The record-union., 1897-08-22

own that she had been right to try to
keep him out of harms way. If she
had her way every one in the village
should come and see for themselves the
kind of husband she had-lying there
dead drunk against the stocks, as in
old days man would be clapped into
fast enough for misbehaving same as
him. 1t would serve him right to pop
him in now-give him a good lesson,
it would, and let the neighbors know
his goings on. Margery had good
mind
She stopped suddenly, and began
pushing and hauling at Jacks PROSTATE
form. She was a vigorous woman for
her time of life, and soon got him into
the requisite position. A momentary
compunction struck her as she moved
away after she had finished her task,
and she looked back several times.
The old figure looked so forlorn.
propped up against the bench, the
white head hanging forward, the feet,
with their knitted socks of blue yarn
and their huge clogs insecurely bal
anced on the toes, protruding stiffiy
from either hole But she would not
allow herself to be softened. 1t was
for his good, after all, and he deserved
lesson.
1t was quite dark when Jack came to
himself, feeling cold and stiff and i'll
at ease. A lantern was flashing in his
eyes, and quite a number of faces were
bending over him.
what's to do?'' he murmured con-
fusedly WHEREVER have | got to?"
He felt the grass beneath his hands,
and was astonished to find he could
not move his legs.
I've had a stroke, I doubt" he said
to himself, his consciousness returning
with a sudden keen throb of anguish
and fear. Il mum ha' had a stroke -
he repeated aloud. '..Wheers our Mar
gerry? Wheeriver am I?''
Nay lad said some one, ''ye
haven't had no stroke. Ye're i th'
stocks, that's wheer ye are, rect
enough"
It's your missus as has served we a
bit of trick" chimed in another voice,
and then there came a laugh. ''Eh,
she's gradely one, is Margery O. Gilly-
f'ersi She clapped ye into the stocks,
ovid lad when ye was fuddled, and left
we your lone to get sober"
''Well, twas a shame remarked an
other speaker. eff it hadn't ha' been
for me I doubt she'd have left We here
for th' meet. I only wish I'd ha' lit on
ye before, an west ha' gotten ye out
a bit sooner
They had released him by this time
and helped him to rise. Poor old Gilly-
fer Jack! He felt as if he were the
victim Of nightmare, with the light
flaring in his eyes, the crowd of faces
surrounding him, one or two laughing,
the others wearing a look of pity quite
as humiliating to the independent old
fellow. And-what was it they were
saying?
My missus-put me i th' stocks!"
he muttered after a moment or two,
staring blankly from one to the other
"She-put me i tn stocks! Our Mar
gerry, as has been wed to me this five
an'-thirty year, Did ye say she put
me i tn stocks?"
"Ah, Joe Whiteside's Tommy saw her
didn't ye Tommy? He was fright
ened to tell us, he says Eth. but We
should ha' told us. Tommy. Why, poor
ovid Jack theer might ha' been dead
afore mornin'l"
Jack pulled himself together with a
Sort of shfver, and, pushing through
his friends, set off walking hurriedly
in the opposite direction to the village
How'd on, owd chap! Yon's not the
way home" cried one of the men, run
ming after him.
I'm not going home" said Jack. "I'll
never go home no more. Ye can tell
hnr co e~ol+ L
again.
He would listen to no remonstrances,
and, shaking off the hands which
sought to detafn him, struck out again,
and presently disappeared into the
darkness.
He walked on doggedly for hours,
though his limbs shook and his head
felt dizzy and queer. He was thor
oughly exhausted, when at last in the
cold gray dawn he made out the unde-
fined shape of a shed in a field near the
road.
II nun lay me down a Bit he said
to himself, cor else I'll drop down. En-
to think I should come to this-sleepin
i tn fields same as a trampi He
thought of the warm feather bed at
home, and the pile of blankets, and the
fiannel-lined patchwork quilt. Margery
no doubt was tucked up quite comfort
ably, while he was outside in the cold
dew. Perhaps she thought he was
still in the stocks. Very like she did.
he unused, and a big sob rose up in
his throat Oh, that she should have
served him so-Margery his missus
There was not much sleep for Jack,
I,,4 !, n -,
and rose up at last, aching in every
limb. After pursuing his march for
some hours he found himself in a big
manufacturing town, through the
streets of which he shuff1ed, jostled at
every step by the passers-by, and feel
ing puzzled and not a little alarmed.
Tt was lucky for him that with all
his timidity and simplicity, he retained
a certain amount of shrewdness, and
did not manage his affairs so badly as
might have been expected, ON the
whole. He engaged room in a quiet
back street, and, after knocking about
for a day or two till his little stock of
money got low, was fortunate enough
to obtain employment-not very re-
munerative employment, but still suffi-
cient to pay for his food and lodging
and to keep him supplied with t'shag."
He was SO quiet and good -natured. so
regular in his goings and comfngs. and
SO easily pleased, that the good people
of the house grew quite fond of him. He
had his own place in a corner by the
fire in the little parlor behind the shop
and here of an evening he would smoke
a pipe with the master of the house
while the "missus'' retired up stairs to
put the children to bed. 1t was long
before Jack could get out of the way
of hastily. pocketing his pipe and as