The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18


autumn sky. weighed with clay and mud.
sul!en OF face and manner. hopeless and
penniless man slouched in logged fash
Tor towards the goal represented b.
little Cornish town. Following him came
two hostages 10 the ill-fortune that had
been his lot IN life. a woman and a child.
He never glanced behind. There was no
need: they would follow him right enough.
He was the one rock amidst shipwreck
their one hope in all Hfe's hopeIessness
Suuen brutal lawbreaker and Tawhater
as he vas. he yet represented to these
fOriorn creatures tie OF habit. a some
thing akin 10 themselves. a brute strength
20 fight for them, a cunning which helped
20 secure the sordid necessaries that kept
life in their shrunken. chilled bodies. They
toned after him. not knowing where he
LED not caring either if only by nightfaIl
food and shelter might by some chance
be theirs.
The child. a boy Of some six or seven
years. chung to the woman's hand and
dragged his shoeless feet over the grassy
ruts or sharp fints that meant the road
way. He was very tired and footsore
Childhood had held little of childish mean
ing for him. Blows and curses, toll and
WEAKNESS. hunger and misery, these he
understood; little else. Sometimes there
would be bread and such comfort as hot
coffee at stall or a basin of steaming
soup at a common eating house. And on
rare occasions there had been room and
a bed But at such times his father in
Nariably got drunk and in used his mother.
and there would be scenes Of more or
less animation that usually found a CON
clusiOn IN "A police court. and seven or
fourteen DAYS of absence for Surly jim
That was mis- name At least his pals
and accOmplices always called him so.
sometimes using the prefix only in mo-
ments of unrestrained familiarity
els it much further MOTHER" asked the
boy at last
81 dunno" she said. cheerlessIy. There's
bridge ought to be in sight Somethin'
wonderful. they do say. and cost a power
o money and him as made it got heap
of gold. and was sent for by the Queen"
The information failed 10 interest the
child Saltash and Brunei were as Greek to
his understanding. \ shelter from the
drizZling rain mouthfu Of food to stay
The craving of an empty stomach-these he
could comprehend: but bridge that had
meant a triumph in architecture. and fame
and wealth. and an epoch in history was
only so much more of space TO be Travelled.
of WEAKNESS to be borne
Silence tell between them again The
elouching figure before them went doggedIy
on The brooding sky above showed tran
silent CLEAN of red where the sun began
20 sink. From afar came the CLEAN of
river and the chill OF salt sea breath blown
landward.
Were gittin' Nigh" said the woman. and
braced herself for the last half mile.
There's the bridge" she said again. hope
fully. and pointed with lean and withered
hand to where a graceful. airy structure
spanned the dividing space between two
counties.
The little lad lifted hopeless eyes and
looked. He said nothing Their pioneer
Elackened his pace as if, waiting for them
10 join him. then kept on about half
dozen yards ahead. 1t was a longer tramp
20 the bridge than they imagined The
rain had ceased a L last and the clouds were
drifting seward space of blue above
and the rivers CLEAN below showed the
fairy structure hung aloft between bank
and bank. Showed also the quaint little
village by the waterside and woods rich
In autumn coloring above its hilly slopes
figure coming rapidly along toward the
three tramps was suddenly accosted by
the man with a question as TO direction
He answered cheerily and readily, and
was passing on when a thought seemed to
strike him.
eff YOU cross the ferry you have to pay
penny toll" ne said. II suppose you know
that?"
The man muttered something to the effect
that he didn't know. and bestowed curse
on free country that denied the individual
his lawful rights The young fellow who
had spoken passed on, and in doing so came
up tc the rest of the family party Some
thing in their forlorn aspect touched him.
Toll for three would certainly come heavy
on the surly individual in front His hand
sought his pocket and his eyes rested COM
passionately on the woman's white face
and the child5 weary one.
els that your father?' he asked the boy.
eyes, sir"
'Oh. well he Will have to pay for all of
you if you cross the ferry and expect he's
none too much money for luxuries of that
sort Here"
He pressed a shilling into the little damp.
dirty hand and then hurried on.
The boy looked at the coin in wonder A
whole piece of silver. given 10 himself. Such
a thing had never happened before. The
wonlaH's eyes glittered hungrily.
What blessed luck" she said. MAY
heaven lie good to him. Why. Charley, it
means food and shelter for ali o. US to-
night
Does it?' faltered the child He was
dhinllirs of the bright, handsome face, the
cherry voice. the kindly touch of the strong.
warm palm upon his little grimed hand.
ut was awful good o him, he said, most
awful good.
Come along there, What are you lag
Eing for. hang YOU growled the voice of
the pioneer in front. What did the sent
give yer?'
The woman had secured the shilling. Ex-
perience Of Surly Jim's habits had taught
her certain caution. in all her dealings
with him.
He give the boy a sixpence," she said.
'Theres a toll or somethin' 10 pay for
crossin that ferry. he said"
''TolI be hanged" answered Jim. ''Well.
hand il over Taint much. but it'll get
bread and cheese and a pint for me-.
III keep it. jim. said the woman.
'Somehow I make money SO further nor
son do NousU have your mint don't he