The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-02-21
A CHASTITY TALE
In Two Parts, by R. Penstock.
PART II

AAO dlI was pouring QOWn IN TORRENTS,
while the wind shrieked through the
narrow, dingy street as if it bore upon
its breast the ghoulish imps of hades.
Ny friend and I had been in the
great city Of London two months,
searching day and night for the father
who had so ~mysteriously disappeared.
Thus far our efforts had borne no fruit
age. We were no nearer our goal than
the first day we set foot upon English
soil. Tonight, the most d~isagreeable
out of-doors I yer experienced, Tom
and l CFom McDwefey, I ascertained,
was my friends name, were battling
through the no Wing storm aloog a
narrow profile in the slums Of the city.
In a dream the previous night, Tom
had seen his father in imminent danger
from a gang Of toughs in one of Lon
don's Infamous dives. The vision was
so realistic that Tom remembered the
exact street and number Of the house
his father was in.
Almost blinded by the rain beating
upon our faces, we trudged along gaz-
ing into every window, and carefully
scrutinized every number until finally
Tom sprang forward, thrust his whole
weight against q side door, hurled it
crashing to the floor and rushed into a
dimly-lighted room. followed closely
at his heels, at the same time feeling
for my weapons.
"Stop, cried Tom, leveling his re-
volver at a villainous looking wretch
standing in the center Of the room with
an ~unsheathed dagger in his uplifted
hand, drop that blade or, by heaven,
I'll send a bullet through your coward
ly heart"
In an instant the weapon lay upon
the floor and the man stood with hands
above his head begging for mercy.
Tom" [ cried, seizingh his arm, what
are you doing? What have you to do
with this brawl?"
Without deigning to notice my ques-
tions, Tom rushed to the table, grasped
to his breast q man who sat there and
began to kiss his wrinkled careworn
cheeks.
"O!my father, my father" he ex-
claimed, "at last you are found, my
dear long lost father"
Here Tom broke down, and bitter
tears streamed from his ey es. The
man he called father gazad upon him
in blank establishment.
And who are you," the man in
CURED, as Tom sank into a chair,
that you dare raise such a d of
a rumPus among gentlemen?'
Seeing that something vas wrong 1
laid my hand on Toms shoulder and
said, "OId boy, you have made a mis-
take. Come, apologize and let us get
out of this place"
Father, said Tom, raising and ad-
dressing the mar whom he had just
embraced, don't try to deceive your
own son-that son who promised a dy-
ing mother to ransack the world till he
found you, and who has travelled thou
sands of weary miles and undergone
many hardships in complying with
that sacred promise"
Tom paused and stood silently await
ing an answer. The man glanced fur
lively towards a small opening in the
wall, as if in fear Of some unseen dan
ger. I noticed a vacant stare in his
| eyes, like one in a dream.
Five minutes elapsed and not a soul
had moved CT spoken, Tom and l
were watch ng the man at the table,
when suddenly a crash was heard emf
mating from the real of the room, and
ere we could collect ourselves and as
sumo a defensive attitude we were both
bound, borne out through a rear room
and tumbIed into a dark pit. Horror
of horrors" l exclaimed as a Shiny 90
iect crawled over my face, els it pos
sible we are doomed to be eaten by
vermin in this wretched hole"
Tom only groaned.
How long we lay in this dismal place
I have never been able to ascertain.
When our torturers came to take Us
out neither of us could speak. We had
struggled against the thongs which
held us, and raved for food and water
till nature gave up the contest and we
sank into ins~ensIbility.
Some days later when I regained con
sci0usness, and was able to recognize
what was transpiring around me,
found Tom sitting on a low stool at my
bedside. He discerned the moment
open my eyes and exclaimed, 900
friend, I'm glad to see you coming
around. thought you we're going tc
go hence without bidding your pard