The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-03-13
1896. NO.
he was abundantly fed, and such ad.

he was abundantly fed, and such ad-
vantage did he take of this novel expert
ence that on the second day he began to
suffer from an alarming disorder. A Sc
we're pain oppressed his breathing, and
his heart throbbed violently. At length,
utterly overcome, he lay gasping as if
for life. A doctor had to be summoned.
Soon there followed second and no
less violent attack. William had secret
ly eaten two large cucumbers and a
pound of cheese. He paid the penalty.
Work, from the first not only distasteful,
but difficult, was for some days impossi-
BILE.
Presently it appeared that he had
caught very bad cold. He was threat
ened with congestion of the lungs.
Writing to the lady of the manor, the
doctor explained to her that William 8
constitution had suddenly broken down
in consequence of tho great and sudden
change. There would have to be care.
Figuratively and literally this poor fell
low had as good as no legs to stand
upon. He seemed ripe for all manner of
diseases. If his diet and habits were
not strictly regulated, the result might
be lamentable.
A month went by. William had pre-
tended to work, but always gave up on
the plea of weakness. He looked very
miserable and did not talk much. His
cough was bad. One day, after splitting
on the gravel walk, he showed the gar
dened a red stain. Mr.. Brown, though
he did not like William, looked trou-
bled.
"Ever seen that afore now?"
Ruefully and resentfully the other de-
clared that he had never known what it
was to have anything the matter with
him. Then he went apart into quiet
spot and lay on the grass and was beset
with terrors. Moreover, great wrath
awoke in him. He cursed the place and
the people and above all the we'll mean
ing lady who had sent him into exile.
Faroff London called to him with ire
sistible lure He longed for the streets,
the noises, tho smells, for his old COM
panions, for the lurking places of his
homeless nights. Money he had none. AS
yet his weekly wages only paid for board
and lodging But, with or without
money, he would get back to London.
His purpose must be secret. If the en-
emy got wind of it, he would be forci-
bly, detained.
That evening he contrived to make a
stealthy entry into the grapehouse and
to cut the roots of all the vines. Early
the next morning he did the like dam
age to number of rose trees. A poor
revenge, but it soothed him. Suspecting
that his malfeasance among the vines
must soon be discovered, he held him
self in readiness for flight at any mo-
ment, ard while listening eagerly for
every word spoken by the people about
him he sought new forms OF mischief.
His troublesome cough kept him in
mind of the wrong he had suffered. 1t
urged him to malicious activity. But
before he could do anything worse than
pinch blossoms off certain valuable
plants the alarm struck upon his ear.
"Hoy, London Bill Mr.. Brown wants
you, and look sharp"
1t was one of the undergraduates
shouting from a distance. In sudden
terror, in mad desire for liberty and
home, he SUNK rapidly out of sight,
then took to his heels.
In the night, at village some 20
miles away, the constable came upon a
tramp who lay helpless by the roadside
"Severe hemorrhage from the lungs, ="
said the doctor. And, but few days
later, William Higgs was again trans
planted, this time to yet more quiet
locality where no work would ever be
asked of him.