The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-29
M 8. Hale quietly rearranging her bas-


The captain went on in answer 10
my wondering look: "You see, our
boy run eff when he want more'n fif-
teen. HID been kind of wild, as boys
be, and I'm afraid l was little harsh
TO him. Any way he went off without
word, and we amt never heard of
him since. I feel pretty sure he's dead
but mott er sticks TO it he amt"
g And I'm eoin to stick to it, John,
til xnow for sure" And then with
CHEEKY sniie Ct me: 1T kind Of
does me good 70 keep looking forward
to seeiIg Rufe again some day. Now,
come al0ng, John; it's getting late"
slipped on my jacket: whereupon
Pedro vanished, and sccompani, the
worthy couple doan 10 the door of the
bull ing. On the stairs Mrs. Hale
turned and whispered TO mt: John
talks rs if he didn't care much about
Rufe's goin off, but now he really does,
Mr.. B. Ii he could find our boy,
'twould take len years off his age and
mine too"
l did not doubt it, and l refrained
from saying that th"usht it would
probably add ten years to Rufe's if he
could realize the sort of mother and
father be had lett 80 many years ago.
So babe them good night, prOmis-
ing to see them in The morning and
with hearty thanks for their thought
full kindness, and watched them as
they irudged away toward the native
quarters, their sturdy figures towering
above the mo ley crowd of natives and
Cinnamon who thronged the narrow
street and filed the air with their I'M
couth gable.
/ sent my groom home with the pre-
cious pudding, and, mounting my pony.
threaded my way around to tn, Eng
fish club. There L found McGregor,
the old Scotch doctor, standing in the
doorway and amusing himself by toss.
ing coppers one at time TO crowd OF
lame, halt and blind beggars, who as
each coin fell instantly became an sp-
palling tangle of skinny arms and legs.
Hellol' said he as l drew up. ="
was just coming round after you. Su.
lu!" get away to the beggars, who
were lucking at various portions OF
his raimen,, and, like metamorphosed
Oliver Twist, asking for more. "Aren't
you acting American consul just now2'
he inquired.
During the temporary absence of the
consul had undertaken his not very
arduous duties, being the only Other
American resident in the place.
"Well," continued the "me dico,""
have fellow countryman OF yours very
bad with fever down in Malacanar
(native quarter), sailormsn, only jus
out of The Spanish j Ill tor humping q
guardia (policem ~ last year. i have
my doubts of his lasting long, anC
you'd better come down if you will"
OF course / would come, consul OF
not. In these hidden corners of The
world any one in trouble, vagabono
sailor, "beach comber" or uulucay clerl
out of employment, is as sure of hell
from more tor innate fellow country
men as If be were in his native land
surer perhaps, un ess he happens to bt
a Chinaman, in which case his friend,
let him die unmolested aud then pay
The expenses of bury ing him iu China
backhanded sort OF phil nthrOI y
very characle rlslic in John Chinaman
So the doctor jumped into pub il
carriage and ratled away toward Ma
lacanan, willie | followed on ny pony
leaving the begsars to philosophically
squat down around the club doorwa,
and resumr their everlastiI wall oil
"Charity ter love of heaven, charllyl
Poo Old McGregoi's story was sad
one. Long yenr- before, ~ Young
man, he had come to the PhlII plnes
on "a ltasure tnp with his wife, aud
here she died suddenly OF cholera, hat
terrible scourge of the east, which The n
was claiming lts victims by thousands
and Tor twenty Years the doctor had
never left tie isIand where she lay
among he tall pa ms in the lit e Eng,
llsh Gem try on Stnla Ana b |. But
many Other had r. asur to bless the
cause thai KEEP, ID MoGregor among
hem. From The prou esl Spanish OF.
ficial in his palace IT, the huulblesl saw.
tge in his bamboo hut The d, ctOr's time
aud skill were ways at their service
Aud MANY NCungster fresh from
home had been saved from gOing wr ne
in that land of VIVID and laWless life by
his kindly worns of couns' aud advice
We stopped at asr before mise able
hui on The outskirts OF the town. and
giving the pony in charge of passing
native followed the doctor in. t. c
inferior was dark and COmDaraliy, ly