The Press., 1894-07-26


 l ''But they are rightp' he went on, as if talking to himself. ''It is indeed a disgrace to associate with jailbirdl' l He stopped as though he expected me to order him off. He waited in vain, however, for though astounded at his disclosure I said not word.
 Whether one became such through his own desert or if he be really bad man no one ever takes the trouble to ask. It is enough that he has worn the striped jacket. He must be 8 rascal ,
 ''You have really experienced this yourself?'' I asked.
 "What, I? Do you really think SO, sir? Ha, ha, hap' His laugh was forced and shrill. Suddenly his mannas changed.
 Forgive me, sir!' said he, with sur- prising quietness. ''The miserable busi- ness belongs to years gone by. never like to stir it up, but as you have been so kind I would not have you get a wrong impression of me, so listen and despise me if you can."
 He packed up his implements, threw his sack over his shoulder and started on his way. -"-a
 'I'm bound for s S,'' said l. "Are you going the same way?"
 ''The same, sir, whichever way you go. I am everywhere-or rather, mo- where-at home" l We walked on and soon entered again the magnificent wood. But its beauty found me indifferent now. was all ab- sorbed in the mysterious man at my side, whose eyes were fixed intently 1 upon the messy earth. "You were going to tell me your sto- 1 ry,'' said I, taking up the conversation where we had left off.
 'I was going to-yes. But really, now, I'm almost sorry said so. How ever, promised, and I must keep my word, for somehow you're different from the rest
 l He struck match and lighted his pipe, which he had already filled with my tobacco.
 ::.One would never think, to look at me now" said he after @ few pulls at his pipe, "that was the son of rich farmer. An, truly, time can do strange things with men! My father-blessed be his memory-was wrong when he sc often said, nearly 30 years ago, that his wild boy wouldn't live to see many years. I've seen only too many of them
 ''There was my brother Xavier-an entirely different sort of fellow-my ex- act opposite While I wandered the whole day long in the woods he would sit boring over books thick with dust even in our grandfathers' day which he found in the garret.
 ''In the catechism he stood at the head The pastor had not met so indus. trious a boy ill years.
 "And I? Oh, was good for moth. ing, who deserved whipping every day! got it often enough, too, and il | didn't agree so badly with me either, fo1 I grew to be such big fellow as couldn't be matched in the neighbor- hood
 ''I think for one while there wasn't a village fair in the vicinity where didn't play the rowdy. This would have been pretty bad state of affairs if ii had lasted long, but an end soon came to it-an end which I would gladly have exchanged for an honest stab in a tavern brawl. It happened thus:
 "Can you see, sir, that old tumble down hut over there between those two larches? Twelve years ago that was the home of an old day laborer. It is easy to be seen that wealth had no place there, but the house was kept by Marie, the old mans daughter-a girl so pret ty that the angels in heaven might have rejoiced to look at her. What wonder was it that I often stopped to chat with her over the fence or fasten a nosegay in her bodice Oil my way home? .: 'Well, the summer passed away, and when winter came on, raw and cold, | and I had no excuse for wandering among the mountains, still something drew me irresistibly to those old paths, and could not let single day go by without seeing Marie.
 "Her father saw how matters were going, but he made no objections. Fol while he knew that I was wild sort of scamp he did not believe there was anything really bad ill me- And he was not mistaken.
 ''The time came at last when I must acquaint my father with the state of af fairs. Oh, but you should have seen, sir, the storm it raisedl It had never entered into my lovesick brain that Ma rie was the daughter of a poor peasant The old man was stubborn, and equal ly so. For six whole weeks I did not sit down to meal with him. Xavier i1 the meanwhile was all devotion. And he was right-my noble brother-fo, was I not making my choice between Marie and my share of the property?
 "Just then it seemed as if heaven it. self meant to spoil his calculations. The dreaded day for the military draft came on. I had the year before drawn the lucky number which exonerated mt from service. It was now Xavier's tur1 to try the wheel of fortune
 "He drew blank, and unless 8 sub stitute should be provided he must with in few days join the army.
 My father was inconsolable. A sub stitute was no easy thing to obtain, .es pecially as the very air seemed full o. ominous portents, and any day migh come the news that war had been de clared.
 "A thought flashed through my mind I swallowed my pride on the instan and once more entered the old man. presence.
 " Father, said l, if you will giv' your consent to my marriage witt Marie, will be Xavier's substitute. l sHFbroo 6orc lo+o,. r xx,oc xx1oo rincp %I,.