The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-12-05
A FELON'S LOVE.
BY HENRY W. NESFIELD.


Outside the hut was a pile OF chop
ped wood; so, carrying some within
he soon made a cheerful blaze. Then
having drawn one of the wooden stools
close up to the fireplace, he sat down
and commenced to smoke.
His thoughts few rapidly back over
all the strange incidents of the past
two years of his life. 1t seemed as
though it were but yesterday that ne
entered the service of old MIR. Hughes
at Froyles. All the good intentions
and resolutions which he had then
formed came vividly before his mind
how earnestly he had determined to
give up the drink, and how honestly he
had meant to lead a new life. Then
he thought how small were the trials
over which he fell-an old mans tenn
per and crotchety ways, the everyday
worries of most servants lives.
Have not all servants, he reflected,
to fit themselves in, as it were, to their
employers ways and habits? Is it
not part of their servitude to try to
study their masters little foibles! And
then do they not have certain advan-
tages? Are they not as class totally
emancipated from all the responsible
ties of life which fall, as a rule, to the
share of the smallest householder?
What are taxes, Queens or parochial,
gas or water rates, to the average do
nestle servant? Their anxiety con-
corning these things begins and ends
in carrying the unwelcome documents
relating thereto upstairs. What does
it signify to them whether Goals are
nineteen shillings or twenty-five shil-
lings per ton? The English servant can
rest with tranquil mind. undisturbed
by visions of blue slips of paper threat
ening distraint unless certain moneys
due to her Majesty's government, are
paid before a particular date. Not only
is a servant a perfectly irresponsible
person, so far as all such matters are
concerned, but he can exact as much
civility from his employer for the time
being as his employer can from him.
These thoughts flowed through
Luke's mind as he gazed into the blaz-
ing log-fre, and they caused him to
wonder at his own folly at not having
had the sense to know when he was
well and comfortably provided for.
AT last, rousing himself from his
reverie with a shrug of the shoulders.
he threw another log or two upon the
fire. Then he pulled out his watch
Only half-past nine! How slowly the
evening had gone! He could hear the
noise of voices and laughter down in
the mems huts. They, at any rate
seemed to be free from care And
again his thoughts wandered back to
the day when his great trouble fell
upon him. Why should he. of all mon
have been chosen to bear such tribula-
ton? Other men had been given to
drink, and had continued in their soft
fish ways until death had claimed
them for its own. Other men? Av
and gentlemen bred and born. tbon-
o~AOo upon bAlOuoduuS Oh them vet
they had not suffered as he had snf-
fered. Oh, why should he, of all men
be singled out for such fearful punish
ment on account of this widely-pre-
yailing human weakness? How MANY
men had he not known who were per-
feet slaves to the vice? Even in his
boyhood, when page, he had grown
accustomed to seeing his young mas
ters come home the worse for drink
Then, by hearing such incidents. laugh
ed at and spoken lightly about, he had
grown to regard them as matters If
course.
Wasn't Master Charles precious
tipsy last night? A good Job for him
the missus didn't see hint" Such re-
marks had often been made by his fell
lows in the servants hall; and to his
half-educated mind it seemed from tbo
way people spoke about it that il wac
rather grand thing to get tinsv and
that the man who took kindly to bis
liquor was by no means a fool