Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-03-02

as quiet as a lamb when the drinks
| not in him. Bless you, this very min
ute I'll wager, he's crying like achild. :
I'D give him summit to cry for,
responded the virago, with an oath.
There isn't better man than my
Bill going-not when he's sober" re-
| sponded the young woman; otis just
| the drink"
"Cuss the drink" said stout, short
woman, who had not before spoken;
II wish there wasn't a drop in the
world, that | do. | was lushy myself
three days last week, and [ lost two
pawn-tickets out ofmy pocket, or they
was stolen, that was worth fifty pound
to me. That what I'm here about. =
"Stocker's been steady now for a
good bit, too, "'said man who stood
near the wife. II was hoping he'd got
over it.
ooh, it's them he's among" said
the young woman. He'd be right
enough as far as depends on himself,
but one of the gentlemen had a benefit
last night, and he was very free with
the men, treating 'em, and that. A
very little upsets my master, God help
him"
$50 he give you benefit, said one,
with a grin.
"He should take the pledge" put in
another.
The woman did not seem to heed
them much; she had moved closer to
the little groop, and was engaged in
observing little Ida,
Meanwhile, Tom had found the OPP
portunity to slip between the crowd
until he stood close behind her, and,
amid the hubbub of the court, he
could speak to her freely.
Ida" he asked, 'where is your
mother? how was you out by your
self"
ooh, Tom, said the child, tearfully,
''mother has been ill for three days,
and this morning she could not get up
out OF bed, and there was no break
and, oh, what will they do, Tom?
mother will be SO bad, and me not
there; and she won't know what has
become Of me!''
The tears swelled to her eyes again,
but she was too much awed to let
them fall. Instinctively, amid the
rude crowd she turned to Tom as her
only stay and guardian, and, unable
to give him her hand, she leaned back
her head till her poor feverish cheek
touched the course apron and cordu
roys behind her, as if they had con-
stituted pillar of support.
Tom quite understood the action,
but his male intelligence grasped at
temporary consolation his presence
could yield.
'Look here, Ida," he said; IT must
60 and tell mother-they II ask for her;
| must fetch her, If she can come, and
if she can't must bring Mrs. Smith
1.-THE landlady OF the house where Mel
ly lodged).
ooh, Tom, don't go away-please,
Tom" the child began, in alarm, and
turning to him as far as shecould
The boy looked around him in some
perplexity-what could he do? he
knew what was the value Of time in
such case. Not for the world would
he see the poor child remanded, even
for an hour, to the chill comfort of a
police cell; yet how leave her? and who
but himself could be the messenger?
In this dilemma, his eyes met those
of the young woman who had spoken
of her husband, and whom he had not
before noticed.
II have seen your face before" she
said, addressing him.
Yes" said Tom, recognizing her; II
came to your place at Ellington once
or twice, with some bills that we was
late with. Your husband belongs to
the Little Jewel and his names
Stoker, amt it?"
"Worse luck was the. reply II
thought | remembered you. Is tbsst
your sister,
Tom answered in the negative, and
then, moved by the compassion he
saw in the face OF the womany he
briefly and with wonderful rNpidItv
communicated the facts c& the. case,.
and the prepleNity he was in.
''You 60" said the woma1a, decided
ly; ''you 90 at once. and if the. mother
can come anyway, YOU bring her. I'll
see to the little glrl-you never fear
he'll be all right when he cogaes' out,
and only too glad not to- face me. I'll
do quite as we'll for her. as yoal could; =
and" she added, in al whisper, the
policeman'sa friend of mine, land WON'T
be hard if | speak for ber-gou just
cut away.
Tom followed her advice. mot SO
quickly but that the look of agony
which passed overtheface Of Little Ida
went to his heart; but he knew it was
a matter OF necessity, and, as he sped
on his GRAND, it only once crossed his
mind that he was in a fair way not
only to forfeit all chance OF promo
ton, but to lose his employment al
together, and embroil himseM with his
mother past all chance of reconcilia-
ton. AS the possibility crossed his
mind of her demandingh his i1mmolatiom
at the shrine OF Thatcher ais the only
possible expiation, he exclaimed eHG-
phatically and aloud
''I'll go to sea firstp'
This was the sole allusion Tom per-
mitted himself to his OWE affairs; his
Ell