had lost its cunning, hs could earn an
hoaest--he emphasized tho word livelihood
without difficulty. he had been an artist
and could again pursue that craft under
now name. During bis detention be had
given his janitors proof Of bis graphic ahili-
ties by tho craving Of suadry states with
complicated and not inErtistic designs These
works Of art are still shown to visitors to the
prison as curiositios.
So, practically free man. Maurice Her
vey stood in the streets Of London at o'clock
en- the second day Of the new year. There
was little about him to attract attention.
By me-ciful and sensible dispensation, dur
ing the three months prior to his ezaaacipa-
ton aconvict's hair Is left to nature, so that
in these days Of military crops Mr.. Herveys
head, which no longer resenbled a Fitzroy
stormdrum, was not signal Of danger. The
suit Of clothes which replaced the durable
prison dress was rough ard Hitting, but
not such as to create remark In London
that night there must have been hundreds Of
thousands Of respectable men who locked
neither better nor worse than Maurice Hcr-
vey.
Free at last Free 70 turn where he liked,
and, within the limits Of the law, do as he
liked; in splendid health; in the primo of
manhood Free to redeem or cancel the past
by honest work, or by dishonesty sink lower
and lower in the future. In his pocket ths
sum Of five pounds seventeen shillngs and
:ixpence, the result Of years Of self-enforced
good conduct and unavoidable hard labor.
The lingering Of this money gave him new,
or at least awoke a dormant sensation. It
was more than four years since his hands
bad touched coin Of the realm. Think Of
that and realize what penal servitude moars I!
The lrst use he made Of his liberty and
money was characteristic, ard fear may
awaken indulgent sympathy In tho minds Of
the majority Of man mot woInan-) kind.
He went into tobacconist's and bought q
nirepenny cigar. He Lit it, sat down upon
chair In the shop and for some minutes
smoked in blissful, contented silence Tho
shopkeeper eyed his customer narrowly. HIS
general appearance, especially the look of his
hands, did not seem compatible with what
the tradeszlan called ''ninepenny smoke
gent Hervey caught the mans eyes fixed
on his hands. He himself glanced at them
with look Of disgust and q mattered curse.
Years Of turf carrying and digging and delv-
ing for Portland stone play havoc with q
gentleman's hands. Herveys nails were
broken, blunted and stunted; his fingers
were thickened and hardened. Altogether
his hands were such as person solicitous as
TO the refinement Of his personal appearance
would prefer to keep in his pockets.
There were other actions which showed
the ticket-of-leave man to be possessed Of O
fastidious nature. The first enthralling
solemnity Of the rebound enjoyment of good
tobacco having passed off, he left the shoI
and won't in search Of ready-made clothing
establishment Hero he bought a shirt and
collar, pair Of shining boots, a hat, gloves
and cheap suit which for few days woulC
hang together and present an appearance
almost fashionable. He asked permission K
change his apparel on the premises. Thel
having had q brown paper parcel made o
the suit presented to him by generou
government ho went his way no doub
much relieved by the amelioration of his OK
ternal condition.
After few mere purchases needed by
gentleman for his toilet, he found his none,
had dwindled down to very little. He had
however, enough left to buy shiny blacl
bag. Into this he tumbled his parcels ont
hailing a hanson paid his last shilling to b.
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