Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-11-02
BOUND SADLY HOME.

It was all a fraud. The forage cap
on one side Of his narrow head, the
worn out livery coat with epauletsr
even the leathern strap, suspending
from his shoulder his box of knavish
wares. affected military air and coun'
tenanced his lies and deceptions.
The face was not repulsive even
now. Some distinction appertained
to the heavy mustache, and the hol'
low beneath the high cheek bone, the
crows feet around the eyes, the tam
ed, weather beaten ruddiness of hi'
complexion, might have betokened
honorable service in poisonous swamp'
or under burning skies, instead o.
shifty, footsore wanderings with al
ternate hours of want and wickedness
He dragged himself to the dusty
grass beneath the Five Ashes at the
four crossroads. He was faint, fol
the hill had tried him, and sat pant
ing with his back against tree. Their
he opened his box and began rolling
ipfallible pills between his filthy fin
ger and thumb. Their composition
was a secret, but doubtless they did
some people lot of good.
For 20 years his heart had never
softened with sentiment, his sou
never quickened with an aspiration
and now his wandering eyes rested or
a finger post across the road, mechan
ically read: Upton. Leigh. Sutton
Darcy
All so familiar once, and the last
his birthplacel
A strange impulse, absolutely un.
reasonable, for recognition might still
be dangerous, took possession of him.
An 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 chat
finch, and through the filth and fog
of quarter of a century of evil, in
distinct in the fumes of drink and
smothered in Its own futility, CLEAN
ed reminiscence clear and sharp as
the birds note:
An old farmhouse matched and
stone built. with mullioned window 8.
In the guarden tall pear tree, with
yellow buds glistening in the early
spring, and beneath youth with 8
gun peep;ng to get shot. Then 8
man in breeches and hose, elderly
but hale, drawling half humorously:
why, Jack, my bwoyl Thy shots dc
het off 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, ht
slung on his box and limped along
the Sutton road.
At evening he entered The Cups,
an inn on the outskirts Of Sutton
Everything was as formerly-th'
same bench and stools, the same oal
settle by the hearth. Two laborer
playing at shovel board called eacl
other familiar names, and the sing
song of their voices brought back tn
past.
What parish may this be, please
he asked.
'Zutton, replied both Abs and Abe
"A large village?'
''Tidden 20 terrible large.
'Small2'
'Tidden 20 wonderful small.
Satisfied with the subterfuge o
these questions, he sat down and con
tinued eagerly:
ANY O. the name of Craddock liv
here now?'
'Craddock, eh2' grinned Abs. 'Wha
dost zay, Abe?'
Moo fear! said Abe.
He hesitated. But the longing t
know overcame his judgment like th
craving of vice.
'And tne farmer at tne 1oot OF IN
hill. Who lives there?'
'Mr. Craddock, be sure. Varme
William
when l came this way before
somebody-people called Sandford'-
'Ha! hal laughed Abs. Then yo
be woldish bird, not hatched las
summer. Why, the old man have-a
bin dead these 20 years. An tn
maid married Warmer William, an b
took on the farm. But years avor
she thought to a-married one Jack
But he took to hose racen, so tie
} said, and signed somebody's name a
bolted. Never didden hear no NOR
o'he. But you be an old file. Wha
dost zay, Abe9'
Moo fear!' said Abe.
John Craddock nervously rost
, Strengthened his back and fell into hi
familiar patter.
{ sYes. I'm an old soldier, wounde
IN the trenches before Sevastopol an
starved at Cawnpoor, and when L
split my blood and ruined fine cons
titution in the service of my nativ
5 land they gave me my discharge an
threw me upon the world without
!, penny. But, happily, among th
!. prisoners taken by the Bristlsh force
: in that memorable war was the pr
i vate physician to the Rance of Jhans
Q Seeing me wrlthing with rheumatisl
; to which, gentlemen, was then
martyr, his feeling heart confded I
: me, under an oath of secrecy, the il
s estimable blessing of a never failin
y remedy. These pills, gentlemen, tai
9 en- In time are reliable cure. If yc
% have aver seen crooked leps sti