The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-14
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4 had taken Rachel's letter as a warning
and had fed. All the while Tom waited
nervously, biting his nails and with
fevercd lips. knowing that Stephen. wheel
jlle came, would tell the real reason
why he had loltered near tho bunk. and
so point suspicion to himself.
MI On the third day Mrs. Sparsit perceived
q chance to distinguish herself. She saw
on the street Mrs. Pegler. tho old ,coun-s
Etry-wornan, who also had been suspected.
She seized her, and, regardless OF her
*entreaties. dragged her to Bounderby's
( house and into his dining room, with a
curious crowd focktng at her heels. She
iplumed herself on catching one OF the
robbers, but what was her establishment
when the old woman called Boundcrby
her dear son, pleading TINT her coming
ITO his house was not her fault. and be-
seeching him not, to bc angry even II IL
people did know that she was his mother.
4 Mr.. Gradgrind, who had been there
when they entered, having always heard
Bounderby tell such dreadful tales of his
bringing up, rcproached her for desert
Ing her boy In his infancy to n drunken
grandmother. At this the old woman
nearly burst with Indignation, caliing on
Bounderby himself TO tell how false this
was and how she had pinchcd and denied
herself for him till he had begun to be
successful. wv 5 S,3 .3 3Ssts.
Laughter greeted this, for now the true
version OF the bullying mill owner tales
was ont. Bounderby. who had turned
very red {, was the only one who did not
seem. toN enjoy the scene. After he had
Nwrathfullys shut every one else from the
house he vented his anger on Mrs Spar
sit for. as he said, ,qneddling with his
own family affairs, and ended by giving
her the wages due her8and inviting her.
to take herself off lat once. SO Mrs.
sparsit, for all her cap.settlng and spy
Ing. had to leave her comfortable nest
and goBto live in q poor lodging as com
panion to the most grudging, peevish,
tormenting one of her noble relatives, an
invalid with a lame leg.
But meanwhile another day had passed
sthe fourth since Rachel had sent her
|letter-nnd still Stephen had not come.
On this day, full OF her trouble, Rachel
had wandered with Sissy, now her. fast
friend, some distance out OF the town.
through some fields where mining had
once been carried on. Suddenly she cried
out-she had picked up q nat. and inside
ut was the name Stephen Blackpool.'
An instant later a scream broke from her
lips that echoed over tho countryside;
before them. at their very feet, half
hidden by rubbish and grasses, yawned
tho ragged mouth OF a dark, abandoned
shaft. That instant both Rachel and
Sissy guessed the truth-that Stephen.
returning, not seeing the chasm IN the
darkness, had fallen into It's depths.
They ran and reused the town. Crowds
came from Coketown. Rope and windlass
were brought and two men were lowered
sintoEthe pit. The poor fellow was there,
+ ~ i,,ra rnp fv1s%
was made and SO MT last the crushed and
broken form was brought up to the light
and air. "A surgeon was at hand with
wine and medicines, but 1t was too late
Stephen spoke With Rachel first. then
called Mr.. Gradgrind to him and asked
him to clear his name. He told him
simply that he could do 80 through his
b son, Tom This was all He died while
they bore him home, holding the hand of
Rachel, whom he loved
Stephens last words had told the truth
TO Mr.. Gradgrind. lie read In them that
4 his own son was the robbcr Fai
TOMS guilty glance had seen also,
With suspicion removed from Stephen. ne
felt his own final arrest sure. Sissy noted
his pale face and trembling limbs. Guess
f ing that he would attempt flight too late.
and longing to save the heartbroken
father from the shame Of witnessing his
sons arrest and imprisonment, she drew
the shaking thief aside and in a whisper
bade him 90 a once to Sleory, the pro-
prletor of the circus to which her father
had once belonged She told him where
tho circus was to tie found at that sea-
son Of theyyear, and bade him ask Sleary
to hide him for her sake till she came
Tom oteyed. He disappeared that night,
and later Sissy told his father what she
had done. Is
Mr., Gradgrind, with Sissy and Louisa,
followed as soon as possible, intending
to get his son to the nearest port and
so out OF the country on a vessel before
he, the father. should be questioned and
all night, and at length reached the town.
where the circus showed under tho
watchful eye OF Sleary.
Tho Snowman. for sissy's sqke had
provided Tom with disguise IN which
not even his father recognized him. He
had BACKED TOMS sullen face and
dressed him in q moth-eaten great-coat
and a mad cooked hat, In which attire
he played the role of a black servant in
the performance He met them grirnly
and defiant, assumed to meet Louisa's
eyes, brazen to- his father, anxious only
to be saved from his merited punish
lalnent.
A seaport was but three hours away.
He was soon dressed and arrangements,
| for his departure Were completed. Ii But
Lat the last moment an active danger
| appeared on the scene. 1t came in the
person of the porter Of Bounderby's
bank who had all along suspected Tom.
| He had watched the Gradgrlnd4 house,
| followed Its master when he left and
now laid hands on Tom, swearing he.
would take him back to Coketown
!. In this moment Of the fathers despair
sleary, the Snowman, saved the day for
the shlyering thief lie agreed with the
porter that II Tom was guilty OF "a crime
he should certainly go with him, and
| he offered. moreover, to drive tho captor
and his prisoner at once to tle8nearest
railroad station, He winked at Sissy as
he proposed this. and she was not
alarmed. The porter accepted the pros
posal at once, but he did not guess what
/ the Snowman had In mind.
slearys horse was an educated horse.
AT certain word from him At would
| stop and begin to dance. and would not
! bulge from the spot thereafter till he
gave tho command In a particular way.