Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-08-24

oHOtnei III d spirit OF DfaYauO ana
girl with cruel eyes, had made of hin
thief, a criminal.
From that time on. his life was hor
rible once more. Bitterly he remem.
bered his shamed attitude before the
epaulettes and crosses of the council
of war.
Then came the interminable years
or service in the African battalion
crushing stones for the roadways be-
meath a burning sun. tortured by
thirst Out of this furnace and infamy
he came forth at last with a heritage
OF eternal burning thirst and a spirit
| gangrened to the very core.
There was no further luck for him
after that no chance to redeem him
self. No one had thrown him saw
ing rope, no one had lent hand to
pull him from the mire.
Seeking a days work here and there.
wherever he could he had trodden the
country roads an outcast Swallowed by
his past. When his hunger scame too
/ keen he committed petty thefts. swip-
ing his way as in Algiers. The rude
hand of justice had more than once
fallen heavily upon his shoulder.
Two years ago where was he? In
prison. And last winter? Prison again. /
Now for three days he had walked in
the full harvest and not a days work
could he get. His last sou was gone
he had eaten his last crust What was
he to do? What was 10 become Of |
him?
Presently the tramp paused at a |
meeting OF the roads Before him was |
a cross with an image Of the Christ /
roughly carved
Struggling his shoulders. the tramp
turned to the left
Two hundred yards farther on he
saw a rich country house separated
by a hedge and a lawn Of beautiful
green grass from the road As he ap.
preached a lady. In cool summer
dress, came out on the terrace and
called to a little boy playing on the
grass with a large Newfoundland dog.
The child turned back at her call.
and the dog, grown suddenly angry,
ran TO the hedge and barked furiously
at the sinister stranger.
The tramp shook his fist at the great
villa, and overcome with bitter de-
spair, turned sharply to follow a mar,
row footpath across the fields II was
hen that he found himself among the
'ornhelds. his legs aching with weari-
hess, weak from lack of food alone
ost, desperate.
Suddenly a cock crowded loudly be-
ore him. A house was near. The
nan looked up dehantly So be e..
hen. He would go there and beg
I they would give him nothing he
would steal He would even kill.
Running his finger along the edge OF
Ifs knife. he frightened his belt ana
a curve in the path. found
imself in a narrow farmyard. with I
frightened cries the hens ned beneath
is feet as he strobe across to the door Q
( the matched cabin. !
Hello" cried the tramp and after !
seconds waiting, "Hellol"
There was no reply Doubtless the
were all at work in the fields.
With a strong thrust the man {
ushed open the door and entered the S
lbin. The room, the only one in the q
ouse, was low, and in one corner '
God the bed In the center stood a !
lble. on which was spread a loaf OF
read and a package OF tobacco. Oppo-
te the wide fireplace was the heavy
AIKEN cnest where every peasant hides q
Is stocking Of silver and sometimes B
Did pieces. \
For the first time in his life the a
amp had been q housebreaker. Well. I
2 would carry the game through 10
lie end
Grasping his knife. he went over TO
Ie chest to force 1t open. But a paper q
angling near it attracted his atten-
on. Mechanically he lifted his eyes G
Id read: Seventy regiment. z
fantry." p
The man stopped short.
II was a certificate Of honorable dis
large made out 70 Jule-Mathieu Du-
lis. corporal in the Second company. Is
bird battalion. G,
So he was about to steal from a q
an Of his old regiment Not Of his OF
ne, no; the date Of the paper was
III recent But no matterl
His hand wayered; then fell
FOOL" he muttered softly. h
His rowing eyes caught sight OF the Ii
cad and tobacco on the table. That 3.
uch be might surely have. 4 man G
ay always borrow from a comrade
ay he not?
He cut the loaf IN half. and drawing
S pipe from his pocket. filled it. Then d.
walked quietly out Of the house or
.wn the path between the cornhslds tn
q passed out upon the high road
j he once more passed the cruciiad
.rist at The meeting OF the roads. he
liked up and said with a merry grim. do
E at the corner Of his lip: lai
IT'S a nify vorf Ffdusf ecrtsa l. a, | m