The Portland daily press., 1889-07-26

upon his mind. Already he had set down
MS wound as judgement come upon him
Tor the treachery of which he had been
guilty against his ates. For he was lead,
ing his friends. with whom he had poacned
ever since he was lad, and more particu-
iarly his old, faithful, true mate Skokan
into trap which the Counts gamekeepers
had set.
Only the day before the Counts bailiff
had sent for him to come 70 sn nd o sSe anu
"Zinka. all the world knows that you poach
with Skokan. Now, if you will not tell us
when and where Skokan goes for the fish,
So that we can take him in the act, under.
stand this-the time is coming round for
the conscription. Your only son will have
to stand, and we will have him enlisted,
without any chance of his getting off. You
will not see him, Zinka, for fourteen years
perhaps never again."
The bailiff's threat struck Zinka dumb
"Now, If you will tell u.s." continued the
bailiff. when and where that old rogue goes
poaching, and we catch him, / will get your
son off from the CONSUMPTION forever"
Zinka and his wife had no child except
they talked to each ether how they would
give him cottage and marry him, and
reckoned up whether they had put by money
enough. Already they had their eyes on
several peasants smart young daughters
, VINO would 90 Tor him: But the conscrip,,
Zinka knew very well that he had been
for some time in evil oder with the bailiff
for his poaching and that it was out of re-
yenge that the ba!liff would get Tomash
enlisted. Well, he could save Tomash. But
he must betray his old and faithful mate.
To steal carp out of the Counts mere-in
that Zinka saw no harm at all. But to
betray his mate, who helped him to steal the
carp, that seemed to Zinka the vilest base
ness and degradation.
, The conflict in the ,poacher's soul was
fierce. Against his friendship for Skokan.
his instincts Of father battled hard. telling
him that his first duty was to his own flesh
and blood. But for all that he hesitated.
The bailif saw ii, and began to describe to
MIN the hardships and miseries of the four
teen We years military service For the
has to run the gauntlet, to be wounded with
swords in the sides and the back until his
steps are printed in bloodW And of course
the soldier might come home cripple, with
only one foot, or without hand.
Your Honor" broke in the voice of poor,
terrified Zinka, 'the Lords will must be
know it. But will do this to save my son.
It would be the ,;death of his mother if they
took him away"
The bailiff smiled quietly, patted the
are good and worthy tenant of his lord
ships to give information against these
people who rob him. Now tell me when and
where will Skokan be going for the fish?"
Your Honor, tomorrow at midnight we
are going down to the big mere" replied the
poacher in a trembling voice.
He felt as If, at that moment, his heart
was being crushed in vice.
Good. The forester will attend to it, If
Skokan is caught they will let you go.
And" he added, "they will know Skokan
by his limp" Then he changed his
threatening tone to a pleasant one and set
the poacher at his ease, saying: "We will
get your son put down on the list as short
sighted, and he will be clear of the conscrip-
tion for ever"
Zinka thanked him for his kindness He
had still to explain which way the poachers
would approach the mere. After that the
bailiff let him go.
[To BE Continued