The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-10-24

JlOn-11 fisk U1eTe WcTe-'WOulQ be
greater than elsewhere; and upon
second thought, he decided that
there was no good reason why he
should incur it.
On the other hand, his inclination
began to draw him toward a field
in which he might pursue his So
Geological studies under conditions
more favorable than those to be
found in a great city. In his minds
eye he saw himself safely seques-
tered in some small interior town,
working and studying among peo-
pie who were not unindividualized by
an artificial ENVIRONMENTS self-cen-
tered community in which the money
at his command would be more of
controlling influence than it could
possibly be in the smallest of cir
cles in New York. The picture
pleased him, and he fell in with the
suggestion, leaving the geographical
detail to arrange itself as chance or
subsequent events might determine.
That part of the problem disposed
of, there yet remained the choice of
line of retreat; and it was small
thing that finally decided the man
ner of his going.
He had been lettering opposite the
berth of the Belle Julie-an up-river
steamer, whose bell gave sonorous
warning of the approaching hour of
departure-absently watching the
ant-ike procession of toiling rousta-
bouts hurrying the last of the cargo
on board. They were negroes, most
of them. but with here and there
among the blacks and yellows a
paler face SO begrimed with sweat
and dust as to be scarcely distin-
guishable from the majority. The
sight moved him. as thankless hu-
man toll was wont to do. and he fell
to contrasting the hard lot of the
Iaborers with that of the group of
passengers looking on idly from the
deck awning. The thought slipped
into compassionate speech:
Poor devils! They've been told
they are free, and perhaps they be-
lieye it; but surely no slave of the
galleys was ever in bitterer bond
age. What condemned felon was
ever in worse case than these poor
drudges who are free only to bear
burdens and to be driven like cattle
under the yoke? Oh, good Lord
look at that!"
The ant-procession had attacked
the final tier of boxes in the landing,
and one of the burden-bearers,
white man, had gone down like
crushed pack animal under load
too heavy for him. Griswold was be-
side him before he could recover, and
was lifting him tenderly out of the
way of the others.
"Why didn't you get out from I'M
der it and let it drop" he began,
gruffiy, as an offset to the woman
ish tenderness; but when the man
gasped for breath and groaned, the
mask of gruffness fell away from
him. "Where are you hurt?"
The crushed one sat up and spat
blood.
81 don't know; inside, somewheres,
l guess. been dyin' on my feet any
time for year back"
Consumption? queried Griswold.
81 reckon 500
'Then you've no business in a deck
crew."
The mans smile was CHASTITY.
"Reckon | hain't got any business
anywheres out'n hospital or hole
in the ground. But I kind O. thought
I'd like to be planted 'Iongside o.
the woman and childer, if I could
make out to get there
"Where?"
The consumptive named a small
river town in Iowa.
"And you were going to work your
passage?"
Il was allowin' to try it. But I'm
done up, now"
Griswold's impulsiveness was east
ly dominant in any appeal to his
sympathy; and his compassion went
straight to the mark, as it always
did when his pockets were not
empty.
what is the fare by rail to your
town?" he inquired.
II don't know; / never asked But
it's between $50 and $50, I reckon;
and that's more money than I've
seen sence the woman died"
Griswold hastily counted out 500
from his contingent fund, and thrust
the money into the mans hand.
'Take that and change places with
me-" he said, slipping on the mask
of gruffness again. "Pay your fare
on the train and I'll take your job
on the boat. Don't be fool" he
added, when the man put his face
in his hands and began to choke.
Its fair enough exchange, and
I'll get as much out of it one way
as you will the other. What is your
name? ] may have to borrow it."
"John Gavitt.'
Cali right; off with you" said the
liberator; and with that he Shout
dered the sick mans load and fell
into line in the ant-procession.
Once on board the steamer he fol-
lowed his file-leader aft and made it
his first care to find a safe hiding