Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-11


 but in the face of his own shameful life, the words stuck in his throat. Present. ly he arose.
 'I guess, Lucy, I'll go up to the wharf and see Eric Iverson," he said. 'Mebby ken get him to come around this way tonight and talk with the little thing. I'm thinkin' she's Norwe- gian, an mebbe he can find out where she's from
 "Yes, Trave,' said the woman.
 Then he stopped down and said: 'Good-by, little canary; I'm goin' to fetch some one that can understand y'r pipin'" The child looked at him wonder ingly a moment, then put her arms about his neck and kissed him.
 ''Oh, Trave," said the wife, you won't drink any more, will you? See, it's like as if Breeze had come back from Heaven and was beggin' you with kisses not to be bad any more," and she was crying on his breast.
 | The man gave groan of wild contri- tion and helplessness.
 "No, Lucy, I won't ever tetch 1t again." he said. 'I'l strive agin 1t, an won't ever tetch it no morel'' And he went away with clinched fists, swear ing in his soul that liquor should never | pass his lips again. But alas, for the man who once sets himself on fire with this inhuman thirst. His will Is turned | to ashes in the flames.
 Paul came home at noon with a shin- ing string of fish, but the father did not come. When dinner was over the boy shouldered his big bag of clothes and started for the mills.
 "I'll bring him home, mother, If I ken,' he said. Don't worry," and he went limping on.
 When he had delivered the clothes, he turned off into the town. There all the streets ran shambling down and ,converged upon the wharves, and he | went up one and down another looking vainly for his father. Presently, with a thrill of horror, he saw the man come reeling from little grog shop down by the water side. An aching heavi- ness spread through all his being as he stood dumbly watching him. What had it all come to, his saving this man and bringing him back into the world? With a bitter throb he started toward him. The man saw him com | ing, as he stood leering about, and started down the shore toward home. The boy followed, hoping in some way | to turn him aside that his mother might be spared this torturing sight. Sudden ly, as the father zig-zaggcd forward, he turned and confronted the boy.
 ''Son, you're a trump, and I want the money ye got for the washin'," he said, thickly.
 Paul gave cry of horror and sprang back, but in his lameness he stumbled and fell, and the father jumped heavily upon him.
 Gimme the moneyy' he yelled wild ly, as they struggled; but the boy only gave a pitiful cry. and got up with him. Then they began to strug- gle as they stood, writhlng, reeling, striking, and suddenly they plunged headlong down towards the water. There a cup-Gke dent in the bank caught and held them, but the boy fell beneath and was partly stunned, and the man got upon him with his knees and held him while he tore the money from his pocket. As he got up, the boy, like one in a terrible dream, clutched him desperately about the knees, but the :rum-crazed father struck him cruel blow in the face and he fell back sense less at the waters edge.
 It seemed long time before con- sciousness returned to him. The saws sang on at the mills, the clouds blew over, the tide running outward licked