The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-27

iaave his home. His failings are known,
and if he remains they are flung in his
face. There is no escape for him, and
rs his friends shun him he falls deeper
in disgrace.
This was the trouble that had beset
,he shepherd, who, having a sensitive
and perhaps weak mind, succumbed to
the pressure that surrounded him, and
after time, with broken spirit, he
left England and went to the colonies
He practiced law in Melbourne for some
time successfully, but the old habit came
back on him, and, as he could not resist
temptation, he buried himself in that
sheep station.
"This was the story he told me, and
there was no doubt of its truth.
ut was now getting late, and the
shepherd insisted ON my taking his
couch-an old canvas cot with a plain
gray blanket spread upon it, So, as /
was tired, / accepted the offer and lay
down for nights rest. My companion
stretched his tall figure on the grass
outside. Jack lay between us.
1.-THE strangeness of the scene. to-
gether with the strong tea, seemed to
Danish sleep from me, and l must have
been lying there for an hour, with my
eyes closed, but quite awake, when pres
emily l heard something stirring Open
ing my eyes, saw the shepherd sitting
up in the doorway with his head resting
on his hand. He seemed uneasy and be-
gan restlessly to pace up and down in
front of the hut. The dog remained
still, but l felt that he was awake and
watching his master as he walked nerv-
ously backward and forward in the
moonlight.
Presently the shepherd stopped in
front of the hut and came with hest
tating but irresolute step toward the
door. He entered slowly, and, STOPPING
down upon his hands and knees, crawl
ed stealthily to the chair on which my
coat was hanging He put his hand in
the breast pocket and drew forth the
flask of liquor, and now he seemed be-
wildered, as if some strange emotion
had seized upon him, and then fell upon
his knees as if in prayer.
Suddenly he seemed to rise and in
stead of drinking the liquor placed the
flask untouched back in the pocket of
the coat Then. stretching himself on
the floor, with an apparent air Of COM
fort and satisfaction. he went off to
sleep.
1.-THE whole proceeding so haunted
me that it was broad daylight before
closed my eyes. When l awoke, the sun
was high in the heavens. My host had
prepared breakfast After our meal he
spoke freely of the nights proceedings
to me. | told him had seen all that
had taken place.
81 thought it might be so, he said.
The old craving came upon me, SO
strong too. but if l ever prayed for
strength it was then Well, at that mo-
ment there was hand laid on my head,
calmness came over me that l had
not felt for years, and when l returned
the flask to your pocket l knew then,
as l know now, that another drop Of
liquor will never pass my lips. AS God
is my Judge, | believe it was the angel
hand of my dead wife that rested on my
feverish head 1t is all over now, thank
heaven, and l can leave this lonely
place and return to the world again
with safety"
After the story of the shepherd Mr.
Jefferson pointed q moral from the play
of rip Van Wrinkle. He subordinated
everything to the drinking habits of old
Rip. He magnified his designations and
showed how the beratings of Mime. Van
Wrinkle were at times warranted.
Then with hope rekindled the men
in that gray audience went back to their
cells. New York World.