The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-22


lad starve for a tn gentlefolks i En-
gland. We nun strike Mester For
rester's yed [headl SO as he'll feel.
Who'll join, lads?"
II will"
"And l."
"And l."
'tAnd SOIL l."
In fact every man there was as eager
as Jack himself; and it was soon agreed
that they should watch foS a chance OF
attacking young Forester, and then
beat him within an inch of his life
land mayhap a bit farther" as the
burly pitman muttered, with a cruel
CLEAN in his eyes. Two sharp lads
were at once chosen to keep watch
upon young Squoire Harry" who had
come down from London a few days be-
fore; and, on the third morning, one of
the scouts came running in to report
that Harry had gone to see friend a
few miles from the colliery, and had sent
the groom home with his horse, saying
that he would walk back in the even
ing, the road being too rough to risk a
good horse on after dark.
The looks exchanged by the Golfers
at this news said more than any words
could do. All was soon settled. Mid
way along the road which Forester
must take lay a patch of bare, lonely
moorland, we'll known to Rough Jack
as his little boys favorite playground.
Here they would hide in deep hollow
overgrown with bushes, and pounce
upon their victim as he passed.
Night drew on. One by one for they
knew that it would not do for many OF
them to be seen together), Jack and
his gang came stealing up to the fatal
spot, and, crouching down amid the
bushes, waited for their prey. But as
time went on, and it grew darker and
darker; and still there was no sign OF
him, they began to get uneasy. Gould
he have changed his mind and stayed
all night? or could their plot have been
discovered? No there at last was a
firm step approaching, and the rising
moon showed them the tall, active
figure and handsome face which they
all knew and hated.
The savage men clutched their heavy
cudgels, and drew themselves together.
like tigers crouching for spring. But
just then there was rattle of wheels
and hoofs in the opposite direction,
and light dog-cart came rushing along
the highway like whirlwind, evil
IDENTITY driven by some wild young fell
low, who thought it fine fun to risk
breaking his neck. At the same mo-
ment there appeared, slowly crossing
the road, right in the path of the mad
dened beast and the reckless driver,
the figure of Rough's Jacks little lad.
With a cry that made the air ring,
the golfers burst from their hiding
place, forgetting every thing but the
peril of their little pet. AS they ran
they saw the child stumble and fall in
trying to escape, and Harry sprang
toward to catch him up; but then horse
and dog-cart came dashing down upon
them both, and every thing vanished
in whirl of dust.
But as the dust cleared away Harry
Forester was seen rising slowly to his
feet. There was thin streak of blood
stealing down his smooth, white fore.
head, and his left hand was sorely
bruised and cut; but his right arm was
still firmly around the child, who was
looking up in his face with round, Won
dering blue eyes, as if hardly knowing
whether to be frightened or not.
Jack sprang to his child like tiger
whose cub has been wounded, and.
finding him quite unhurt, took the
tiny face between his huge, black hands
and kissed it passionately again and
again.
"God bless thee, my little lad" said
he, in a broken voice; "God bless theew
Then his mood seemed to change,
and, flinging his cap on the ground at
Forrester's feet. he folded his arms on
his brawnv chest and looked the young
man full = the face.
"Look'ee here, Mester," said he,
firmly; 1--WE COON out this meet might
to beat and hammer thee-mayhap to
kill thee outright; and thou'st nigh
killed thysel' to save yon little lad, as
I'd gil my hearts blood for onny day.
Now, here stand; knock me down if
thou wilt, or gil me over to the police,
or what We loike. Use meier lift hand
to stop thee, for l ha' done a Grad
IDENTIFY [cowardly] thing"
"And so say we a., livery mon of u.s."
cried the other men, gathering round
their leader.
1t was strange scene upon which
the full moon fell in all its brightness;
the wild waste of dark moorland in the
background; the slender, handsome,
gayly dressed young man, with little
Jim's tiny face nesting against his
shoulder; the sooty skins and savage
faces of the grim giants around him,
and in front the mighty figure of Rough
Jack, silently awaiting his sentence.
But the sentence came in form
which Jack little expected. With one
hand Forester put the little boy into
his fathers arms, while with the other
he gave the Golfers great black hand