The weekly Butte record., 1862-03-15

CG6S1 KNOW N 0eTe. tlaDk OO3 Tor tlGl-
came here under wrong name, and she sup
poses I'm far away at sea. I an sure il would
break her heart 70 know the truth. Well, sir,
that IS my home I've seen it ard I've seen
her every day now these three months. 1t
used to make me crazy, but l bear it batter
now. But this chance-;his great chance was
too much for ne. And to think that l came
near losing all hope of ever seeing her again
Could doubt these struggling sobs and
tears? There was truth in every tone.
looked through the window and saw, as he
told me, woman standing on threshold op-
posite, with little child She tossed it laugh~
I ingly once or twice, and disappeared.
You don't trust me, know" said the pris-
oner; but want to beg of you not to let the
warden know this. Nothing bnt three years
solitary now, and who can live through that
No, no,.you'll let this go by, won't you? You
may believe me-you may indeed"
Feet shuiiiing along the passage announced
the return of my companions. The prisoner
endeavored to calm himself, and I put on an
air of uuconcern which 1 think was very sue
cessful under the circumstances.
Not shaved yet " said the warden, aston
ished If he had but known how close shave
had been through.
Il have broken my razor" said johnson,
looking appealingly at me. See, sir, must
have another"
Very well" said the warden "Will you
wait ?" he asked me.
q think not, said l. Another time will
do for me-"
So I wiped my face and we went on our
way.
OF course I was bound TO tell the warden
what had happened, but even in that great ex-
element which naturally followed so narrow
an escape, think that l put forward all
could in the poor fellows favor The warden
received the story with perfect composure, and
assured me that he should act in such man.
ner as be thought the occasion needed He
condemned his own heed!essness in opening so
evident an opportunity for guilt. with much
more earnestness than he spoke Of the event
itself
could not resist visiting the wife of John
son. l discovered that this story was true,
and learned his real name. She was happy in
her ignorance of his condition. l sought to
ascertain whether she was able to sustain her
self until he should reioin her and then she
told me that Mr.. --, the warden Of the
prison, had also come to her, shown interest in
her behalf, for which she could not account,
and assured her of his aid and protection in
any need that might come to her. She was
most grateful, but wondered why he had done
so.
A few months ago the following newspaper
paragraph appeared;
"It is the custom at the prison in D to
permit the prisoners whose terms are within a
few weeks of expiration, to work outside the
walls under the supervision of an officer. This
privilege is, in most cases, gladly accepted. A
few weeks ago, however. it was declined by o
man, who, as his time of freedom drew near,
appeared more restless under his confinement
than any others. On inquiry it was found
that this prisoner had wife and child living
directly within view of the walls, and that for
nearly three years he had seen her daily, she
being all the while ignorant of his imprison-
ment, and supposing that her husband, who is
sailor, was at sea on long voyage. He was
unwilling, that at the last moment, the fact
should be revealed to her and, at his own re-
quest, he continued within the walls until his
liberation, which took place last week. Ex-
ceptiDg on one occasion, his conduct in prison
had been without blemish."