The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-12-01
Continued from Last Week.
BOOK II
CHAPTER Viii.
oyek Calhoun Enters the World Again

pinched with cold In the dour Novem-
Der day. said, without lifting his head
Seven minutes, an he'll be out.
God bless him! !"
And save him and protect him"
said Michael. HE deserved punish
ment no more than | did. and it's
broke him. I've seen the gray gather
Mt his temples, though he's only been
In prison four years. He was con-
demned to eight, but they've let him
free. don't know why. Perhaps 1t
was because of what he told the gov
eminent about the French navy. I've
seen the Joy of life sob itself down to
the sour earth. When took him the
news of his fathers DEATH and told
him the creditors were swallowing
what was left of Playmore, what do
you think he did?"
Old Christopher Dogan smiled; his
eyes twinkled with a mlrth which had
more pnln than galety.
God love you, | know what he did
He flung out his hands and said, Let
1t go! It's nothing to me- Michael
have | said truef'
Michael nodded.
Almost his very words you've used,
and he flung out his hands, as you
said"
AVE, he'll be changed; but they've
kept the clothes he had when he went
to prison and he'll come out In them.
I'm thinking"
"Ah, mol" interrupted Michael
THAT cant be, for his clothes was
stole. Only a week ago he sent to me
for q suit of my own. | wouldn't have
man. 1t wasn't fitting. So sent him
a suit ! bought from a shop. but he
wouldn't have II. He would leave
prison poor man. as n peasant In
peasants clothes. SO he wrote to me.
Here Is the letter" He drew from his
pocket a sheet of paper, and spread
1t out. "See-read 1t. All, well, never
mind" he added, as old Christopher
shook his head. "Never mind, I'll
read 1t to you |" Thereupon he read
the note, and added: We'll see him
of the Calhouns risin' high beyant
poverty and misfortune some day."
Old Christopher nodded.
I'm glad Miles Calhoun was buried
on the hilltop above Playmore. lie
had his day; he lived his life. Things
went wrong with him, and he paid the
price we all must pay for work ILL.,
done"
There you're right, Christopher
Dogan, and l remember the day the
downfall began. 1t was when him
that's now Lord Mallow, governor of
jamaica, came to summon Calhoun to
Dublin. Things were never the same
after that; but ] well remember one
talk had with Miles Calhoun just be-
fore his death: Michael he said to
me. my family have had many ups
and downs, and some that bear my
name have been In prison before this
but never for killing man out Of
fair fight One of your name may
he in prison, SIR said |. but not for
killing mnn out of fair fight. II
you believe he did. there's no death
bad enough for your He WAS silent
for while; then at Inst he whispered
MIR. Dyck's name, and said to me:
Tell him that as a Calhoun | love
him. and as his father love him ten
times more. For, look you. Michael,
though we never ran together, but
quarreled and took our own paths. yet
we are both Calhouns, and my heart
is warm to him. If my son we're a
thousand times criminal, neyerthe-
less | would ache to take him by the
hand"
Hush! Look at the prison gate,"
said his companion and stood up
As the gates of the prison opened,
the sun broke through the clouds and
gave a brilliant phase to the scene.
Out OF the gates there came slowly,
yet firmly, dressed In peasant clothes,
the stawart but faded figure Of Dyck
Calhoun.
Terribly changed he was. He had
entered prison with the flush upon his
cheek, the tilt OF young manhood IN
his eyes, with hair black and hands
slender and handsome. There was
no look of youth In his face now. IL
was the face of a mlddIeaged man
from which the dew of youth had van
ished. into which lifes storms hau
come and gone. Though the BODY was
held erect, yet the head was thrust
slightly forward, and the heaNy eye
brows were like a penthouse ihe
eyes were slightly feverisll. anu rounu
the mouth there crept sih'ie' ha,i'
cynical, but a little happy. All iresh'
ness was gone from his hands one
hung at his side, listless, corded; the
other doffed his hat in reply to the
salute of his two humble friends.
AS the gates closed behind him he
looked gravely at the two men. who
were standing not foot apart. There
swept slowly into his eyes. enlarging,