Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-04-07
CHAPTER Nv.
Escaped!

Escaped!
All sorts and conditions OF men and
women drift into a 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 millionalres from
-0uth Africa-and so on down the
scale of life, until you come to the
destitute man or who lands
there with but little chance Of going
any further IL 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
longed. The first sight was not en-
couraging, because a heavy drizzle
was falling, and a melancholy wind
blew against them from the land, as
IiOuSn IL NOulu ii uSl lll6Ii OuI vi the
country to which they had so recently
come. The man was a tall, grim
looking old fellow, spare of frame.
and with a long gray beard sweeping
over his chest; the mn was little
more than a 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.
"Isngland-my England at last!"
she murmured, turning with a smile
to the old man. what a 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 a little
way. my child" said the old man. We
have travelled thousands CT miles; we
count the rest of the journey by tens.
However, we cannot even travel so far
tonight; W must find shelter. 1t will
have to be in a poor quarter of the
town, for we are nearly at the end of
our little store"
"Your little store" said the girl.
looking at him gratefully. Il had
nothing; what should l have done
without your
They went a little way until, under
an arch where a gas lamp was fixed,
they waited for a moment out of the
rain; then the old man drew out a.
small canvas bag from his breast and
shook from it a little silver into his
palm. "The last of it," he said; "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
and lodging. And this is the end Of
our journey; the rest is nothing. Keep
a stout heart, Grace"
IF there was any thought of failure
in my heart now" she said, in a low
voice. as she took his arm, II should
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 that is to make my life
beautiful"
They moved away through. the wet
and windy streets. Neither of them
noticed as they went that q man was
following them-a 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 q certain distance from
them. moved on also.
He was q young-looking man. with
. certain easy swing Of the limbs and
q quick fashion Of CHANGING about him
AZ he moved. as one might have done
who was suspicious of danger or pur-
suit. He twisted the ends Of his
small, dark mustache as he walked.
and his dress had about It 4 certain
careless elegance that bespoke the
dandy. W e though the clothes he
wore had 9 9 considerable service.
It Was evident that he did not mean
70 lose sight Of the old man and the
girl: he followed them steadily, and
evidently had no other object In view
save that Of seeing where they went.
After walking quite Z long way they
came into narrower streets. with hum
bler-lopking houses and shops In them.
After much hesitation the old man
stopped at last outside q modest look
Ing coffeehouse. where certain dingy
signs In the windows declared that
beds were to be had and that frugal