River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-04-22

ottA ANA SAAthS NAShih NOlhs AHe pOt-
ter remarked.
Harborde nodded his head. yet longed
to tell him that he was an innocent man.
The porter, however, had vanished, to
return in a few moments with paper.
Here, mate" lie exclaimed, with
rough kindness. You won't know all
y yesterdays news, Ill go bail"
Harborde seized the paper. No! he
knew nothing of yesterdays news. nor
that of thousands of days which had
once been yesterday. He could see
nothing at first. The print swan in a
confused tumble l'efore his eyes. When
his sight cleared he commenced to read.
How strange it was! He used to be a
great reader before he became NO. 81"
And now he seemed to know nothing
of the world. New names confronted
him everyw here. Names of those in
authority, names of towns. names even
of countries. Where was Mashonaland
and Matabeleiand? He was confused.
He read on. This delicious uew-found
turmoil of the world. how good it was
after all.
At last his eye caught a small par
agraph slowed away at the bottom of
the third column on page six of the
paper. He read it and reread IL over
and again. Her majesty. the queen,
has been graciously pleased to pardon
Thomas Harborde. who was convicted
of forgery at the Winchester assizes
some ten years ago. and who is now
completing his sentence of Is years
penal seryitude at Portland. Harborde
will be released this morning. The step
has been taken in consequence of the
dying confession of man at Bristol"
Nothing mere. Now he knew why he
had been released. And so death had
taken Edward Tilwell out of the hands
of justice. 1t was hardly fair of death
The porter came up whistling to tell
him the train would start in ten min
utes. He got up. thrust the paper into
the mans hands, and pointed to the
paragraph.
That's me-"
"YOu Thomas HarborGe?" exclaimed
the man. Then all I've got to say is it's
a hanged shame the queen didn't send a
coach-and-six for you. Let's have your
hand. man. to wish you good luck. Got
a missis? No? So much the better;
poor soul. If you had. it would cut her
up terrible"
NO." said Harborde, as though
speaking to himself, Il was TO have
beeu married; but that's years ago now.
and I'm an old man."
"Oldl" interjected the porter, you're
no more than five-and-thirty, I'll go
bail. You de- look older. to be sure.
But wait till you've been out bit, you'll
soon rub off them lines and look a bit
more uppish."
The engine at the end OF the short
train of carriages relegated to the Port
land line after becoming too thoroughly
out of date for even the Somerset and
Dorset local service between Weymouth
and Dorchester. gave a thin, wintry
squeak, and Harborde. in fever of APP
prehcnsion lest IL should start without
him, tumbled into the first carriage
that came handy, tieketless.
The porter came to the door. you've
got nc ticket. Here, give me shilling.
and I'll get it for you. Book to Wey-
MOUTH"
Yes" said Hsrborde. fumbIing in
his pocket for the money.
Now you're all right the porter
exclaimed, returning a couple of mir
utes later; "here's the ticket and the
change. No, thanks; you'll want all
you've got. GOod-by. mate, and good
luck to you"
With a bump and a groan the train
moved out of the station and amblei
along the line running at the back of
Chesil Beach at the rate OF eight or
ten miles an hour. Harbprde was one
of half a dozen passengers. but there
was no one else in his compartment.
He sat thinking of all that had hap
pened. He had heard nothing of those
at home for many months; they might
all be dead. How would he have the
courage TO go to the door with this
possibility? What would he do il Jane
told him his mother was dead? lie
covered his face in hls hands at the
thought, ana sobbed as only strong
iran can sob IN the corner of a carriage.
With great jerk the train pulled up at
the station, and Harborde got out. His
fellow-travelers regarded him with
curiosity because his friend the porter
had told every one of them who he was
when he examined their tickets, in
Weighing bitterly the while against the
caustic humOr of pardoning an limo
cent man.
Harborde noticed nothing OF this.
He inquired of porter the next train
on 10 the junction for Applebury, and
then discovered that he was both hun
CRY and faint for want of food. He
went out into the slippery. muddy
street at the back of the he sc on the
Parade. and at length found a quiet
little eating house, where he was served
with a meal by girl, who had pity
ing eye. litter consultation with her
superior in command. At three o'clock
he WIS again on his way in the train,
in the company this time of other fell
low creatures. who one and all regard
ed him with feeling akin TO that with
which they would have submitted ~
the company of dangerous animal.
uarborde noticed it after time. and
putting his hand to his head suddenly
made the discovery that mis- hair was
roticeably short. After this he realized
that he was = marked man, and no long
er wondered why the lady opposite
drew her warm plaid dress away from
bis feet. and the other lady with two
children sided as far from him as pos
sible. and asked the guard to find her
seats in another carriage at the next
station. He was innocent, but how
could he explain il TO them? II they
could but know how he had sut-
fered surely they would weep. He
hadn't the paper with him: even
If he had perhaps they would not
believe that he and the Thomas
IIarborde mentioned in the paragraph
we're one and the same. Two men got
in where the lady with the children
got out. They each of them threw him
a glance. shrugged their shoulders and
then became immersed in their papers.
II WAS quite dark when Applebury
.