The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-03
THE

people said they hadn't n doubt that the
whole stock OF Hevills on tho male line had
been SO from their first start, and would
continue to be so till the end OF time.
The family some years before had drifted
from somewhere, and after q few yeara
more had drifted TO somewhere else. Moth
ing was heard Of them until ono day there
came back Tom. then a grown man. Every
body know him because. although three
times as big as when no Q away. he had
the same old face and the same old sumter.
ing ways. All tho things he brought. be
sides what he had on, were a pair Of socks
IN his coat pocket and two extra shirts
tod up in a handkerchief. He had
just come back, he said. to see once more
the people and the old place. and profsssod
TO feel oratifled TO find everything holding
its w 80 we'll. He gave IL out. while sit.
ting in the piazza OF TLomlson's store,
that he was not expecting to stay longer
than a week, or n fortnight, or some such
matter. Being q not uninterestinG talker.
they were not displeassd to sec him, and
when night came, somebody OF course must
invite him to meals and lodging; for hos
pitality was regarded n sacred duty by
everybody. rich and poor, without regard
to the quality of people needing il. Tom
knew that we'll. else he would have felt less
secure in coming there without a dollar in
his pocket. Dividing himself fairly among
old acq~uaintances during the promised
fortnight's %sojourn, and continuing to do
80 for several weeks beyond. suspicions bo-
gnn to rise that his expectation was to stay
there forever.
Now the question rose. and, svsn among
the best church membors, began to be dis
cussed. as to whether or not the Bible in
enjoininR hospitality. meant that the peo-
pie were bound to extend it NOS only in
definitely but with prospective cndlossness
to one single guest who was known %univers-
ally not to be worth as much az the salt he
was allowed to sprinkle over his viotuals.
One day a leading citizen, even q deacon OF
the church. on whom Tom had foraged
most remorselessly. quoted, In his hearing,
although not at his own house nor address
ing him personally. the saying Of st. Paul:
IF a man will not work, neither shall be
eat" Tom cordially conceded, and looked
as if nobody could get ahead Of him in CON
tempt for such worthleas, low-down trash.
In time familiarity in several households
made invitations which had censed to DO
extended entirely unnecessary; and SO he
kept resorting promisouously to various
families, and acting ~ If hs was q cherished
member in every one of them.
III bhC toWn ~SA0 hAO AoO "Aol4 ~
seems we'll to introduce in ordor to help in
the illustration of this case. These were
DR.. James Reeder. his wifs's cousin. John
Bush, ESQ.,, and Squire Jacob Bracket.
The first was q young physician who was
making nearly enough to live on; the sec
ond was a young lawyer who hoped to do
the same before very long; and the third
was n %justice of the peace, extremely fond
of the costs and fees of hin Office, and Of
such notoriety as he could got. .Keeder
kept a small house on the edge Of the vii
siderinR his limited incipient practice and
the irregular payments of John Bush, his
one bonrder. Tom How'll fell in there
moro than elsewhere, partly because they
all three had been schooltellows, but Of
late particularly beeause'o OF increased init
nations received at the other houses that
his room was thought as good as his COM
pany-at some evon better.
In time hints were thrown out as to
Squire Brackett's apparent ignorance Of An
important section of the penal code, by
which such such aperson as1om Hevill was
deemed Il vsRrant. and. on arrest by war
rant OF a %justjos of the peaoe, was liable
upon failure to give sufficient security "for
his good behavior and future industry for
one year" to be cons.Rned to the p~oniten-
tiary. His attention being called to a duty
of which heretofore he had been ignorant,
Squire Bracket decided to make a move
ment.
us there such a law?" asked Resdsr one
day at the dinner table. II didn't know of
H."
ooh. yeas," answered Bush; "and Br.ck-
ett is fixing up his papers a. well a. no can
find out how"
"Penitentiary, Cousin John?" exclaimed
Mrs. Keeder. II thought they sent there
only rogues and such a. that"
MARTHA" said her husband. with pro-
foundly solemn face. you'd better w TO
find out what law there is against harbot.
ing vagrants. II there should be any we'd
better look out for ourselves." Then he
went to carving his meat with great vigor.
II don't know what on earth you mean.
husband!' But her alarm subsidized after a
hearty laugh from John Bush. and she said:
AREN'T you ashamed to put Cousin John
in the Same lot with poor Tom Hevill2"
II never put him there, sakos knows. If
he's there. he got there by his own doiugs-
rather by his not doings; and 1t would look
hard If innocent industrious people had to
suffer for it."
'its a right good joke" said Bush, and
the better beonuse of the truth In IL. But
no. Cousin Martha; fortunately for you,
there is no law against mere harborsrs. and
the thing to consider IS what is best for
Tom. who has an linking OF tho case and
has appealed to mo for help. told him
that If it was me, l should run away"
lyon die. did you?' asked the Doctor.
IBID he ask you why some other people of
tho same sort hadn't done the same?"
ENC. l intimated similar necessity for
myself some day, and added that for q gear
or 30 after getting your shsspskin-and in
deed until your intsrmarriags with Cousin
Martha-1 wasn't sure that you were an.
titely free from apprehension thereto your
self"
Good p cried Mrs. Resder, olaspino her
hands.
Two days thereafter, Hevill having de-
Iclined to run away, tho arrest took place.
Accompanied by his oounsel and several
Icitizens. among whom he noticed very few
Iof those who had been honored most by his
Ivisitations. the defendant repaired to the
court house. The justice, with u becoming
Ifrown OF seriousness. ordered his constable
TO hand the book TO the first witness.
MY il please the court" INTERRUPTED
bush, II ask respectfully il il may not be
first to find out II possible whsther
Bor not the prisoner has other besides
,nei ely visible means of support. NV un-
|dersthnding of the law il that it never
to punish a man for not work
ing II he has money to enable him TO 1.-Two
without it,"
Thu court, smiling with contempt. paused.
nnd bystanders laughed Hloud at the very
idea. After casting a look of humane re-
|pronoh all around. Bush asked:
M. Hevill, have you any money, sir?"
"Yes, sir, a little" was the answer. in
differently spoken.
About how much, sir-nigh az you oxn
ut IL by guessing"
From his various pookets Tom handed
put silver dollars, halves. qusrtors, seven
bences and thrips, and to the d~isoomtitura