Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-09-29

Of the woman he yet worshipped as a Catho-
lie devotee sdores his patron saint, might
never rest upon hin.
"1t would break my Eva's heart" he said,
" to see what have come to-
He sought for work the next day. He
was splendid penman and good accountant.
But men looked at his rags and his prison
mould which seemed to hang about him, and
drew back. Men in clean black coats we're
to be had labor was al discount. 1t was
favor to grant it. One or two asked for
his letters Of introduction, or references. He
almost laughed in their faces with the bitter
recollection of the fact that he had been ten
years in prison on false charge Of theft.
And so days came and passed, and other
days, and with them no regular employ ment.
But somehow he picked up enough for meals
and lodging by putting in coal, or menial
work Of the same kind.
He who had been, nay was. for he had on
ly been unfortunate-not guilty gentle
man by birth and nature. He strove and
prayed for patience and for death, until, at
last, the deepest depth OF darkness came to
him.
No food, no ere, no shelter, save dismal
eel ar way, for three long days and nights.
On the fourth, at dusk, be crept out to beg
IL did not matter who knew him be could
shame none.
He went to one great door. 1t was slam
med in hi, face. II stopped an old gentle
man and was threatened with arrest He
staggered, faint with hunger, to o,her doors.
E" No " mo-" no." always "no to his
gaspibg prayer for charity.
At last, in low, poor street, he opened
btfch.., A.. t.f .ua "a
ing from her stove oven great pan Of biscuit,
and comfortable suppes was smoking on
the board
faint with longing. His fingers quivered. He
said humbly, hat in hands
" A piece of bread, il you please, ma am,
a child might.
He no move dreamed Of any possibility of
refusal than OF seeing those warm biscuit turn
to stone.
But the woman, comfortable with good
food rosy from her long FIRE and lamp-lght,
turned on him in vixin fashion,
" Bread You're able to earn your own
bread. / don't encourage men beggars.
There's work for the IN as amt too lazy. You'd
best tramp if you don't want the dog set on
you. Here, Carlo, here, old fellow -
John Rodman turned without a word. He
was growing blind and deaf. He staggered
out into the street, and stumbled against a
man who was passing. The latter frst'utter-
ed an oath, then cry, and caught him by
his hands
1t was the thief whom he had parted from
at the prison gates. A few doors off was the
alley he had named.
An hour later, rascals, who deserved Jail
and the gsllows, every one OF them, had CIV
en- John Rodman the food good, well-bred,
honest people mad denied him.
They let him rest after that, until he grew
strong and doubly desperate With his
wrongs heavy u pon him--with those thieves
his only friends--he fell at last.
A dwelling was to be robbed, and John
Rodman was among those who were to pill
lage it. His task was dangerous one. He
was to enter the house, conceal himself until
a safe hour, and then admit the others.
At twilight, while tne household were in
the dining room, he crept in at back win
dow, made his way up stairs, and hid be-
meath bed on the upper floor,
There he cfouched until the house grew
still, and one by one the inmates assembled the
stairs. At last some one stopped at the door
and entered. If it should prove s,alwart
man, his task was 6ouby dangerous. lie
peeped out II was woman-a fair wo-
man-with golden hair and blue eyes, whose
face he could not plainly see. and Who put
down her lamp and sat beside table-ffom
thence she took a box, and opening it, drew
out some letters, time-worn and yellow, a
miniature portrait, and lock Of hair, which
she kissed and fell to weeping over. Theu
she buried her face 10 her hands aud pray ed, e,
muTmuing the words over, but utteIing ONE
louder than the rest.
John Aoau,en almost screamed in his agi-
tatiOn--that word was his own name And
in a moment he knew that this was Eva Fay,
and that, constant TO his memory even yet,
she prayed for him.
Or the great joy to know it--oh, the
horror Of being where he was. Silently he
wept, brushing the tears aside 70 watch her,
until she began 20 disrobe herself, when he
yelled his face in honor of her ehaste wo-
manhood. Intently he listened in the after
darkness, until her breathing grew regular
and heavy, and he knew she slumbered; and
then by the window he had entered, be de-
parted, and fed for his life. But before he
left he had serbbled in the darkness upon a
card, these words
Eva, have been near you. | am loath-
some with prison lie aud prison associations.
| dare not let you see me now. You believe
me innocent of that crime of which they
charged me. God bless you. l was inno-
cent then, Yet, since that time have been
on the verge OF crime as great. Pray for
me, as | heard you pray, and wait and watch
a little while, Nerved by the knowledge
that You love him still, John Rodman may
yet make name for which you shall not
blush. GOD bless and keep you. Adieu."
He laid this upon the table and went forth
a man again. He walked the streets until
daylight praying ih wardly. When the sun
arose, be saw glimmering on many wall
and fence, new pacards, posted over night.
The first call for men had been made. Col
umbia's voice summoned her sons to aid her,
and thousands were ready. John Rodman
read these words, Recruits wanted as
though they had been by the hands OF angels.
Hard by, drums beat and bugles blarred
from a recruiting office. If Heavens gates
had opened, John Rodman could not have
felt more thankful. He could almost have
knelt in the open street to utter thanks
giving. In the soldiers life he saw escape