Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-10
neck wear, which he donned In the

lntO the street WIN MS UNIFORM In
bundle. almost unacceptable TO a
shipmate.
He would pawn HIS uniform; but
Willingness to meet Mr.. Breen pre-
vented him from seeking one OF the
numerous pawnshops in Park Row,
so he recrossed the park, went east
below the bridge. turned north. and
In Catherine Street, down near the
river. found a pawnbroker who nd
vanced Ave dollars on the suit He
would have purchased II outright for
ten. for It was OF the finest cloth and
flannel, stitched and starred and
crow-footed with silk; but down in
Dicks rebellious heart was the man
of-war's love for his mastering
clothes. and he refused to sell When
he was established as a landsman
and gentleman. II would be q pleas
ant reminder OF the life he had es-
capped
II was growing dark when ne left
the pawnshop. The wind was rising.
and damp snow filled the air, which,
melting underfoot, made dirty
slush that wet his feet In a blocks
walk. He regretted not buying rub
Der overshoes. not because wet feet
we're unusual. or troubled him in the
least. but because he must now act
| and feel like a citizen; he must also
have an umbrella, and when he had
obtained money. an overcoat. which
he would wear through the winter
whether he was cold or not
His humiliation and anger at noon
had prevented him eating much din
! ner. and feeling hungry now. and
reasoning that Mr.. Breen could not
remain very long in Park Row, he
tramped through the slush to this
street OF cheap restaurants; for he
must economic until he found work.
Before huge dish Of hot corn-beef
hash, he resigned himself to the lux
ury Of being a landsman Think of
the way mess cooks spoil good grub"
he unused as he ate. Couldn't cook
like this II you paid them. -Four
years and half in the navy-where
you think by egulation-with a boss
at each hatchway. No more for me.
| Ashore man has one boss. and
sleeps in a bedroom with window
in It."
He was again in the street. the
warmth Of the restaurant behind him.
the damp chill Of the storm all about
him. He must f1Dd a boarding house,
and look for work in the morning.
Nothing better of the first presented
/ than one OF the twenty lodg
/ ing houses on the Bowery. so he
sought one, and sat In the reading
room---to wait for bedtime. About
him we're all manner Of men, in all
stages Of poverty--all out of work,
as evidenced by their depressing,
half-hearted conversation. These
men we're not succeeding on shore,
and some were we'll educated and In
telligent. He tried to read a news
paper. but gave it up; for, either
from his we'll filled stomach-which
was beginning to distress him-or
from the backward swing Of the mem
tai pendulum. he could not keep his
mind OF the days happenings. He
saw her face. with it's new express
sion. He shut his eyes to sec Il smil-
ing from the window Of her home.
but the vision would not come: all he
could see was shock. and pain. and
embarrassment--the red spots on the
/ cheeks.
! In FIVE minutes the reaction had
set In strong and he reviled himself,
doubling his sanity-again in the
agonies of detection and self-con-
tempt He understood the full force
OF his brutal speech, not in Its effect
on her,--for he had never dreamed
that she had cleared him Of the
charge which embittered his life.
but as 1t appealed to his manhood
and sense Of fair play, Then his love
for her arose In its strength to pun
ish him. She had come voluntarily.
and apologised for a childish fault, in
order that she might beg him, for
her sake, not TO brand himself with
the stain that could in nowise reach
her. What did it mean? he asked
himself. There flashed over his mind
a momentary thought that 1t meant
love for him; but he put the thought
from him as impossible-not for a
brute like him. 1t was her generous
nobility Of soul acting in spite OF
his oft-repeated boorishness.
He arose and went out into the
storm, fighting his way against it to
Catherine Street. down which he
turned, only to find the pawnshop
closed He was disappointed he
would have resumed his uniform and
gone aboard the ship that evening
to take up the burden she had asked
OF him; and 1t now meant 4 night In
the lodging-house. which. In his pres
ont mood. was repugnant to him. He
went slowly back. for he was not
feeling we'll: the dull pain in his
stomach had Increased. and. under q
lamp-post. sudden fierce grippe
brought him up. half bent over, and
olinging to the iron post for support
It was Mr.. Breen. wet and bedrag.
sled. with q tired, angry face
This you. Halpin? So you've done
It, have you!
mo. Mr.. Breen." gasped the sub
dued Dick. 1--WE changed my mind,
I'm going aboard In the morning
when I get my clothes"
You're going back" said the dis
gusted oficer. IF I'd known that
Id have done something better with
my time than searching every dive in