The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-12
N TIRLES D|CkENS

 fathers name being Pirrip and his Christian name being Phillip, his in- fant tongue could not make anything more explicit out of 1t than Pip. His only knowledge of his parents was de- rived from their tombstones. The shape of his fathers grave gave him the Idea that he was square. dark man with curly hair, and the inscrip- ton underneath tt 'Nseorgiana, Wife of the Above" made him happily confident that they had gone to their reward.
 Ills sister, Mrs. Joe 0argery. wife of the blacksmith. had brought him up by hand, & process which furnished fev- er-failing subject of conversation to her and Uncle Pumbieehook q large, hard-hreathing. slow man with a mouth like fish.
 you up by hand" Uncle Pumblechook would say. runiins Pip's hair with his heavy hand. Let your behavior be a credit to them as brought you up by hand: And how much is six times s'oratefulr' cried Mrs cargery in rasping tones that seemed perfectly proper accompaniment to her rasping. bony body. Why did do 1t, I should like to knowi They'll drive me to the chufchyard betwixt themI"
 Then Uncle Pumblech oolS.s idfotical- 1y self-satisfed eyes would stare more tdiotieally than ever. as he nodded sol- emniy. And Joe Gargsry feeling the paxen curls on the sides of his mild Face and looking heiplessly at Mrs. Joe 4ut of his light blue eyes would help Tip, furtively to gravy as a secret con- isolation.
 Pip's favorite refuge In the evening was in the chimney corner behind Joeis .tk, which he held there protectingiy. When your sister Is on the ram page. TIP. MT. Gargery whispered at such lines, "candor compels fur to admit that she is buster. But, Pip, she is a nle figure of woman."
 In the daytime. when Joe's protection was wanting, Pip resorted to tha graveyard. the bleakest spot in all that bleak marsh country; forever haunted py creeping mists from the nearby sea.
 It was here that he first attained the conviction that Philip Pirrip. Iate of This Parish. and 0eorgiana, Wife of the Above were dead and buried. and that he himself was a small bundle of shivers growing suddenly afraid of the cnurehyard and the mists ana the marshes.
 He began to cry. "Keep stir. you little devil, or I'll cut your tflroati" cried terrible voice. A man started up from among the graves; a fearful man, all In coarse gray, with a great Iron on his leg; a man with broken ehoes and an old rag tied around his head; man who had been soak ed in cd and shivered.
 Who are you and where do you liver Quicke said the man. his teeth ehat- tering with cold.
 Pip told him, trembling, and begged him not to cut his throat.
 That depends" said the man dark " You bring me. here. tomorrow morning early, He and some vifflee You do 1t. and you never dare to sav < word concerning mo, and you shall be let to live. You fail. or you 20 from my words in any partick1er, no Fuattar how small, and your heart and liver shall be tore out, roasted and ate. A boy may lock his door. tuck himself comfortable and safe. but there IS ways Of softly creeping to him and tearing him open"
 As soon as Pip promised to obey the man released him and limped away painfully toward the marshes.
 That evening Joe looked ct Pip many fimes with silent anxiety. beseechInR him In dumb show to eat, and even trv- Ing to form silent questions with his lips until Mrs. Joe was irritated be- gond endurance. Fortunately at this moment her attention was distracted by heavy report that shook the air.
 An" said Joe. There's another convict escaped from the Hulks down Yonder There was a convict of last night, and they fired warning Of him. And now they're firing warning of an- other ["
 Pip was about to ask some ouas. tions. but Mrs. Gargery perceived his evil intention in time. T tell you what. young fellow, said she, T didn't bring you up by hand to badger peo- ple's lives out. People are put in the Hnlks because they rob and steal and they always begin by asking questions. Now get along to bed!"
 Through the black hours that follow ga Pip lay awake in mortal terror--- terror or the fearful man with the from cd leg. and terror of himself, who. m. der an awful promise. was about to rob Mrs. Joe and begin his career toward the dreadful Hulks.
 Before dawn he stole to the uantrv and took great supply of food ana drink. Then. having abstracted a ile 1 rom the forge, he ran through the | gloom and the fog to the churchyard. l
 The man was there. shivering as ii | he had not left of all night. He feII l on the food like beast. dsyourinr | different things all at once. Only for | one Instant did he cease to ask: ''You're l not . deeeiving imp? You brought no
 No" said Pip.
 well" said the man. T believe you | You'd be but a fierce young hound tn- | deed if at your time O life you cor,Id | help hunt a wretched warmint. hunted | as near death and dunghill as this poor warmint is."
 There was a queer sound in his throat, and he drew his ragged. rough | sleeve over his Heyes. Plying him, Pin l said; said; T am glad you enjoy the vit-
 '@Thankee, my boy. do." said the man, looking at him with something | softened in his savage eyes. "Thankee.s
 He crammed the remnants of the food into the breast of his rough coat | and fell to filing madly at his iron. Pip told him timidly that he must Ret back home. and receiving no reply. ran away. He stopped after q while inR.
 Tn an agony of fear he watched his sisters preparation for dinner that af- ternoon. Company had been invited. and Ptp's heart almost stood still when Mrs Gargery at last approached the iarder. Just as he felt that he could came ringing of grounded gun butts
 Through the windows we beheld A hle of soldiers. Their sergeant enter cd and held out g pair of hRndeufgs, saying: 'Tn the name of the king. l blacksmith. want your service. We're after two escaped convicts on the mar shes wonder, and this pair of irons needs some repairs"
 In Jiffy Joe had his apron on ana was tinkerfng away. The job done, 1