Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-21


He would have felt less pain in APP
plying for money to Lillian than 10
airy Of those on whom he had more
direct claim, but who had so totally
cast him off AS it CHANGED, however.
she had his watch and chain. which
he had lent to Mrs. Maitland on the
very morning Of his arrest, and he
only needed the value Of that for his
immediate purpose, which was to get
decent working garments, and, as soon
as his hair was grown, to try for
passage to America. If Lillian cared
to apply 10 his family and they
offered large aid well. He would not
refuse help, save from Cyril; but he
would not ask it.
He worked on for three or four
days, till the farmer had got all his
hay in; then he was obliged to try
elsewhere, and, in trying, lost several
days. Every few days he returned to
Hawkburne to see If there were any
answer to his letter, and every time
a keener disappointment seized
him. He got 4 days work here and
an hours job there during the next
fortnight, but no regular work.
When he got money, he dared not
spend it on a meal; he knew that he
must husband it for the days when
there was no work. What with poor
food and open-air sleeping. and the
cough and rheumatism which he got
that night in the damp tree, he fell
into poor condition, and. though his
hands were almost healed. and the
gunshot-WOund no Longer caused him
to limp, people did not care to en-
ploy such Il gaunt, starved hollow
checked man.
He had passed three weeks in lib
ertv, and had been several days with
out work; for 1t was an unfortunate
time. Hay-making was just ended,
and harvest not yet begun; everybody
was at leisure, and no one wanted
any odd jobs done. His only chance
was to wait until harvest But wait
ing was the difficulty. He looked at
the richly waving fields. mellowing
day by day, and knew by their tints
that 1t must be week or two before
the first was ready for the scythe
How close at hand harvest seemed to
the farmers and their busy house
wives! Visits must be paid and pur-
chaSes made in town because harvest
was so near; but how far off it seemed
to Everard, seen across a gulf of star
walton! The work house meant certain
detection and capture; he resolved to
beg.
He had been two days without food,
and dragged his faint limbs back to
Hawkburne late one Saturday after
noon, to inquire once more for the
letter and remittance. which surely
could not fail to arrive now. In the
event of being absent or ill., Lillian
must have got his letter by this time,
and would certainly send a reply at
once, even If by another hand. 1t
was scarcely worth while to beg on
the road back 70 Hawkburne, help
being so near, He pulled himself to-
gether, and entered the little posi-
office with quite n jaunty air; but one
glance at the postmistresS was enough.
to speak.
Nothing for you, Stone"
care you quite sure? Have You
looked" he asked, turning many
shades pa1er
Looked? yes. And nice trouble I've
had with you worrying day after day
these three weeks, and much thanks
| get for it," she replied, snappishly;
for 1t was Saturday. and she had just
taken her hands from the scrubbing-
pain for the third time for nothing.
and had had nobody at hand to scold
I'LL the afternoon, and the baby had
just awoke with a terrific screech.
Il am sorry to have troubled you"
he returned; "but | can not under
stand it. The letter was so important
My friends know how desperately
hard up | am and the remittance
was my own money"
II dare say. Why don't you take
and 80 to your friends? Keeping me
here all day, and this blessed child
she had run and fetched the infant,
WITCH " as SCIt'tllilllS anu hIShluS with
titty-haby power in her arms-"a pre-
cious dear! and its mother worried with
tl'amps then. There, there!"
81 thought, perhaps." he added,
raising his voice above the madden
ing din, cit might have been over.
looked. Accidents do happen, ma'am,
however careful people are. If you
would be so kind us to search again"
81 dare say, indeed! There! look
yourself then, unbelicvinG Jew-there,
there, mothers prcoious!-and get
along out Of my shop with you this
miuute!"
"lf you will give me a sheet OF
paper for the love Of Heaven. and let
me write again"
go out Of the shop, l tell ye!'
cricd the angry woman, deaf to all his
entreatieS.
He sat down in the hedge by the
roadside in utter despair What IL
Lillian were dead? Even then others
womb rNoI thn 1pttnr Hold Sha for