Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-12
a MAN FROM THE DARK.
BY MRS. c. N. WILLIAMSON,
Author Of aThe Barn Stormers,'' aThe Woman in Grey" "Fortunos
Sport" "The House by Lock" &c.
(Copyright.)

N~
first time, as in my dream; and by
contrast it was almost pleasant to be
a shabby tramp, moved out from my
stolen refuge into homelessness.
Once upon a time that, in looking
back, seemed like another existence. l
had had a sense of humor which haG
padded many a rough bed; and sup
pose, ever now, it had not quite de-
serted me, for, TO my W surprise, l
could see the ridiculous side of my
predicament.
l heard myself laughing grimly as
got up and shook the rain off my coat
which had been somebody else's coat
before it had been mine-like a big dog
just out of the water.
Really, 1 won't trouble you to do
what Shakespeare never does, even
once more" I responded to the police
mans quizzical question.
"And what may that be, eh?" he
asked with a good nature that yet
would not bear too much pressure.
Repeat yourself, my friend. It's
rather hard luck, asst was very COM
Portable where l was, and am not like
ly to find another bed in which to sleep
away my last night in England, but"
1--WE ave our orders to clear the Park
h'out at midnight" said the big fell
low in uniform, who was not Is big as
l was. ut amt nobody's bed
There's plenty of places for your sort,
though blamed if I'm quite on to what
your sort is. You may be genuwine,
in which case l should advise you to
try the nearest casual-I'll give you
mye be one O. them reporter Johnnies,
lookin' after copy If that's yer gyme
l dessay your duty amt like my duty;
it won't keep you h'out in the ryne."
I'm not a reporter Johnnie, " I
echoed, but all the same, l won't trou-
BILE you for an address. l think l will
take a walk. Goodnight to you"
There's your wye he answered,
pointing to the not far distant gates,
with lights penetrating the watery
darkness, towards which l now saw
that a ragged stream of brother and
sister u~nfortunates was being driven,
like a filthy current whose one outlet
is some narrow sluice. BE sharp,
now, if you don't want no assisting"
l was sharp" since my desire for
sleep, and a hole to crawl into for
the hiding of my misery, was not
strong enough to tempt me into re-
sisting my particular guardian of the
law and his companions. 1 had sunk
low, but not so low as a midnight row
with policemen, to be in the papers
next morning; and besides, the conse-
quences of such rashness would be ad-
verse to my plans. | had spent the
last of such money as I had obtained
from the sale of my personal effects
40 PoAN ~ q iShSI " LIZ
Gold Coast-that haven for derelicts
such as |; and, as | had not wished to
go into debt for lodgings, l had passed
a night or two on the Embankment,
meaning to vile away these few hours
before my ship carried me into the vast
unknown in the more refined retire
49, g H. n--I~ 1@J Ill = 49,
design, but that vas no reason why
l should court detention from the Corfe
Castle when she sailed tomorrow; and
therefore l Joined the crowd that
siouched and shuffied in sulky impo-
tence towards the gates.
: What was I. that l should pity the
lowest creature on Gods earth? Yet
/ did pity these, who were doubtless
happier than l. unless they also had
memories to madden them by contrast.
We hustled along together, 1 and the
men with sodden faces, bleared Sits of
eyes, and rags that luttered backwards
like flags of defiance to the guardians
of that society which moved them on.
There were women, too, with all trace
of womanhood squeezed out of their
spongy features, only the battered hats
askew on the weeds which might once
have been hair, and the frocks which
were the sole concessions to CONVEX
ton, telling the story of their sex.
AS we surged through the gates