Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-06-01

eyes, slowly plodded his way. He
had left the city more than two hours
before, and it's lights had disappeared
with the oncoming of the storm.
The weary pedestrian suddenly
paused and leaned or the knobbly
stick in his hand. No! he was not
mistaken; the light he had seen ema
mated from cottage Window cot
tage that stood just off the turnpike.
Surely every heart did not beat unre-
sponsive to the cry of hunger aud
cuarity! Surely he was not doomed
to die of starvation and fatigue in this,
Christian land
The grimy fingers closed tightly
about the stick, and the starving man
approached the door of the little cot
tage. The sound of voices reached
his ears as he stood for moment IL
resolute. One was the deep, gruff
voice of man, and the other was that
of woman. He knocked gently upon
the door. 1t was opened, and a stall
wart yeoman appeared. The wayfarer's
eyes wandered from the cozy fire to
the repast on the table before it and
from thence to the ruddy face above
him.
"Well, what dye want?' snapped
the cottager.
ga mouthful of food--I' m starving"
replied the wayfarer.
''Food, Ell! thet's allays the cry"
snarled the other. 'Why don't yer
work fer it, same as Oh do? Ger away,
Or Oi'll set the dog on yerr' and the
door was shut violently in the suppli-
cant's face.
A low moan escaped his lips. and he
leaned heavily against the treliswork
before the door. When at length he
turned from the cottage and sought the
open road strange light had entered
his sunken eyes the light of despera.
ton = madness! Wild, incoherent
words fell from his lips; an exultant
laugh gurgled in his throat Hark
What was that? Something was ap-
preaching from behind.
All! that something was cyclist.
He could see the small, trembling light
OF the lamp and could hear the suck
ling sound of the tires on the wet
road. The starving wretch stepped
back beneath the shadow of tree, and
as the solitary cyclist drew near he
placed himself directly in his path.
''Great Scott, my man! where the
dickens have you sprung from?" e;ac-
ulated the rider, young fellow, as he
dropped lightly from his machine.
cts good job I was going easy; if
I hadn't either you or me, or both of
us, would have been fitting subjects
for surgical research by this!'' and the
speaker gave his broad shoulders a
shake to dislodge the rain from his
storm cape
81 wanted you to STOP" said the
other, his words coming through his
set teeth.
''Indeed, and for what reason?" in
terrogated the cyclist, trying to see
the features of the last speaker.
CT want help" and the knobbly
stick was lifted, undiscerned by the
cyclist, few inches from the ground.
"Help, did you say? Then you're
on the road?' eh?'
''Call it that if you like, but-I'm
starving!"
''Good heavens Yes, now I see
your face don't doubt it! Here, old
chap, for goodness sake go and get
something to eat" and the young fell
low plunged his hand in his pocket.
Suddenly thought seemed to strike
him.
''But money would be no use to
you, he said; ''you want food, and
you can't buy that any nearer than
the town. Stay, I know. 1 am on my
way to a house half mile further up
the road-the house is called The
Hollies'-you can't mistake it; there
are two turrets; besides, anyone will
tell you which is Mr.. Templeton's
house. will ride on-ah! 1 see you
know Mr.. Templeton; but you have
no occasion to be afraid of him. He's
a justice of the peace know, but he's
got soft heart-and if he hadn't, his
daughter has. Well, I'll Just
spin along and see there's something
ready for you to eat when you arrive"
The young fellow had placed his
foot on the step of his bicycle to
mount when he felt the tramps touch
on his shoulder.
"Well?-you understand me, didn't
''Yes. I understood you, but
'But what?"
''Who is this Mr.. Templeton whom
you just spoke about-is it Robert
Tenapleton, the celebrated architect?"
eyes"
"And is he related to you?''
A shade of annoyance crossed the
young fellows face, but only for an
instant.
"No, not exactly-as yet, "hereplied
with a laugh. "But may be related
to him before long at least hope so,
rs n-in-law,you know"