The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-20

/
Northwick did not resent the help offered him.
II had very severe sickness during the
latter part Of the winter" he explained. and
| It pulled me down a good deal"
AT Rimouski. presumed" said Pinney.
NO." said Northwick. briefly.
CHAPTER w.
Over the simple dinner. which Pinney praised
| for the delicacy Of the local lamb. and North
| wick ate Of SO sparingly. Northwick talked
more freely. He told Pinney all about his
flight. and Of his winter journey up toward the
northern verge OF the civilized world. The
| picturesque details OF this narrative and their
capability OF distribution under attractive
catch heads. almost maddened the reporters
soul in Pinney with longing to make news
paper material OF Northwick on the spot But
he took his honor in both hands, and held fast
to It: only he promised him that II the time
| ever came when that story could DO told. It
should be both fortune and fame to him.
They sat long over their dinner. At last
Pinney pulled out his watch. What time
did you say the boat for Quebec got along
here2"
Northwlck had not said. OF course. but he
now told Pinney He knew the time well in
the homesickness which mounted to q parox-
ysm as that hour each day came and went.
I'VE must get there some time in the night
then" said Pinney. still looking at his watch.
"Then let's understand each other about this:
Am to tell your family where you arep Or
what? Look here!' he broke OF suddenly.
why don't you come up to Quebec with me-
You'll be Just as safe there as you are here:
you know that: and now that your where
abouts are bound to be known to your friends.
you might as well be where they can get at
you by telegraph in case Of emergency. Comet
What do you say9"
Northwick said simply. Yes, will 60 with
you"
well. now you're shouting" said Pinney.
Cant I help you to put your traps together2
want to introduce you to my wife. She takes
as much interest in this thing rs do and
she'll know how to look after you great deal
better-get you to Quebec once. She's the
greatest little nurse in this world: and. as you
say. you don't seem over and above strong. I
hope you don't object to children. We've got
baby. but it's the best babyl I've heard that
child cry Just once since 1t was born. and that
was when it first realized that It was In this
vale Of tears believe We all do that, but our
baby finished up the whole crying business on
that occasion"
With Pinney these statements led to others
until he had possessed Northwick Of his
whole autobiography.t.He sNas In high con-
tent with himself and his 10y overffowed In all
manner Of afiectionate services to Northwick.
which Northwiok accepted as the mourner in
trusts his helplessness to the ghastly kindness
Of the undertaken. and finds In Il q sort Of hu-
man sympathy II Northwick had been his
own father. Pinney could not have looked after
him with tenderer care. In putting his things
together for him. and getting on board the
boat. and making interest with the clerk for
the best stateroom. He did not hesitate to de-
scribe him as an American financier: he en-
ioyed saying that he was In Canada for his
health; and that he must havo an extra room.
The clerk gave up the Captains. as all the
others were taken. and Pnney occupied it
with Northwick. 1t was larger and pleasanter
than the other rooms. and after Pnney got
Northwick to bed. he sat beside him and
talked. Northwick said that he slept badly.
and liked to have Pinney talk: Pinney could
see that he was uneasy when he left the room.
and glad when he got back: he made up his
mind that Northwick was somehow very
sick man. He lay quite motionless in the
lower berth. where Fnney made him COM
Portable: his hands were folded on his breast.
and his eyes were closed. Sometimes Pinney.
as he talked on. thought the man was dead;
and there were times when he invented ques-
tons that Northwick had to answer yes or no.
before he felt sure that he was still alive: his
breath went and came SO softly Pinney could
not hear 1t.
Pinney told him all about his courtship and
married life. and whit prize he had drawn
In Mrs. Pinney. He said she had been tho
making Of him. and the ever did amount to
anything he should owe 1t to her. They had
their eye on little place out Of town. out
Wollaston way. and Pinney was going to try
to get hold Of It He was tired Of being mewed
up in fiat and he wanted tho baby to got its
feet on tho ground when it began to walk. He
wanted to make his rent pay part OF his pur-
chase. He considered that 1t was every mans
duty to provide a permanent homo for his
family. as soon as he began to have O family, |
and he asked Northwick II he did not think o |
permanent homo was the thing.
Northwick said he thought It was. aud after |
he said that, he sighed SO deeply that Pinney |
said. "Oh. beg your pardon" He had. In |
fact. lost the sense Of Northwick's situation. |
and now he required 10 It with fresh impulse |
OF compassion. II his compassion was mixed |
with interest, with business, as he would have |
said. It was none the less genuine emotion.
and Pinney was sincere enough in saying he
wished 1t could DO Axed no that Northwick
could get back to his homey at his time Of life
he needed It.
And I don't believe but what II could be
fixed" he said II don't know much about
the points OF the case; but should say that
with the friends you've got YOU wouldn't have
a great deal OF trouble. presume there are
some legal forms you would have to 60 through
with. but those things can always be appealed
and continued and nolle pressed and all that
till there isn't anything Of them In the end. or
course 1t would have been different II they
could have got hold Of yod In the beginning.
But now" said Plnney. forgetting what he had
already said OF II. the whole thing has blown
over 30 that letter OF yours from Rimoush
hardly started ripple In Boston: can't say
how 1t was In Hstboro'. No. sir. don't believe
that II you went back now. and your friends
stood by you as they ought to. I don't believe
you'd get more than mere nominal sentence.
Il you got that"
Nortbwick made no reply. but Pinney fancied
that his words were having weight with him.
and he went on: II don't know whether
you've ever kept the run OF these kind OF
things; but friend Of mine has. and he says
here isn't one case In ten where the law car
It'll l