The evening times., 1898-05-10

the old man. He was only five years
old when 1 saw him last. He would not
know me now if he saw me-"
'.Oh, We don't want any Of those
/ sort of tales, here" said the guardian.
4 Either you have a family to support
you, or have not. II you have. they
! must take you out of here, and look
after you. If you have not, you must
! turn out and chance your luck. You
, are only seventy-five; you ought to
| work for your living, You look big
/ enough. Look at me. ! am not so big
| as you-a bit fatter per aps-and
work every day Of my life"
He went into a comfortable office
| for an hou or two every day; the rest
| of his tim, ne spent in eating, or in
| sleeping. preparing to eat more.
The guardians all pretended to dis
| believe Redfern's story about his son,
| and finally, on the evidence of the
| warder, who testified that the old man
| was lazy and good-for- nothing. they
| gave him two hours in which to leave
| the workhouse.
| Redfern's face was gray with suffer-
| ing, and shooting pains from an old
: wound in his shoulder caused him
| agony. His knees trembled visibly and
his eyes grew dim and restless. He
summoned strength at last to ask the
guardians If he might have back the
| medals that had been taken away from
him.
However. as the warder swore that
| he had never seen the medals. which
| at that very moment were resting in
his pockets, the virtuous. well-fed
guardians of the poor ordered the old
man Indignantly for their presence.
He tried to protest. but the warder
scowled furiously at him and pinched
his arm for him to stop.
Then Redfern's weakness overcame
him. He pitched heavily forward to
the floor. He was taken to the infirm
airy again, and the doctor said that in
few hours he would be well enough
to go out.
When the old man came to he saw
the warder directing the scrubbing and
cleaning of the ward with unusual care.
while women paupers were fastening
up fresh curtains to the windows.
There was an air of hustle and prepa-
ration about the room such as he had
never noticed before.
A warder noticing that he was
awake. ordered him to get off the bed
and smarter himself up. The pauper
told him that Capt. Armitage and his
young wife were coming to look over
the workhouse. The captain was a
fine young fellow. and he owned most
of the land round that part.
Redfern listened to the information
listlessly, for he was too i'll to take in
terest in anything, and tie prospect OF
his expulsion from the workhouse
weighed on his mind. He was too par
alyzed to contemplate anything but
that in an hour or two he. soldier. too
weak to work, would be cast out into
the world friendless and without hope.
All the paupers whispered incessant-
ly the name of Capt. Armitage, and at
last something in its sound awoke the
old mans memory.
"Armitage-Armitage? Why, that
was my old colonefS name" he said.
..Ah, but this is young man, and my
colonel is dead. Yes. he is dead: I
shall be dead soon. 1 shall hear him
say: 'Redfern, you have been men
toned again in the dispatches. Then
he'll say-yes, he'll say"-the old man
coat-"he'n say: 'Redfern. where are
your medals?' Yes, I must have my
medals.
He tried to raise himself from the
bed on which he was sitting. but the
weakness held him prisoner.
Presently a carriage came through
the great gate at the entrance to the
workhouse. At last a gentleman, tall
and handsome, entered the room with
a lady-a young iaOy, very uttle more
than a girl, on his arm. She looked
about her compassionately. But her
eyes wandered back necessarily to the
features of the strong man by her side.
who in his turn, looked down at her
smilingly, and with abounding love
and Affection
This happy, joyous couple seemed
like a glimpse of a happier world to
the wretched beings whose lives were
ending between the grim walls of the
workhouse.
As the captain and his beautiful
young wife came to each bed they ex-
changed words of comfort with the oc-
cupane At last they drew near the
bed on which Redfern sat. fully dress
ed, his hands clasped together and his
eyes bent dreamily on the floor.
The little lady, walking by the cap
tain's side, with a look at her husband,
stepped forward and touched his hand
softly. He started and glanced up.
Capt. Armitage noticed the cut on
his cheek.
How did you get that SCARF" he
said.
~"I was soldier" replied the old
man. "I got it at Alma"
why, my husbands father was at
Alma, and so was mine!" said the little |
lady. "Ten US about it, can your,
Her eyes were infinitely tender as
she gazed on the features of the bat
tered and worn<out warrior.
Then the old man told his story.
Capt. Armitagefwas bending over him,
deeply interested. Suddenly he gave