The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-12-05
HOW A CONVICT WON PARDON.
BY VIM. II. BUSHNELL,


"Will you never give up those trips,
| Terrence? 1t Is SO lonely staying here
nights, and, beside, / am fearful that some
one will break in and rob the house and
murder us all. | never say my prayers
and go to bed without trembling for my
own eand that of the children" and the
little woman hung upon the arm of the
strong man, begged him with fearful eyes
to give up his wandering life THAT of
ped; e J and settle dow.
As soon as | have gathered enough
togei her to buy me a bit of ground, or
what would be better still, to emigrate to
America that blessed land of Freedom
and work for all, and the bright sun is
always shining, I'll gladly give up carry
ing the pack, Tor it is no easy work at the
| best"
''Only think of the money you have in
the house now. husband dearl Surely
there is enough to take US across the sea
you and | and the children, and Bird
get, too, if she likes to 60
Bridget was the servant girl who help
! ed the wife of the peddler and was her
sole companion when e was away, and
her eyes snapped with apparent delight
when she heard the proposition But
she said nothing and 1.-THE MASTER con
| tinucd:
1t is true for you, Kathleen, that
have matter of a hundred pounds or SO
which shall leave for you to take care
of. and if 1 have good luck this trip I
promise you to either remain at home or
! go to America, bless her. It's good
friend she has been to Ireland, and
many's the poor soul she has kept from
starving. SO take good care of the gold
and the children, kathleen,-you and
Brldget,-until | come back" and he
| kissed his wife and bright-eyed, curly
headed babies, gave Bridget the good
bye, shouldered his pack and strobe
stoutly away, whistling merriy.
His heart was light, his form strong,
he had none OF the fears of his wife and
was looking forward joyfuiy to the time
when he would have home, "a pig aud
a COW and patch of pratees' that would
belong to himself alone, and over which
no hard hearted steward or nonresident
landlord could claim control, although he
would willingly pay his tithes to the
| church
Terrence OBnen was peidler by
profession, and what was called fore
handed" man. His family consisted Of
the good wife, two children, a boy scarce
ly three years, babe and the girl of all
work-Bridget. At the start OF his mar
rIed life he had rented little cottage
that stood in lonely, out of-the- way
place; although he had increased his
stores, he had retained possession OF it on
the score Of economy.
A brave, athletic man, and one who
feared nothing human, he could not I'M
i, Al.
ieen-in fact, gave then: little thought
Beside robbery was a thing almost I'M
known among the peasantry, and who
would ever dream OF his having large
amount Of money in his wretched cabin
j But 1t was not his custom to do 50.
Usually he deposited it in a secure place.
SO he gave the matterno further thought
than to promise himself that this should
be his last journey (if he did as we'll as
he anticipated) and tugged around, fat
tefing the rosy checked girls into pur-
chasing finery with which 10 dazzle the
) eyes Of their beaux at the next country
fair
With Kathleen, however, it was far
different. As the night began to draw
near and the wind crept round the cor
ners of the cabin and whistled down the
chimney with a mournful sound, she be-
thought herself Of the sovereiens her
husband had left, and taking the bag in
which they were kept from the little cup
board over the fire place she carefully
tucked it between the beds, remarking at
the same time to Bridget, that no one
would ever think of looking for it there.
"No, was the reply cit would be a
, smart man, shure, that would be lookIn'
under the childers to find gould. .
The tea over, for they were early sleep
ers as we'll as e"iiy risers, the girl re-
quested that she might be allowed to
6 pass the evening with her sister who re-
sided about a mile distant, and the anxi-
Gus wife and mother, although sorely
] 10th to do so, at length consented, insist
ing upon an early return.
But you will be back early, Bridget
: CAV ceorse [ will that same But
: don't be after frettin'' And the cir
departed
The lone woman busted herself as best
she might until a late hour, but the girl
did not return. In a fever of anxiety,
: she watched until fully another sixty
minutes had passed, although it appear
! ed to her like half day and then, con
slderlng It useless to remain up longer,
sought her own pillow, after commencing
herself to Him who is the protector OF
E the widow and the father of the father
less. But she had not closed her eyes be-
fore there was loud rap upon the door.
is that you, Bridget?" she asked,
, hopefully.
mo, was the answer, and her heart
. sunk like lead within her. 'No; | am
, a stranger--have lost my way; you must
let me in.
& cannot-cannot! lam poor, lone
, woman. | dare not let you in. .
''Y on need not fear As there is a
God in Heaven, [ will not harm you |
am an escaped convict-an innocent one
and as you have mercy In your heart,
open the door,
When was such an appeal made to az
Irish heart in vain? An escaped col
Wet, and wanting succor? That is tai
isman to open every door-to have che
last potato or bite of bread forced into
the hungry mouth. Yes, it is truly the
open sesame to an Irish heart, and it op-
! Grated so in this case.
The woman arose, opened the door,
gave the fugitive food, and having again
> received is assurance that he would dc
q her no harm. but on the contrary, pro-
, tect her, and having also seen him
reich himself upon the floor before the
remnant of the peat FIRE, she again
sought the side of her sleeping children.
S But even then she was not allowed to
a roSt A. fret bar faorS Eapf her awake