The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-10-13
BOUND SADLY HOME.

one sue OF Ills narrow mead, the worm
out livery coat with epaulets, wen the
leathern strap, suspending from his
shoulder his box of knavish wares, af-
fected a military air and ce%untenanced
his lies and receptions,
The face was not repulsive eve now.
Some distinction appertained to the
heavy Inustache, and the hollow be-
meath the high cheek bone, the crows
feet around theeyes, the tanned, weather
beaten ruddiness of his complexion,
might have betokened honorable service
in poisonous swamps or under burning
skies, instead of shifty, footsore wander
ings with alternate hours of want and
w~ickedness.
He dragged himself to the dusty grass
beneath the Five Ashes" at the four
crossroads. He was faint, for the hill
had tried him, and sat painting with his
back against a tree. Then he opened his
box and began rolling infallible pills be-
tween his filthy finger and thumb. Their
composition was a secret, but doubtless
they did some people a lot of good.
For 20 years his heart had never sof-
tened with a sentiment, his soul never
quickened with an aspiration, and now
his wandering eye, resting on a finger
post across the road, mechanically read:
Upton. Leigh. Sutton-Darcy."
All so familiar once, and the last his
birthplace!
A strange impulse. absolutely unreal
sonable, for recognition might still be
tlapparn,1p +aoE rnpcasSiNn nf h,,, A.
irresistible desire to see the place again.
even though it were by stealth at night.
From the boughs above his head came
the pink! pink" Of q chaffinch, and
through the filth and fog of a quarter of
century of evil, indistinct in the fumes
Of drink and smothered in its own fulfil
ity, CLEANED a Renaissance clear and
sharp as the birds note:
An old farmhouse matched and stone
built, with mullioned windows. In the
garden a tall pear tree, with yellow buds
glistening in the early spring, and be-
meath a youth with a gun peeping to get
"A shot. Then a man in breeches and hose,
elderly, but hale, drawing half humor-
ously:"Whv Jack, my bwoy! Thy shots
do het on more buds than all the chat
fingers"
The old people must be gone now, for
Jack was the youngest and the ~favorite
FIVE and thirty years ago.
Muttering against his own folly, he
~lung on his box and limped along the
Sutton road.
At evening he entered The Cups" an
inn on the outskirts of Sutton. Every
thing was as formerly-the same bench
and stools, the same oak settle by the
hearth. Two laborers playing at shovel
board called each other familiar names,
and the singsong of their voices brought
back the past.
What parish may this be, pleaseF' he
asked.
'Zutton," replied both Abs and Abe.
"A large vilIage:"
Hidden 20 terrible large"
''Smally"
ridden 20 wonderful small"
Satisfied with the subterfuge Of these
questions, he sat down and continued
eagerly:
ANY O. the name of Craddock live
here nowT"
"Craddock, eh?" grinned Abs. What
dost gay, AbeF"
Moo fearf' said Abe.
He hesitated. But the longing to
know overcame his Judgment like the
craving of q vice.
And the farm at the foot of the hill.
Who lives thereT'
Mr.. Craddock, be sure. Warmer
William"
When l came this way before, some
body-people called Sandford"-
"Ha! hal" laughed Abs. Then you
be a woldish bird, not Matched last sum
mer. Why, the old man have a-bin deat
these 90 year.. An the maid married
Warmer William, an he took ON the farm
But years avore she thought to a-marriet
one Jack. But he took to hose racen
80 ties said, an signed somebody's nam,
IN bolted. Never didden hear no NOR,
o. he. Bot You be q old file. Whatd dos
nay, Abe?'
moo fear" said Abe.
John Craddock nervously rose
Strengthened his back and fell into hi
familiar patter.
Yes. I'm an old soldier, wounded il
the trenches before >Sevastopol an.
starved at Cawnpoor, and when I'd spill
my blood and ruined a fine constitution
in the service of my native land the
gave me my discharge and threw m
upon the world without a penny. Bui
happily, among the prisoners taken b
the British forces in that memorable WI
was the private physician to the Rane
OF Jhansi. Seeing me writhing wit
rheumatism-to which, gentlemen, / wa
then . martyr-his feeling heart confide
TO me, under an oath of secrecy, the il
estimable blessing Of a never failin
remedy. These pills, gentlemen, take
iii time are a reliable cure. If you ha,
sver seen crooked legs, stiff arms or