Several persons offered to take
George Fennell, who had no home to go to, into their houses, but Perez
said that he should, for the present, at least, lodge with him.
As Israel Goodrich's cart, containing Reuben and Fennell and Prudence,
and followed by quite a concourse, turned up the lane to Elnathan
Hamlin's house and stopped before the door, Elnathan and Mrs. Hamlin
came out looking terrified. Perez, fearing some disappointment, had
not told them plainly that he should bring Reuben home, and the report
of the jail-breaking, although it had reached Stockbridge, had not
penetrated to their rather isolated dwelling. So that it was with
chilling apprehensions, rather than hope, that they saw the cart,
driven slowly, as if it carried the dead, stop before their door, and
the crowd of people following it.
"Mother, I've brought Reub home," said Perez, and a gaunt, wild-looking
man was helped out of the cart, and tottered into Mrs. Hamlin's arms.
There was nothing but the faint, familiar smile, and the unaltered
eyes, to tell her that this was the stalwart son whom the sheriff led
away a year ago. Had she learned that he was dead, it would have
shocked her less than to receive him alive and thus.
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