Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-08-12


only three men were kidnapped, and being
satisfied upon this point from what the fell
lows In the room told him, his reason for
calling upon me was to state that on that
night when the press gang was ashore, he
was on duty with another man at the hut
that stands to the south, upon the cliff near
my house, and at the head Of the pass that
leads to the sands 1t was a windy night, he
said, and his mate had gone half a mile
along the cliff TO look at that curve of sand
where some smuggling was done last Christ
mas, as you may remember sir. There was
moonlight abroad, and, riding clear of the
breakers, though nightly tossed by the in
shore seas, was a man-of-war's boat which
my man, about whom | am telling you,
knew to belong to brig of war that had
that morning dropped anchor off the town
Nov, while he stood in the shell ter of his
hut, he saw crowd of the boats crew COM
ing along through the dust, and among them
walked three prisoners and on the shoulders
of two Of them a fourth man was borne,
bound like the others, but plainly insensible.
The preventive man stood forth and some of
the men-of-war's men called a greeting to
him as they passed. Indeed, he was as near
to them as yonder window is to me, and
could not, therefore, mistake what he be-
held. Most solemnly does he swear that there
were four men pinioned, and not three, as
the towns gossip would show, and that of
these four, who We're clearly kidnapped men,
as he might judge, one was carried, and
though a confusion of shadow was cast upon
them all by the hurying of clouds over the
moon, and the unequal and swerving steps of
the men, yet is he positive that the carried
man was young, and such description does
g L. l..
that the figure on the mems shoulders was
my son."
He told the story in an equable voice, and
on pausing extracted pinch of snuff from
his box; but the culver Of his nostrils pro-
claimed a hard struggle with emotion, and
it was easy to see that his application to his
snuff box was stratagem to drop his eyes,
and an excuse to hold his peace for
moment.
Mrs Strangfeld was about to speak, but,
with an imperious gesture of the hand. her
husband silenced her
This coastguard's tale seems likely one,
sir, and makes the riddle Of your sons disap-
pearance easy" he said, with his hard eyes
fixed upon the doctor. ut is a pity there is
but one witness"
"But one witness may rescue man from
evidence TO prove his aspersers liarsi" ex-
claimed the doctor lifting his head with
flashing glance.
Mr.. Strangfeld met his gaze with faint
contemptuous smile.
These coastguards,' he said, "like other
men of their condition, are fond Of glass.
and the hope of earning a shilling viii make
them smart at inventions One may be surs
the man did not leave thu school house I'M
rewarded"
The skin about the doctors eyes frightened
and an expression of unspeakable contempt
settled down upon his face.
This is not the first time, Mr. Strangfield.
that have experienced your qualifications
to render yourself offensive. A man so skep-
teal should surely possess a Judgment above
all chance Of laundering
Or. Shaw, am a plain man, with little
knowledge of fine words Your tale may be
truly believed by you, but it doth not satisfy
NE. Your son has acted the part of a vii
lain, sir, and nothing that does not prove
him villain In every step of the vile wrong
he has done me and mine will | credit Tell
ME rather that, having BETRAYED my child,
he has meanly fled to escape my vengeance.
and has put any rascal upon lying on his
behalf"
He was white with his passion, and as he
grasped the arms of his chair the veins of his
hands stood up black with the energy that
swelled them
In the contempt and dislike with which
DR. Shaw, after a slight backward push of
his chair, surveyed him, there seemed posi-
tive cruelty; for no insolence that Strang-
field could be guilty Of could in humane
mans eyes qualify the moving influence of
his deep and passionate emotion.
"You are pleased, Mr. Strangfeld, to call
my son a villain. This did you term him
once before But my memory is not keen.
and 1 should be glad to hear again your rea-
sons for abusing him.
"Gh, DR.. Shaw, my husband is beside him
self this morning" walled Mrs Strangfield
"Our poor "
"silenceV Numbered the shipwright at
is TO ne this gentleman speaks Leave me to
answer him. Whatever may be your true
purpose in calling upon me this morning,
my own judgment upon it viii give you,
and let the question you have now asked me
find you a reason for what shall say: that
the father Of a villain who has ruined my
child, and brought desolation and shame
upon an honorable home, must perforce be
too much like his offspring not to have a
relish for the wound his son has inflicted,
and pleasure in lingering it for the sake of
his curiosity Hold you are not yet an
swere1. Do you think | am to be touched by
your sneers, man? You would teach all those
with whom you have to do to look down
upon me, and such as me, as despicable men,
holding humble faith that makes your
Haunting religion keck; and that your son
had ruined and disgraced any one of US,
SHOIll1 civ 4l,k
scourging of a negro gives the white ruffian
who looks on at the whipping Is that itG
Why, sir, be satisfied with your sons work;
but you shall not sop me from calling him
villain. You would know why! Look at my
wife yonder Is there no answer i'll her face!
Look at this hand Never did it tremble as now
1t does. | am aged score since yesterday,
and that is thy sons doing Nor he shouted,
III strange shaking voice, I'm not put my
dishonor again into words Sir, / wish you
good morning"
He rose from his chair and stood upright,
with his hand extended toward the door,
His wife sat in a crouehing attitude, hugging
herself DR.. Shaw did not offer to move. His
face was pale, but otherwise his manner was
collected He put his snuff-box in his pocket,
and, drawing forth a pocket book, he ex-
tractcd paper, which be held in his hand
while he addressed Mr. Stronghold
Sir" he said, in a slow, deliberate tone,
throughout my life | have ever striven to
act the part Of an upright man. resolute in
the vindication of things / hold to be just
and true, but always ready to acknowledge
my error Through haste and surprise and
disappointment which, in imitation of your
own admirable candor, l shall be at no pains
to dissemble, ! have fallen into a grievous
error-that OF misjuding youthful folly and
calling it sin; that of repelling with rude
doubts the pleadings Of helpless innocence;
that Of denouncing my own flesh and blood
az monster Of vice when he was not at
hand to justify himself But, sir, the God
who rules over us is the indicator of the
Just, and last night l humbled myself before
Him with gratitude and remorse. / beg you
TO be seated. | came to you with two items
ef news. One | have related, and the other
viii now relate, in mercy TO you who by
desiring me to leave the house. would be en-
failing upon yourself the endurance of a
grief greater IN spite of my theological
opinions, thanI could wish you to know
Mr.. Srangfield continued standing, lean
ing heavily upon the back of chair and
looking down with a scowl upon the doctor
Mrs. Strangfeld, in a half-risen posture,
supporting herself with her hand upon the
table, stretched eagerly forward her eyes
fixed on the paper in the doctors grasp.
Last night continued the doctor "after