Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-12

let me die with that dignity which be-
longs to my craft. I would have liked
we'll to die like this; to have seen the
next morning in the parers-I mean for
you to have read, with tears-how An
thony Taggett, who once played HAM
let before the mayor of Bristol"
only by accident, Anthony-only by
accident; he had been dining, and
wandered into the wrong show-said
he thought you were circus"
mo matter: he had to hear it. Yet,
to what am reduced? We have come
to the end of our resources. Our man.
Interpretations varlet!-has bolted
| with such moneys as were in our cof-
fers; we have tramped a great part of
the way from Bristol, and are not yet
near to London. Yet, cheer, up, 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 less-hopeful tone-''we are re-
markably hungry, and we are practic-
ally penniless. Night is upon us, and
the silvery MOON
ooh, never mine 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 in
TIE road, Mr.. Taggett. What are we
to do about this Mr.. Gilbert Rickerby?"
MY dear, you surely remember that
some five or six years ago Mr.. Gilbert
Rickerby joined the company. in which
I then played heavy parts. Young fell
low, with bright, clear eye; quite a
gentleman"
BLESS the boy: remember him." re-
piled Mrs. Taggett. Told you he had
run awoy from home. didn't he?"
even so. I learned from him that
he was-or should have been-a youth
of fortune; that he had quarreled with
his sire and had been thrown upon the
world. I remember, when he parted
from us to 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
1 would journey thither and see if I
could find him. If he is rich, he might
even be disposed to produce the money
and put me in a theater. Why not?"
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 saying it, too, in an
enigmatical fashion, which annoys me.
He has seen me act, as you know;
what has that to do with the matter?'
ooh, nothing" replied Mrs. Taggett,
innccently. Tie only thing is. if we are
to get to st. Johns Wood tonight,
someone will have to carry us; 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, that
diversion was caused by the arrival of
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 We're turned-London. The new
comer-a woman-looked at them a
moment as she passed, and half-stop-
ped, as though about to speak; but
thought better of it, and went on her
way They watched her as she slowly
dragged along; she 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-
iusted her cloak with an air of gentili-
ty.
ga woman-young-an unprotect-
ed" murmured Mr.. Taggett, with
glance at the approaching stranger.
you've already got one woman
young and unprotected-to look after,
Mr.. Taggett!' retorted his wife, sharp
ly.
"True, my love-true; do not forget
my responsibilities replied Mr.. Tag
gett. ""But it is evident that 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. "Well, nadam-what' do you
want?"
The last remark was addressed to the
woman, who had stopped hesitatingly
before them. Her clothes were worn
and shabby, as were their own; yet
she carried herself with certain pride.
as though she beat down whatever
shame she felt in her position fiercely
and resolutely. She was tall and fair,
with singularly strong, defiant look
about her.
"You needn't think I've 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 don't care to face that
dark road alone. swore, when I set
out, that I'd walk the whole way, and
that nothing should turn me back:
now''-she threw out her hands quickly
and laughed-"my resolution has brok-
en- down in a moment. Are you bound
for London?"
"aark-hark-the dogs do bark; the
beggars have come to town." chanted
Anthony Taggett, waving his hand In
time tc the words There is 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'-he turned to
the stranger-"we are in sorry case;
but if an arm, which has, ere now,
welded broadsword in mimic combat,