On Picket Duty, and Other Tales | Page 4

the little
story needed no better sequel than the young father's praises of his
twins, the covert kiss he gave their mother when he turned as if to get a
clearer light upon the face. Ashamed to show the tenderness that filled
his honest heart, he hummed "Kingdom Coming," while relighting his
cigar, and presently began to talk again.
"Now, then, Flint, it's your turn to keep guard, and Thorn's to tell his
romance. Come, don't try to shirk; it does a man good to talk of such
things, and we're all mates here."
"In some cases it don't do any good to talk of such things; better let 'em
alone," muttered Thorn, as he reluctantly sat down, while Flint as
reluctantly departed.
With a glance and gesture of real affection, Phil laid his hand upon his
comrade's knee, saying, in his persuasive voice, "Old fellow, it will do
you good, because I know you often long to speak of something that
weighs upon you. You've kept us steady many a time, and done us no
end of kindnesses; why be too proud to let us give our sympathy in
return, if nothing more?"
Thorn's big hand closed over the slender one upon his knee, and the

mild expression, so rarely seen upon his face, passed over it as he
replied,--
"I think I could tell you almost anything if you asked me that way, my
boy. It isn't that I'm too proud,--and you're right about my sometimes
wanting to free my mind,--but it's because a man of forty don't just like
to open out to young fellows, if there is any danger of their laughing at
him, though he may deserve it. I guess there isn't now, and I'll tell you
how I found my wife."
Dick sat up, and Phil drew nearer, for the earnestness that was in the
man dignified his plain speech, and inspired an interest in his history,
even before it was begun. Looking gravely at the river and never at his
hearers, as if still a little shy of confidants, yet grateful for the relief of
words, Thorn began abruptly,--
"I never hear the number eighty-four without clapping my hand to my
left breast and missing my badge. You know I was on the police in
New York, before the war, and that's about all you do know yet. One
bitter cold night, I was going my rounds for the last time, when, as I
turned a corner, I saw there was a trifle of work to be done. It was a bad
part of the city, full of dirt and deviltry; one of the streets led to a ferry,
and at the corner an old woman had an apple-stall. The poor soul had
dropped asleep, worn out with the cold, and there were her goods left,
with no one to watch 'em. Somebody was watching 'em, however; a girl,
with a ragged shawl over her head, stood at the mouth of an alley close
by, waiting for a chance to grab something. I'd seen her there when I
went by before, and mistrusted she was up to some mischief; as I
turned the corner, she put out her hand and cribbed an apple. She saw
me the minute she did it, but neither dropped it nor ran, only stood
stocks still with the apple in her hand till came up.
"'This won't do, my girl,' said I. I never could be harsh with 'em, poor
things! She laid it back and looked up at me with a miserable sort of a
smile, that made me put my hand in my pocket to fish for a ninepence
before she spoke.
"'I know it won't,' she says. 'I didn't want to do it, it's so mean, but I'm

awful hungry, sir.'
"'Better run home and get your supper then.'
"'I've got no home.'
"'Where do you live?'
"'In the street.'
"'Where do you sleep?'
"'Anywhere; last night in the lock-up, and I thought I'd get in there
again, if I did that when you saw me. I like to go there, it's warm and
safe.'
"'If I don't take you there, what will you do?'
"'Don't know. I want to go over there and dance again, as I used to; but
being sick has made me ugly, so they won't have me, and no one else
will take me because I have been there once.'
"I looked where she pointed, and thanked the Lord that they wouldn't
take her. It was one of those low theatres that do so much damage to
the like of her; there was a gambling den one side of it, an eating saloon
the other, and at the door of it lounged a scamp I knew very well,
looking like a big