The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-06
THE TRUANT.


dwell in the former rather than the latter. ."
The wall surrounding the Place of Vel
low Brick Is built of the same material,
and partly in steps, because the ground
runs down bill. Outside its northern face
arc broken road, disheveled palings,
clump of stunted fir trees and breeny brown
downland stretching into the mist of dis
tance; inside IL pigsties, gas wsrks and
vegetable plots. All this part Of the seen
cry Is fixed. Nobody but the county coun
Gil can alter it, and it likes 1t as IL is.
Four O'Clock on November afternoon.
A man hoeing one Of the vegetable plots,
and the sun looking at the whole map OF
them slantwiso with watery smile. A
thrush in the fE clunp mingling its song
with the click of the hoe against the
Hints. That particular scene can never be
reproduced, not even by the county council.
= At the end of the last row but three OF
his plot the man stopped and looked back
ut his work.
"Only three more" he said, land
then He checked himself, and with an
uneasy, haggard glance at the wall bent
10 his task again.
Another row done; another halt. Then
an uncomfortable impulse seized him, and
ne knelt down, covering his eyes with his
hand.
LEAD us not into temptation, - he said
"Why do they give me plot SO near the
walls 1t comes over me worse today. !"
He continued hoeing with an effort. II
was cold day, but the perspiration stood
thick on his forehead, because there was
something in his head working, too, hard
er than the hoe. 1t was perhaps only a
coincidence, but the last row was finished
just as the head work became too swift
and pressing to permit Of It, He did not
raise his eyes, but looked hard at the
ground at his feet. The cloud lifting from
his brain created a strange series of pangs.
which made him afraid to move.
"Its almost past bearing" no eaid
gently.
The thrush was singing louder in the a,
elump, and the sun cast one final gleam
before disappearing behind tho hank OF
black cloud in the west.
"It is my last chance" said the man
louder. And the yellow wall cast it back
IN his teeth-''last chance"
That decided for him. He sh0uldered
his hoo and shufied down between the
rows to the wall, stopping opposite but
tress. Without further thought Of how OF
why he planted the hoe against the wall,
crooked his fingers round the farther side
OF the buttress, and placed a heel on pro
jecting brick. In moment his other foot
was on the top Of the hoo and his hand
touched the coping. The drop on tho out
or side was a yard more than no had tc
climb, and the shock sent him staggering
into the muddy road with sensation OF
Jared heels and kpces upstrung. A strange,
dead pain shot through him hs he straight.
ened himself and looked round. Tho feel
ing of guiltincss had disappeared. He left
1t with his hoe on the other side of the
wall. He had no fears now--no, non
doubts His path was clear, across the
stretch Of down into tho mist. With o
quick step he set out, stumbling over the
fiints ard little, stubborn bushes, now
picking his way, now pushing doggedly
ahead, regardless of obstacles. In-spite
OF tho roughness Of the ground, in spite OF
growing brcafhlessncss, there came to him
a comforting sense Of triumph and prog.
ress.
Farther and farther. The mist, It seemed
TO him, must be getting much nearer
now, though 1t looked as fur off as ever.
Suddenly the we'll known tones Of bell
made him start and wheel round. There
was the wall n few hundred yards away,
and the chimneys Of the dreadful place he
had left standing out sharply against the
sky. He stood for q moment irresolute
The dusk was sweeping up In waves now
sEs the jagged sopes Of black cloud filed one
by one into the waning light. He w,,.
'o0mcd 1.-THE comip- darkness, ft would
20 timo for peaceful reflection after the
turmoil of tho last few hours. Only he
must find hiding place first. Anywhith.
er then, as his feet might lead him. II
would not take very long, and he was not
quite tired out. On he went, in a xigzaR
course athwart the slope, In his own
Imagination striding along, without look.
ing right or left, and compelling his grow.
ing thoughts within their lair, till he
should have leisure to draw them forth.
The decrepit figure, with its wildly wav.
ing hands, made a strange appearance az
IL ambled across the rutty road at tho foot
OF the slope and diycd helplessly into the
scrub and thorn bushes beyond. His
hoarse painting sounded strangely through
the still air, and he was muttering be-
tween his sobs You might have heard
him had you been there for somo seven
minutes more. Then would have fallen
on your ears sound Of cracking twigs;
then silence. Sinking down where the
straight stems Of hazel grew thin In the
middle Of the shaw, n delicious sense OF
wrapt up solitude stole over him, shutting
out everything but self, and waiting him
imperceptibly into a strange land of hall
awakened memories and half unrcalized
dreams. The damp moss on which ne rest.
ed became 70 him rs light as clouds, and
ne fioated on IL 20 and fro, in a gradually
Frightening paradise, which was his own
There was no impatience in his soul fol
the full glory Of the vision. He would
wait gladly for Its appointed time. IL
hook from side 10 side and sec softly iilu
mined faces in constant gaze on his wa,
enough, almost moro than enough. Ant
now he sank little farther back ans
raised one arm above his head. The ligh
was brighter, and IN iDdistinct outline o
houses rose out Of the cloud. The fsin
"wop wop" Of . blnckbird, who had beef
disturbed by this Intrusion into his nativ
shaw, and who was now returning b
stages from far corner, awoke him. Tn
bird, ~ is It's wont, hew past, uttering
shriek opposite 10 his hiding place. III
did not quite realize where no was. Dark
nees had settled on black and impeuetrs
- - I'll hoSv N mi =,