Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-04-29
A BaIacIava Hero.

was clear that his weakness had rem
dered bin slightly delirious.
"Well, " said the warder, 'TlI save
them for you, shall II" Then, with
out further ado. he slipped them, rib
bons and all, into his pocket.
The moment he did this his urbanity
wants he'd, and he resumed his ordinary
manner.
Come, get ont of here and get to
work. Don't try to come that old-age
dodge on mel''
He called another warder, who took
Redfern in hand and logged him along
toward the stone-breaking cells.
This time Redfern's stock of stones
had been reduced to half; but when
he was locked in aud told to go to
work he could not even raise the
heavy hammer above his head.
Two hours later, when the varder
came to summon him before the meet
ing OF the guardians, he was still sit
ting there, his thin face gray with
suffering, aud the long scar placed on
his cheek by the sabre of Russian AZ
Alma stood ont white and uz Il
vas the mark Of a blow he hal re-
ceiyed for his country. The warder
reached forward and struck him over
the shoulder with stick.
81 wish you would not hit me, +"
said Redfern. '1'll do what you tell
me, but you see / coulln't breas the
stones. | was so tired. -
''0h, yes; we know all about thatr'
retorted the wavder; 1--WE have had
cone OF your sort before. If you ask
me, you'll Just have to pop ont Of here
as soon as the guardians get their eyes
on you"
The warder was not supposed to
know that Redfern was a man who
had been mentioned three times in
dispatches from the seat of war. He
was not conscious that the medals he
then had in his pocket were worth
more than the paltry shillings they
would bring at pawnshop.
So he forced Redeem roughly for
ward toward the council chamber Of
gentlemen who were waiting to decide
whether this pauper was to be allowed
to subsist on the spare bounty of their
parish or even to be cast into the
streets to die of hunger.
The room in which the guardians
sal was we'll furnished and lighted,
anil IS dignifed gentlemen sat to the
right and left Of fat, gray-haired
chai man.
Re lferl stood before the table Of
the chairman, who questioned him as
to his place of birth,
why. you don't belong to this par.
ish at ALL" he said, in feigned amaze
lnent
This was signal for -four pompous
gentlemen to enter violent and indig-
nant protest against sueh psfRieious
state OF affairs. They characterized
Redfern's action in coming there as
criminal beyond measure.
The fact that he entered the work
house as a casual and then, by art
full trickery, sought to live in ease and
luxury at the expense Of the rate-pay-
ers Of that borough, filled them with
horror.
As they uttered these denunciations
they looked meaningIy at one long
haired aud one specialized reporter,
who had exchanged winks aud were
scratching down insane hieroglyphics
at the top of their speed.
The old mans wits at once left him.
He seemed to conceive that he had
been guilty of hideous piece of de-
ception. He answered the other
questions with an air Of meek peni-
tence.
"Iaye you no family to look after
you?"
"Yes, answered The old man; 81
have son, but have not seen him
for more than 20 years. He was a
fine lad. At Alma the colonel said to
me, after 1 had saved his life: sPri-
vate Redfern, how shall reward you?
You may ask me anything, aud / will
do if for YOU. Look after my son,
| said, if you would be so kind. He
has no mother, aud he is fine boy.
''Whel tine colonel came back he
took my boy. used to write to the
lad, but / got up into northern Can
ada, and lost the habit OF writing.
When / came back, an old man, 10
look for the boy, could not find him.
My old colonel is dead. But if my
boy is alive aad hears that his old
father is here, he'd take him away
yes, he'd take him away. But 1
can't find him, went on the old man.
''He was only five years old when
saw him last. He would not know me
now if he saw me.
''0h, we don't want any Of those
sort Of tales herel" said the guardian.
Either you have a family to support
you or have not. If 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 70; you ought to work for
your living! You look big enough.
Look at me. l am not so big as you
Ia bit fatter, perhaps and 1 work
every day of my life. +"
llC MCAt AutO a Ouitt
for an hour or two every day; the rest
of his time he spent in eating or in
sleeping, preparatory to eating 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.
Redfefn's face was gray with suffer
ing. and shooting pains from an old
wound in his shoulder caused him
agony His knees tremb'ed yisihly.
and his eyes grew dim aid restless.
He summoned strength at last to ask
the guardians il he might have back
the medals tina. had been taken from
him.
However, as the warder swore that