Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-29

from The overcharged heart Of the aged
father.
IL was early in the morning, when
Mr.. Livingston returned with his hired
vehicle to C--. As he entered the
stable. the first object that met his eve
was his own horse feeding quietly in
The stable, aud he was speedily made ac-
! quainted with the circnuns iaaces of his
recovery, end the capture of The thief.
1.-The man was more than half inioxi-
Gated at the time he was taken" said
Mr.. Smith the vo!uble stable keeper, "and
seem perfectly stupid about what he
had done--hc is one of a gang OF idle
vicious fellows that hang around the
town, and ii is well that something has
brought him TO stand. A year or two in
the Stale Prison will be good thing for
him. and teach him to walk straight in
the FUTURE"
Where is the fellow!' said Mr.. Iiv-
Iingstun, and escorted by the otIicious
Smith. whose segerest Indignation was
naturally excited by the theft of horse,
speedily arrived at the watch house
whore the unfortunate William Milford
was in custody.
Mr.. LiVlngsion's face was stern as his
could be ashe entered the room, while
that OF Smith wore the careless business
like air oi man who was quite used To
these things. and saw but one way To
dispose OF them.
What wreiclied looking being was
the prisoner who me, their gaze! Pal
| I'D from yesterdays nebria,ion, his eyes
sunken and plood>hot. his hair hanging
wildly over his forehead, his whole
frame trembling with terror as he mark
ed their entrance.
BY his side was the light form and
pale face of Mary, who had come with
The dawnlng light to gain a,lmitiance 10
her husband. Her child was in her
arms--iis joyousness strange mocke-
ry IN that gloomy place.
Opposite sat The old man--his gray
head bowed-paying lille heed To lhase
about him. Smith was the first TO speak.
$50, so. my fine fellow, we've caught
you at last, eh! Mr.. Livingston here will
soon have you where you won't be s,ea-
ling gen,eman's horses and chases a.
gain in a hurry, fancy"
"lndeed. indeed sir" said the tremb-
bling prisoner, Il did not mean 10 steal
don't know how came 10 take the
aorse--ii seems all confused now, but |
am sure, very sue meant to carry him
back"
''Oh. yes" rejoined Smith. "most
prs bable, that's all very fine, bul won't
do here. Very likely you were going To
see u sick friend, or TO your poor, lame
grand moiher to ride, eh! There have
been good many ,aluables stolen with
in month or two, and III be bound
you've had your share of the spolls.'
i There must have been a soItness in
Mr.. Livingslon's eye, for as The young
wife heard these words, she raised her
hands TO him appeaingly and cried, ..Oh
do not belete him, slr-mv husband is
not thief feel sure he did not mean
to steal your horse--he was not himself
then-he was unconscious of The crime
he was committing. Ii is his first Of
fence. Oh, will YOU not listen TO him.
and have mercy on him for the sake of
his wife and child! Ii you do not ap-
pear against him the law cannot harm
him!'
1 "lhere the old story" interrupted
Smith, "you might apprehend rogues
from now till the end of the year, and
there would always be plenty nf wives
and children TO cry and beg for their par
don. tell YOU he unfaslened The horse
and made off with him, and was found
ten miles from home. afer nine o'clock
of dark night, with both horse and car
riage in his possession. Ii don't prom
Use very well--he'll be delivered over
this morning. and reckon we shall have
to Try his digestion on prison fare for a
while"
During all this time, Mr.. Livingston
had said not word--he had listened to
the conversation, while he had been
strictly obsersingih The persons before him.
He had seen the flush of shame pass
over The face of the prisoner, who by no
means looked depravod--he had marked
the genuine Indignation that flashed from
the eyes of the wife, as she heard the
coarse accusations of Smilh-and now
when he spoke, il was to request, that he
might be left alone for few moments
with the prisoner and his family.
As the door closed, he turned to Will
liam Milford. and looking into his face,
with his mild yet intense gaze, said firm
ly-"DiI you tell the truth when you
said that this was no premeditated theft.
tina. it was done in time of lawless
intoxication"
There was no mis,aking the fervent
honesty with which he answered .--.'As
hope for pardon, il was! Heaven
knows | have done enough in almost
breaking Mary's heart by my reckless
conduct, to deserve The severest punish
ment, and this last is crushing her to the
earth,-but meant no crime!''
There was something of sternness in
Mr.. Livingston's tone. as he said, Il con-
slider il no light crime for a man 10 place
himself, voluntarily, as you have done,
beyond the controlling power of his reas-