Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-08-26
CHAPTER XXVlil.

and health, and burdened with sor-
row which weighed upon his heart
! like lead, reached London to find
himself alone in a city big and
crowded enough for world in itself.
He had a little money, a small
sum. representing the savings OF
years, and he intended taking pas
sage in one of the Australian liners,
for what part he did not much care.
Hope, which springs eternal in
the human breast, had not sprung
up in his. Love and despair reigned
too supreme in his heart to permit
of anything like hope, leave alone
ambition To get to Australia and
bury himself in a cattle run seemed
about the best thing he could do,
and he went straight to the office
of an emigration agent to make in
quiries. The man sharp and utterly
Iunscrupulous, advised Harry to go
to the part which would pay the
agent the highest commission, and
having pocketed Harry's passage,
money, informed him that the vessel
started on the day after tomorrow.
Harry wandered about the streets,
solitary and alone in the great
crowds, just as Lucille drove through
them a little while afterward, and
scarcely seeing the things his eyes
rested upon All his heart and mind
and soul were back at Darracourt,
and it was his miserable body only
which he had brought with him.
Toward evening of the second day
he sauntered down to the docks to
see the vessel in which he had
booked a passage.
| She was taking in a cargo, and
the wharf was crowded with hands
swinging bales of goods into the
| hold.
Harry seated himself upon one OF
the short, thick posts and watched
in a dreamy and melancholy idle
ness. There was not man of the
busy gang who had not someone to
love him-a wife and children, per
haps, for whom he was working.
and Harry sat and envied them!
Presently there was a clatter on
the stone behind him, and some
men appeared, riding and leading
half dozen horses. In the rear
rode a big fellow, with a smooth
shaver face, and with pair of clear
gray eyes that seemed to take in
the whole scene Harry included,
even while his attention never stray
ed from the string of horses.
Arrived at the wharf, the big man
Idismounted and gave safe orders to
the men in a clear, resOlute voice
that struck pleasantly upon Harry's
ears.
The horses were evidently intend
ed for shipment upon vessel ly-
ing next to Harry's, and he turned
on his post and watched the per-
Torrance with the first symptoms Of
interest he had felt since he left
Darracourt.
It was not a brilliant performance
by any means. The horses were
young-Irish Harry decided-nery-
Gus, and frightened by the unfamil-
lar noise and sights, and the two
men in charge of them were not UP
to their work.
One man led a horse to the steep
incline from the wharf to the ship,
and then attempted to drag him,
while the other struck him on the
hind quarter. The big YOrkshireman,
who was riding a young and almost
thoroughbred horse, and could not
leave him, shouted out directions,
strongly spiced with oaths. But the
men were sad bunglers, and every
moment the frightened horses grew
more restless and unmanageable.
Harry stood it-or sat it-as long
as he could; then rising, went up
to the perspiring and bewiTdered
couple, and offered his assistance.
The men stared at him and respond
ed with a scowl, but Harry, nod
ding a kind of request to be per-
mitted to the YOTkshireman, took
the horse out Of his hands, and led
it some distance from the vessel,
and to a quiet part of the wharf.
There he walked it up and down
for a little while, talking to It in a
soothing tone which horse loves,
and presently, after he had thor
oughly impressed the poor thing
with the idea that he was coming
to no harm. he got on his back, and
rode him, as quiet and serene as a
sheep, up the bridge into the YES
sci. saw him comfortably stabbed.
and went down to the wharf again
The Yol kshireman stood at the
foot of the incline, the stablemen
were nowhere to be seen.
You're a brick!" said the man,
eye 'ng Harry, approvingly.
you see to the others for me? l
can't. l dare not leave this young
devil; and I'll pay you for your trou-
BILE! I've sent those other two block
heads to-Jericho!"
Harry. smiled and nodded. and De
fore long the remaining horses were
standing quietly beside their fell
lows. Then the Yorkshireman took
off his hat, wiped his brow, and
said:
! Come and have a drink
! Harry followed m into the pub
IHc-houze, and the giant ordered some
lIiouor. and while they drank Il he