St. Mary's gazette., 1865-05-25

once bsG >successfnlly employesa =
fmoveH 6sy. eyes Suddenly from him, snd
stared wildly into the space behind him
aud pointed in the same direction with my
arm. by lucky chance l had pointed
to the window. think that move ment
saved my life. He stopped, irresolute,
glanced at the window. flung his hands
over his head. easped as il he was chok-
ing. and then dashing the razor agains;
the stone wall fell trembling on his knees
As stepped swiftly across the H,or he
called to me:
Don't 60. dou't go. Stand at the
door if you choose. but wait moment. -
It's all over now; and perhaps if You hear
me you won't wouder that | was driven
mad"
| hardly knew how to act, but as |
iuvoluntArily checked my steps hc contiD-
ued:
Look out at thut window, sir, and
you'll see just over the road. woman
with child iu her arms. standing in the
doorway. That's my wife and bsby-my
poor wife aud baby. She dosen', know
I'm herc-,hauk G.l for that came
here under wrong uame, aud she sup
poses lm far away at sea I'm sure it
would break her heart to know the truth
Well. sir. that's my home. I've seen it,
aud Eve seen her every day now these
three mouths. 1t used to make :ne crazy.
but | bear i. better uo~. But this chance
this great chance-was too much for
me. Aud to think that | came near
lo.iLg ull hope Of seeing her again. :"
Could doubt these struggling sobs and
tearsf There was truth in every toue-
[ looked through the window. nnd saw
rs he told me, woma~ standing On
the threshold opposite. with little child
She tossed it up laughing ouce or twice,
and disappeared.
You don't trust me. | know" sail
the prisoner but | want to beg you
not to let the Warden know of this. -
lts Of no asc, know. Well, I swear
that I'll 10 true to home after this. -
Nothing but three years Of solitary con-
tincment now. ana who can live through
that No. no. you'll ls, this 60 10y won,
you? You may believe me--iudccd you
may"
Feet shufliine along the passages an
nouuccd the return of NY companions
The prisoner endeavored to c,lm him
self, and put ou An air of unconcern
which think was~ycry successful uujcr
the circumstances.
Not shaved yet! " said the War
den. astonished. II he had but known
how close shave had been through.
Il have broken my rAxor." said John
son. looking aPpealingly at me. See
cir! | must have another"
Very WE'LL" said the Warden. "Will
you wait :" he asked ME.
II think not" said l. "Another time
will DO for me-"
So wiped my face, and We wenton our
way.
Of course / was bound to tell the
Warden what had happened: but even
in that great excitement which naturally
followed SO narrow au escape. think
that set forward all l could in that
poor fellows favor. The Warden re-
ceived the story with perfcc. composure.
and assured me that he would act in
such a manner as he thought the occas-
ion needed. lie condemned his own
heedlessness iD opening 90 evident an
opportunity for guilt, with much more
earnestDess than he spoke Of the even,
itself
I could not resist visiting the wife of
Juhn.onS ! discovered that his story
WINS true. and learned his real name. -
She was happy in her ignorance of his
real condition. sought to ascertain
whether she was able to sustain herself
until he should rejoin her; and then
she told me that Mr--, the Warden o.
the prison had also come to her. -hout.
Interest 10 her behalf, for which sh.
could not We'll account. und assured arr
of his aid I'D protection in any need
that might come to her She was mos,
grateful but wondered why he had done
so.
A few months ago the following new.
paragraph appeared. L, was much cop.
red and suppose i, will be remember
ed:
1T is a custom at the prison Of =
- TO permit prisoners whose tcrm.
are within a few weeks Of expiration. t,
work outside the walls under the super
vision of an officer. This privilege i
in NEST cases gladly accepted \ few
weeks ago it was declined by man
who. as bis tune Of freedom drew ncal
appeared more restless under bis c'niIe
; mens than any others. Ou inquiry i
was fouLd that the prisoner h.d wife
and child living directly wi,hin view
of the walls. and that for nearly thre
years be had seen her daily. she trin,
all the while ignorant of his imprison
nient. and surprising tina, her husband
| who was a SAILOR, VAS at sea on lonl
voyage He wSs unwilling th-t It tn
, neut the fact should be revealed t. her