BILLY'S FATHER.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 907, 6 May 1891, Page 4

BI LL Y'S F ATHER.

(Continued ,) I easily got Jackson's address, bat it "?ss not easy to get the man, I traced him to Glasgow, but there »ll clue ended and my impression is that be must hare gdne thence to America or some far-off 'and, for he was never taken. W$ x bad .... still .Steedman, however, add as His statements regarding Jackson conld be confirmed only by , Billy, who now declared that it was the voice of the former barman that he had heard the evident tjid not go for much, and he jf as arraigned on the . chirge jbf feloniously entering and robbing Wilson's hop, with an Alternative charge of aiding Mid abetting the roubery by procuring a cast of the key. He -. "wisely pleaded not gv'lty to the second charge, and was sentenced to six months' inaprisonmmfc. ' ' : ■ ■■•■•■ ' " 'I will just kill the little traitor whin I get oat/ was his savage remark as he was led down. I saw him below, and tried to explain Billy's Teal motive and his great grief athavinghad to try such a plan: but Steedm&n wonld not listen to reason. He was m a, state of nervous prostration through the enforced abstinence bordering on madness, which the excitement of the trial had increased, and a day • or two after tried to hang himself m his cell with his braces. He was out down but became ni ore ill, and was ordered inlo hospital, where bis condition became noj critical that he , was asked if he would like to see any one, , ' YAm I so ill, then T he said feebly trying to rouse himself . 'Am I not . to get better?* .. : ; ■ ;-•■.., -\..' ' , . '' ■■, ■'* There is danger— that is all,' was the answer, and after long reflection, the patient said he would like to see Billy, nit to kill him as he had JSrit intended but to aik his forgiveneas, and, give bin a warning for his own future life. ; Billy came, walking with a crutch, j and was taken to bis father's bedside > and wound him m his arms, and allowed to drop his tears on the sick man's face j and hands, but when the interview was | over Steedman roused himself, and said l to his attendant — j 'I'm a great deal better since Billy \ came ; I'm not going to die ; don't you ! think it-' | Twice subsequently Billy was allowed! to see his father, and m a month morel he came'over^ still using the crutch,, to meet -Steed man — or rather his shadow] at the prison gate, and joyously conduct; him back to His home. The father made! no protestations or vows, and Bifly spoke' no mor* of the past ; but Steedman looked down on the cripple by his side and heard him cheerily declare that he didn't believe what the doctor said, which was that his thigh had been s6 badly, fractured that it wonld never again he quite sound, and that he would probaply Ivrive to use the crutch 'all his life. ■ Steedman heard it all, and a bear gathered m his eye, and a great deep sigh heaved from his breas*, but he said never a word. His future was to be deeds, not words. ~ \ Billy has always been lame, and uses a crunch) to this day, bat his father has riseri steadily, and if I were to point out the,.firrn. which /epresents 'Steed man 1 & Son 'no one would believe me, even 1 though they recognised Billy by hiL crutch and hiabritjbt smile. : 0. THE END '.