Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-11-23
BOUND SADLY HOME.


one side Of his narrow head, the worm
out livery coat with epaulets. even ths
leathern strap, suspending from his
shoulder his box of knavish wares. af-
fected military air and countenanced
his lies and receptions.
The face was not repulsive even now.
Some distinction appertained to the
heavy mustache, and the hollow be-
meath the high cheek bone, the crows
feet around the eyes, 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
wickedness.
He dragged himself to the dusty grass
beneath the give Ashes" at the four
crossroads. He was faint, for the hill
had tried him, and sat painting with his
back against u tree. Then he opened his
box and began rolling infallible pills be-
tween his filthy finger and thumb. Their
Gull WCo " 0CSACb, DAU NOuUtlCo5
they did some people lot of good.
For 20 years his heart had never sof-
tened with q sentiment, his soul never
quickened with an aspiration, and now
his wandering eye, resting on finger
post across the road, mechanically read:
Upton. Leigh. Sutton-Darcy."
All so familiar once, and the last his
birthplace!
A strange impulse, absolutely unrea-
sonable, 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 chaffinch, and
through the filth and fog of quarter Of
century of evil, indistinct in the fumes
of drink and emothered in its own fulfil
ity, cleaned a "reminiscences clear and
sharp as the birds note:
An old farmhouse matched and stone
built, with 'mullioned windows. In the
garden q tall pear tree, with yellow buds
glistening in the early spring and be-
meath youth with gun peeping to get
shot. Then man in breaches and hose,
elderly, but hale, drawling half humor-
ously: "Why, Jack, my bwoy! Thy shots
do 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, he
slung 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, please?' he
asked.
"Zutton," replied both Abs and Abe.
"a large vilIage?"
"Tidden 20 terrible large"
"Small!"
"Tidden 10 wonderful small"
Satisfied with the subterfuge of these
questions, he sat down and continued
eagerly:
"Any O the name of Craddock live
here now!'
"Craddock, eh?" grinned Abs. "What
dost gay, Abe?"
sNoo fear!' said Abe.
He hesitated. But the longing tC
know overcame his Judgment like the
craving Of a vice.
"And the farm at the foot Of the hill
Who lives there?"
"Mr. Craddock, be sure. Warmer
William"
when came this way before, some
body-people called Sandford"-
cha! ha!' laughed Abs. "Then you
be a woldish bird, not Matched last sum
mer. Why. the old man have a-bin deat
these 20 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
so ties said, an signed somebody's name
an bolted. Never didden hear no more
O. he. But you be old file. What dos
gay, Abe?'
"Noo fear' said Abe.
| John Craddock nervously rose
Strengthened bis back and fell into hi
familiar patter.
"Yes I'm an cid so!dicy, wounded il
the trenches before Sevastopol and
starved at Cawnpoor, and when I'd spill
nv blood and ruined fine constitution
in the service of my native land the!
gave me my discharge and threw nj
upon the world witso,st & penny. But
happily, among tho prisoners taken b.
the British forces in that memorable wa
was the private physician to the Rane
Of Jhansi. Seeing inc writhing witt
rheumatism-tow which, gentlemen, I wa
then martyr-his feeling heart confide'
to me, under an oath of secrecy, the in
estimable BLESSING Of never failing
remedy. These pills, gentlemen, takel
in time are reliable cure. If you hay
ever seen crooked legs, stiff arms or