Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-04-07
CHAPTER ~.
Escaped!

CHAPTER Nv.
Escaped!
All sorts and conditions of men and
women drift into seaport town-for
the most part those who come for an
hour or SO before starting out for
some other place. To SOUTHAMPTON,
for instance, come millionaires from
auth Africa-and so on down the
I scale of life, until you come to the
destitute man or woman who lands
there with but little chance of going
any further if money is to be of as
sistance.
Few more destitute, perhaps. than
a man and woman, who came into the
gray town from a vessel one night and
looked about them at this, their first
|. sight of the England for which, for
/ different reasons, they both had
lSlonged. The first sight was not en-
couraging, because heavy drizzle
was falling, and a melancholy wind
blew against them from the land, as
though it would thrust them out of the
country to which they had so recently
| come. The man was a tall, grim
/, looking old fellow, spare of frame,
and with long gray beard sweeping
over his chest; the woman was little
more than girl, and she, too, was
tall and well formed. She had a fair
and beautiful face, and her shabby
garments were in curious contrast
with her fine, erect carriage and the
| dignity of her bearing.
| "England-my England at last!"
1 she mnrmured, turning with smile
| to the old man. What long jour
ney it has been! And here we stand
on firm land at last and know that we
| are nearing the end"
! Yes, the rest will seem but little
way, my child, said the old man. We
have travelled thousands Of miles; we
count the rest Of the journey by tens.
| However, we cannot even travel so far
| tonight; we must find shelter. twill
have to be in poor quarter Of the
| town. for we are nearly at the end Of
our little store"
Your little store" said the girl,
1 looking at him gratefully. II, had
nothing; what should / have done
without you?"
| They went little way until. under.
an arch where a gas lamp was fixed,
they waited for moment out of the
rain; then the old man drew out a
small canvas bag from his breast and
shook from it little silver into his
! palm. 1.-THE last of it, I. he said; s'but
the sun. will shine tomorrow, and you
and are used to hardship and short
commons. If we can find some decent
place here, we have enough for food
t and lodging. And this is the end of
our journey; the rest is nothing. Keep
q stout heart, Grace"
Tt there was any thought of failure
in my heart now" she said. in low
Voice, as she took his arm, 81 should
J only need to look at you, and to think
| OF all you have done out of your love;
for me; that would be enough. You
saved my life. you are going to give
me back all thatsis to make my life
| beautiful I"
They moved away through the wet
| and windy streets. Neither of them.
noticed as they went that a man was
/ following thema man who had wait
ed near to where they first stood on
the quay, and who had paused again
in the shadows while they stood under
the gas lamp in the archway. Now
that they moved on again, the man,
still keeping a certain distance from
them. moved on also.
Hs wassa young looking man. with
certain easy swing OF the limbs and
q quick fashion OF glancing about him
as he moved, as one might have 6Dne
who was suspicious Of danger or pur-
suit. He twisted the ends Of his
small, dark mustache as he walked.
i and his dress had about It d certain
eareless elegance that bespoke the
dandy, even though the clothes he
wore had seen considerable service.
II was evident that he did not mean
70 lose sight Of the old man and the
girl. ne followed them steadily, and
evidently had no other object ii view
save that OF seeing where they went.
After wall ding quite q long way they
came into narrower streets. with hum
bier. loo king houses and shops III them.
After much hesitation the old man
stopped at last Tide mo- est look
ing coffeehouse where certain iingy
signs tnS the indows declared that
beds were 10 be had and thai, frugal
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