Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-06-15

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 heritage
of eternal burning thirst and a spirit
gangrened to the very core.
There was mo 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 days work here and there,
wherever he could, he had trodden the
country roads an outcast Swallowed by
his past. When his hunger Lecame 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 days work
could he get His last sou was gone,
he had eaten his last crust What was
he to do? What was to become of
him?
Presently the tramp paused at
meeting of the roads. Before him was
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 hedge and lawn Of beautiful
green grass from the road. AS he ap-
preached lady, in a cool summer
dress, came out on the terrace and
called to a little boy playing on the
grass with 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 mar
row footpath across the fields 1t was
then that he found himself among the
cornfeIds, his legs aching with weari-
ness. weak from lack Of food, alone,
lost, desperate.
Suddenly a cock crowded loudly be-
fore him. A house was near The
man looked up defantly. So be 1t,
then. He would go there and beg.
If they would give him nothing he
would steal. He would even kill.
Running his finger along the edge OF
his knife, he frightened his belt and,
following a curve in the path, found
himself in a narrow farmyard. With
frightened cries the hens fled beneath
his feet as he strobe across to the door
Of the matched cabin.
"Hello!" cried the tramp, and after
seconds waiting, "Hello!"
There was no reply. Doubtless the
peasants were all at work in the fields.
With a strong thrust the man
pushed open the door and entered the
cabin. The room, the only one in the
house, was low, and in one corner
stood the bed In the center stood
table, on which was spread q loaf OF
bread and a package of tobacco 0ppo-
site the wide fireplace was the heavy
oaken cnest where every peasant hides
his stocking of silver and sometimes
gold pieces.
For the first time In his life the
tramp had been a housebreaker. Well,
he would carry the game through to
the end.
Crashing his knife, he went over to
the chest to force 1t open. But paper
hanging near 1t attracted his atten-
ton. Mechanically he lifted his eyes
and read: "seventy-f1fth regiment,
infantry"
The man stopped short
Il was a certificate of honorable dis
charge made out to Jule-Mathieu Du-
bois. corporal In the Second company.
Third battalion.
So he was about to steal from
man of his old regimeptt Not of his
time, no; the date of the paper was
still recent. But no matterl
His hand wavsred; then fell.
"Fool!" he muttered softly.
His rowing eyes caught sight Of the
bread and tobacco on the table. That
much he might surely have. A man
may always borrow from a comrade,
may he not?
He cut the loaf in half, and drawing
his pipe from his pocket, filled it Then
he walked quietly out of the house,
down the path between the cornaelds
and passed out upon the high road.
AS he once more passed the crucifed
Christ at the meeting of the roads, he
looked up and said, with a merry GRIM
ace at the corner Of his lip:
"Tt's pity you didn't serve in the
Seventy-ffth, tool If you had you
would find some work for me to-
nighti"-From the French in NJ Y.
Sun