Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-14

and doubtless the good fellows own,
screw of cheap tobacco, and some
matches. He had not touched tobacco
for nine years.
A drinking-fountain supplied him
with the draught Of water which his
fevered throat and parched lips
craved; 1t also enabled him to wash off
some of the blood and dirt from his
torn hands. And then, dragging his
stiff and wounded limb slowly along
and eating his stale bread and cheese
in the sweet sunshine, he made his
morning prisons in the dewy quiet of
the yet unawakened town, and felt a
glow of intense gratitude, which in
creased as the food and water
strengthened him, and exercise
warmed his chill and stiffened frame.
| He was glad to see the houses open
enc by one, and the streets begin to
! fill; he thought he should attract less
attention among numbers. He passed
groups of free laborers hurrying to the
dock. yard to work. and it gave him an
eerie shudder to think that some of
them, whose faces he knew, might
recognize him. His terror increa sed
when he saw a light on a Workman's
face--a race he knew well, for the
man had slipped over the side of the
dock one morning. and was in lmmi-
ncnt danger of being jammed by some
floating timber, when Everard had
promptly sprung after him, regardless
OF prison discipline, and held him up,
/ for he could not swim, till a rope was
brought and the two men were hauled
out bruised but otherwise uninjured.
! The man stopped; Everard went
straight on, not appearing to see him,
and, after u few seconds, to his dis
may, heard footsteps running after
| him. He dared not quicken his pace,
lest he should attract attention, but
the food he was eating stuck In his
| throat, and his face paled. His pur-
suer gained his side, and, Selling his
hand, pressed some pence into 1t, say
Ing, in low tone, "Mum's the word.
mate! AN the ready I've got. Simon
Jones, 80 King street, for help. Bet
ter not stop"
Then Ee turned and resumed his
road, telling his companions some
thing about chum of his down on his
luck, and Eyerard slouched on with n
lightened heart, and increased gra T.
tude for the pence. He had now
nearly two shiilings In his pockets,
and when he had lighted Balfour's
brierwood he felt like king. The last
time he handled coin was when he
the policcstatlon at Oldport, just be-
fore his arrest He bought needle and
thread to repair the tremendous tls-
sure In the unlucky garment which
had played him so i'll trick, and in
two hours time found himself well
clear of the town and suburbs. Pres
emily he found a shed used for shell
tcring cattle, but now empty. This
he entered, and, having with some diff
! ficuty drawn the chief rents in his
clothes together, washed his wound
In trough placed for some cattle to
drink from, and bandaged that and
the worst hurts in his hand with the
HuItlhSItllltl IL " hlSll lht DlthNl anu
cheese was wrapped, lay down on
some litter behind turnip-cutting
machine and In n moment was fast
asleep, utterly oblivious Of prisons,
wounds, and hunger.
When he aw0ke, with the vague con
seriousness of change which heralds
the first waking after decisive event
In life, he felt strangely unprotected
sensation on looking up at the blue
Sky, which showed through the gaps
In the slightly matched roof, and sec
ing green pasture, with cattle graz.
ing upon 1t, spread broad and sunny
before him on the unwalled side of the
shed, instead OF the close white walls
of the cell His sleep had been so pro
found and refreshing that it took him
some seconds to recall the events which
preceded It. Hunger and the sun told
| him 1t was late afternoon; prudence
bid him rest the wounded leg, but
buy food first.
A short walk along the dusty high
road brought him to a little general
shop at the entrance to n village,
where he bought Il penny loaf and n
little cheese. and was co"founded by
the atfabllity of the mistress OF the
shop, tidy young Woman, with n
child In her arms.
Warm walking" she observed. as
she weighed the cheese.
at Is warm" he faltcrcd, with a
strange embarrassment; for he had
been addressed by no woman since
the bitter horr of his parting from
Lillian, nine years ago, and had con
fused Idea that he must be very ~.
spectful to every one in virtue Of his
low position.
"rramped far" she added, wrapping
/ the morsel Of cheese In paper.
no ma'Am; only from Portsmouth"
he replied aud. taking his purchase
with THANK you" and touch of
his hat he was limping out, when the
woman called him back. Seems ~
me you've been Ill, and you've seen
better days by the sound OF your