Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-12-12
fet ne dIe riIh tSat dtrnity whicf, s. !


fet me die With that dignity which be-
longs to my craft. I would nave liked
wen 10 die like this; TO have seen the
next morning in the papers-I mean for
you to have read, With tears--how An-
|thony Taggett. who once played Ham
let before the mayor of Bristol"
n "Only by accident, Anthong-only by
accident; he had been dining, and
Wandered into the wrong show-said
ne thought you were a circus"
'rNo matter: he had TO hear il. Yet.
to what am I reduced? We ave come
to the end OF our resources. Our mani
ager-perfidious varlet.-has boited
with such moneys as were In "a cnf-
fers; we have tramped q great part of
the way from Bristol, snd are 10 yet
near to London. Yet cheer III Medo-
ra others whose names are blazoned
on the pages of History have come into
London In such fashion. At the pres
ent moment. however"-his voice as
sumed a ess-hopeful tone-"Ga are re-
markably hungry, and we are practic-
ally penniless. Night is pom u.s.. and
the silyery moon-- q ~NE
sob, never MIND the silvery moon.
Anthony" broke in Mrs. Taggett, Inn
patiently; what we want TO see is a
silvery coin or two. We can't sleep i'm
tire road, Mr. Taggett What are we
to do about this Mr.. Gilbert Riekerby?'
my DEAR you surely remember that
some i've or six years ago a Mr.. Gilbert
Rickerby joined the company in which
II then played heavy parts. Young fell
low, with q bright, clear eye; quite a
gentleman Be.Er.ars.ss ytE3.
Bless the boy; I remember him." re-
piled Mrs. Taggett. Told you he had
ran awoy from home. didn't hep"
Even so. I earned from him that
he was-or should a been-a youth
Of fortune; that he had quarreled with
his sire and had been thrown upon the
world. I remember, when ne parted
from us % go abroad, he said TO me:
If ever you should be down on your
luck, old Taggett'-a familiar way he
had with me, my love-inquire for me
at Rickerby's Folly, st. Johns Wood,
London. Anyone will show you the
place. And so / thought, Medora, that
L would journey father and see If I
could find him. If he is rich, he might
even be disposed to produce the money
and put Lite in a theater. Why not2"
but he's seen you act, hasn't he::"
asked Mrs. Taggett, silly.
MY love, you have an unfortunate
habit of saying the wrong thing at the
wrong moment-of sayingait, toe, ~ an
enigmatical fashion, which annoys me.
He has seen me act, as o know;
what has that to do with the matter?"
"Ch, nothing" replied Mrs. Taggett,
innccently. The only thing is, IL we are
to get to st. Johns Wood tonight,
-prnanun until no wa fn 90 rrxr trc. FOR my
part, I can't walk another step"
1t was at this moment, when blank
despair was beginning to fall Upon the
elastic spirits of Mrs. Taggett, hat a
diversion was caused by the arrival of
a third wayfarer, who limped along
painfully toyards them, and whose face
was set in the same direction as that
towards which their own thoughts and
hopes were turned-London. The ne "
comer-a woman-looked at them a
moment as she passed, and nalf-stop-
ped, as though about to speak; but
thought better of 1t, and went on her
way. They watched her as she slowly
dragged along; h looked as weary
and helpless as themselves.
After going some twenty or thirty
yards down the road, the stranger
stopped and glanced back, hesitated a
moment or two and then slowly re-
traced her steps. Mr.. Taggett glanced
critically at the woman, who was
young and Enthusiastically handsome;
Mrs. Taggett drew herself up and ad-
justed her cloak with In air of gentiii-
ty. safEfxs4 a
"a woman-young-and unprotect-
ed" murmured Mr.. Taggett, with q
glance at the approaching stranger.
you've already got one woman
young ana unprotscted-to look after,
Mr.. Taggett!' retorted his wife. sharp
ly. fls t5 si8
True, my love--true; / do not forget
my responsibilities s." replied Mr.. Tag
gett. but 1t is evident Ia this lady
would have speech with u.s."
"Well-if you're going to have speech
with every female tramp we meet on
the road, Anthony, I think things have
come to a pretty pass" said Mrs. Tag
gett. We'll, madam-what do YOU
want?"
The last remark was addressed to the
woman, who had stopped hesitatingly,
before them. Her clothes were worn
and shabby, is were their own; yet
she carried herself with q certain pride,
as though she beat down whatever
shame she felt in her position fiercely
and resolutely. She was tall and fair.
with a s~ingularly strong. defiant look
about her.
you needn't think rye come back to
beg OF you" she said. harshly. II
wouldn't beg OF anyone. Only some
dread, ~unaccountable fear has come
upon me, and I don't care to face that
dark road alone ! swore, when ] set
out, that I'd walk the whole way, and
that nothing should turf me back;
now'-she threw out her hands quickly
and laughed-my resolution has brok-
en- down tn a moment. Are you bound
for London?' W.
"Hark-hark-the dogs do bark; the
beggnrs have come to town." chanted
Anthony Taggett. waving his hand In
time &c the words. There Is a curious
Tilt about those lines which has always
appealed TO me; I never thought they
would be so appropriate as on the pres
ent occasion. Madam"-hs turned to
the stranger-"we are In sorry case;
but II an arm, which has, ere now,
welded a broadsword in mimic combat,
is OF service to you, 1t Is here. There Ia
-T- a