Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-05-22
CHAPTED III.


Ben Coop had never married. He might
have taken a wife many times but he
had a strong prejudice against asking any
woman to share his life in so wild a spot
as that in which he lived; and perhaps
if he had told the truth, his honest heart
was true to an old romance that had been
one of the reasons for his leaving the lit
lie Lancashire village and setting forth
to make fortune for himself.
The spring had advanced a few weeks
after that day of wild excitement at the
station, and Ben was almost beginning to
think that, if he wanted to see that fellow
countryman of his again, be would have
20 take a trip to the big city and go to
the prison gates. Everything had worked
out as he had imagined. A whole army
of police agents had come down in search
of the fugitives but, with the exception
of one of the convicts, their search had
been in vain. From these men Ben had
tried to find out something about that 9TH
err man who had gone back with the war
ders, but he could obtain no information.
The more he thought about that episode
the more he longed to come in contact
again with one who had declared himself
to be a Tenby.
"Ay but it fwould give me rare joy to
feel that l could do something for a Ten
bvv he said to himself But the DAYS
had gone by, and Ben knew absolutely
nothing about the young man who lived
so constantly in his thoughts.
One night, however, as he stood at his
gate. conscious that he had some eight or
ten hours rest before him, Ben's quick
ear caught the sound of some one walk
ing over the rough path. The place was
lonely. For days at a time no one passed
his way.
Some poor tramp he said to himself.
well, he's welcome 10 a share of all I've
got"
There was no moon, but the night was
clear. and as the form of this stranger
drew closer Ben's heart gave a great lean.
palm of the other.
Its him." he said to himself. I'D
swear to it,"
And, acting on sudden impulse. he
STROBE over the rough ground to meet one
whom he already called his guest: and
Hubert Tenby's heart took throb of new
life as he saw that honest fellow stand
ing before him with outstretched hands of
welcome.
1--WE been looking for YOU" Ben said.
"I thought yoU would come, lad. |
thought as they'd never keep you shut
up after what you did that day But
you're fair done. You walk lame; lean
on me. When you've had food you shall
tell me all"
The other man covered his face with
his bands for an instant. When he looked
up there were tears in his eyes and an
expression of deep suffering in them also.
All friend" he said. unsteadily, "yo0r
words strike into my heart. There was
not one of my blood to speak like this
when my trouble came"
Ben Coop said nothing for a moment.
He sat and looked at the man before him
with an expression of deepest sympathy,
affection, and yet of doubt mingled on his
bIorzed face. They strolled 10 and fro
for few moments in silence; then HUI
bert Tenby spoke:
How long ago is il, Ben. since you
came away from the old village?'
lay, but It's a long time. Going ON for
nigh; twenty-six years. was just TWEEN
ty. earning fine wage, too, sir, in the
mines.
.'What made you think OF coming out
70 this part"
II Just drifted," Ben answered. "Whez
/ eft the village did not care much.
sir. which way my feet went ! loved
the old place. Just a few months be-
fore. if any one had asked me, Ben, Lad.
come away and make fortune l would
have laughed in his face. See how life
changes. sir. That was when / saw my
future, as / thought. in the little village
before lost the girl loved"