The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-01-27

and, turning on me strange, fright
ened look, said: NO; none of that.
Put it away, please. 1 don't like the
sight of it,
''It now dawned upon me that my
friend was reformed drunkard who
came out to this lonely part of the
world to avoid temptation. l had
heard that there were many such in
Australia, and that the shepherds life
was chosen as being the most isolated
one that could be found.
81 rose to take my departure, when
he said: You won't go tonight, will
you? It's too late. 1 wish you would
stay in my hut tonight. It's so long
since | have seen a human face, over
three months. A man only comes
once in a great while to bring provi-
sions, and that is all we see of human
ity from one years end to the other.
Do stay tonight won't you?'
"'I'd like to oblidge you,' 1 replied,
but they will be uneasy about me at
the home station
"'But are you sure you know the
way? You might get lost.
"'Oh, no. 1 replied.
"The poor fellow hung his head and
looked the picture of despair.
"How far is it to the hut?' l asked.
"'Only mile, assure you l agreed
to 60 to it, so he started off at good
pace, fearing l might change my mind
l suppose. The dog ran ahead, bark
ing, and followed on horseback. We
soon came upon his hut. 1t was built
of mud, sticks and straw. with the
hard earth for floor. The shepherd
prepared cup of tea-the usual bev-
erage of the bush.
"The sun had gone down behind the
low horizon with the same effect that
it does at sea. AS we sat outside,
upon couple of rude blocks of wood,
drinking our refreshing tea, the moon
rose up, shedding its soft light over
this mysterious scene; there was no
sound but the distant tinkle of a
sleeps bell and the cracking of tie
little fire that was boiling the tea.
The smoke went up straight and ST.
lently into the still air. The loneli-
ness was bad enough with two men;
what must it have been with one?
II felt that there was something
more in my profound acquaintance
than had as yet learned, so l lighted
my pipe and began to draw it out.
Here was man who, to judge from
his manner and speech, must have
been tenderly reared and highly edu-
Gated, and one, too, who had practised
the busy calling of the law, yet in a
few years of isolation the bright mind
had become faded, and the human look
of the face changed almost to the blank
expression of sheep.
81 questioned him about his past
life. 1t seems he had been educated
at Eton, then became fast youth in
London, where he studied for law, and
in short time arose to be a success
full barrister. He married early, and
had one child, daughter, born to him.
After two years of welded life he lost
his wife and child. Despairingly he
took to drink, and, being weak and
desperate. went down hill and lost his
position.
"That, once lost in London, is seldom
regained. Not so in America. Here
when a man fails, if he has the
strength to brace up again, he goes to
the west, and, rubbing up against
new society, absorbs fresh magnetism
and recuperatiOn at once. No one need
despair in this land of the free. But
London is compact. The Englishman
hates to leave his home. His failings
are known and if he remains they are
flung in his face. There is no escape
for him, and as his friends shun him
he falls in deeper disgrace.
"This was the trouble that had beset
the 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 colo.