Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-08-03
l arose and went down to the prisoD--

was to see my husband until after the trial
Another day crept by-a highland then
morning came. wen, down to the door, and
opened it, with that vague feeling of expec-
tation which always accompanies severe aiiIic-
ton, and looked out The sun was rising
Gods sun--rising grandly md brightly over
the blackstone jail. Tie frost hung thick
and sparkling over everything, even on the
scrap of folded paper which luy at my feet.
l alopped and picked it up idly. as we catch a
straw or twig, sometimes, without any motive
or power of volition. The superscript'on
caught my eye. it was my own name. and my
husbands writing. | tore it open. and read /:
. 'DEAR LUcY:-1 have broken out Of Jail.
and am gong-well, no matter where !
didn't strike Hastings with an intention to
Kill him. | was intoxicated and it was mo, e
his fault than mine, but he mGy dic-arl
then-at any rate, it is better for you. Lucy,
for me to CO. | never was worthy of you. -
Now, yon can 90 back to your father and for
get ne. and be happy You will fluid the
bonds for what money | have in bank, in my
! desk, 1t is enough to make you and the chill
comfortable. Forgive and forget me, Lucy
God bless you-you and the baby. ToM"
| That was the end That was the reward
my cross word had purchased for me d! Truly
truly, the wages of sin is death We shall
not need one pang of corporcal suffering, one
spark of real fire, to perfect our. torment. if
We are lost. Conscience is all suifcient--re-
| morse. that worm that never dies IL is use
less for me to attempt to talk about what
| suffered in the weary, weary DAYS that followed
that morning Words ccull not express 1t,
and no soul, save the one tfat has tassej
it,,,,,frh ! tb,,, -.
begin to understand it. But lived, for sor.
row and death rarely walk in each Others
steps, and nursed my babe. and did the work
that my hands h,l to do. | did not 60 back
to my father. / remained IN Tens home and
kept his things about me. even to his cap
hanging on the wall. Forget him ? Does
love ever forget
Hastings did not die. lie recovered, and
made public statement He was more in
fault, he said, than Tom was. Then he but
notice i'll ell the papers, telling Tom to come
back; but he did rot come .
The winter passed away with long, long
nights of bitter remorse, and tender rucollec-
tions of the dear husband, whose strong ar,!i
had unce been my stay and snprort. The
spring came--the silmmcr--ano,her winter.
Three years vent by--crept by.
d, Ny child. Toms lit,le baby. grew to be
fairy thing. with fair bite eyes and golden
hair. and tongue that never wcaried of its
childish prattling All day long SHE sat on
the doorstep, where the evening sunbeam3
siatted in, lisping to her doll, and saying |
pappy would cone back to Us one day For !
surely he would come Surely Gods mercy
you'd vorrl,sate some, compensation, some .
pardon for such tears, and bitIc- rereniance
us my soul had poured forth
The third spring was peculiar somehow;
the far of sky seemed to drop down in nearer,
bluer folds; the sun wore softer radiance;
The trees, tic grass, the flowers a diyiner,
enderor beatty. rose up every morning
aud inykcd out of my little winlow ut the
indliDg glorlcs of morn. with feeling of
strange. trcmulous expectation. seemed to
tel the shadow of some great event that ,
winged ito fight above me The che prayer OF
ny soul seemed about to be answered {
One evening-oh. that evening, a Nav
ky. soft and blue, hung over green bios. t
oming earth. The turtle dove cUoeI In the
i$tant wood. an the robin twittcd to her c
oung brood amid the milky bloom of the
rchnrd. Gods love shone in the golden t
rightness of the westward going sun Ny :
hilJ, little Ellie, sat on the door step talking c
. her doll aud watching the birds. a II at )
nee. she clipped her dinplcl hands and I
oiindcd to her feet {
Mambiy," size cried, glccfuly, "parpy u
',nin --pappy comm: Ellie go to meet hin!" II
The words stirred my heart to its inmost
ap'hs and, dropping my work. l followed I!
er out at the ducr. 1 man was coming ip !,
e garden path, his garments ta,tared, a,ii \
g steps slow and Uncertain. A bcggar, no =
,ub; called to Ellie to come back bu,
e ran on, needless ofuy cn,onirl TONS OF
lie spaniel that tAd petted and taken care II
for his sake. dartcd from its kennel with SC
culiar cry, sach as | had never heard from b'
before. What did il all mean? iiy heart 81
robbed and my Knees began to trembIe rl
tile Ellie ran Oh, holding out bpth diu pied
nds, her golden cufls blown all about her W
sy face. vi
''iIow de-do papry? Is your little girl, ell
lie. she lisped as she reached the mans an
He stopped and raised her in his arms and Ell
.n his glance rested on ME. &nd such va
face. Pale. haggarl, worn en-
sorrow and suffering u to mere shadow. FRI
ms ghost came back from the grave hot trf
1t either, for my frantic arnls graspel somc- de
ng. some tangible form. de-
oh, Toni l cried. lis it you Speak, the
ak. and tell mei' ro'
Yes. Lucy. it's ME. could bear It TO coq
ner-Im diving. 7 believe-and co,:Iln', dai
without seeing you and the little one OF
lin" ..-
Ny arms held him fast, tattercd garment, -.
all MY tears fell upon his poor pale face 80 80
7 I !