Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-12-10

Aiter she hao gone, Dusleo mysel
in getting ready the supper, for Jami
always enjoyed his supper; and wha
wonder that, with hard days work
an early breakfast, and only lunch a
noon. he should eat heartily at night
baked some biscuit and kept then
smoking hot, cooked nice bit of meat
and boiled the potatoes. and then l go
out little dish Of preserves ant
stepped the tea.
Just in the nick of time, as we say
andt when everything was ready. ia
mie came in. He looked more cheer
full than he did in the morning, ant
smiled, and praised the appearance
of the table. But there was look o
firm and resolute determination in hi
face that 1 had not seen there before
and i troubled me to know what i
hetokzned. --s-
/ "Well, mother" he said, ri every
thingds ready we viii eat, for I'm a
hungry as bear. aud after supper 1'v'
something important to tell you"
These last words be spoke hesitating
ly, but | was glad to know that he wa.
about to unburden his soul of what
ever secret it contained.
So we sat down to the table.
was just pouring out the tea wher
there was loud and unexpected knocl
at the door. | opened it and found
Mr.. Keating, the constable. He lived
not far off, and had been friend to my
dear husband.
GOOD evening Mr.. Keating," 1 ner,
vously said.
GOOD evening, madam" he replied
"does James Riley live here?'
"And don't you know he live:
here?" / answered.
'Is he at homer"
"Supposing he is-what then?"
81 must see him. / have an order
for his arrest"
"What do you mean by that?"
asked, angrily. Surely, you are jok-
ing, Mr.. Keating. You certainly
wouldn't carry Jamie 10 jail! You
know he's never done any evil deedP'
at is sad duty" answered the con-
stable, "but arrest him l must, if be
is in this house."
"Well, he is not in the house, nor
has he been tonight"
Before these words were fairly out
of my mouth, Jamie stepped to the
door.
He had listened to all our conversa-
ton. and now he spoke in his clear and
manly voice:
81 am ready to accompany you, Mr..
Heating, but with what crime am |
now charged?"
Mr. Heating spoke very low, so
that l should not hear, but hear I did,
and the words made me faint and sick;
tried to Danish the horrible suspicion
of my sons guilt, but Icould not for
get how the bells had changed on the
night before
"Mr. Keating," l said, as calmly as
l could, though my voice trembled,
"will you let me speak to my son
alone one minute?"
Certainly, Mrs. Riley .
Then the lad came into the room,
and the constable stood without the
door, and l took my boys hand in
mine, and looking up into MS face, |
spoke these words:
"James Riley, by the love you bear
me; by memory of your dead father;
by the hope of your souls salvation,
speak truly; are you guilty or inno-
cent?"
Innocent, mother-before God, in
nocentI' and he bent down and kissed
my wrinkled forehead, and lifted the
great load of doubt from my mind.
'Then go, darling" 1 said, "and
may the Lord in his mercy watch
over you, and bring you safely from
this tribulation."
So Jamie went. away with the con-
stable, and I sat all night by the fire.
place, moaning and crying as thought
of my poor boy in the stone cell of the
Jail.
When morning dawned 1 tried to
rouse myself for the duties of the day,
but OH how lonely and desolate the
little kitchen looked, and when l laid
the table and put Jamie's plate in its
accustomed place, and thought how
for long days he would not be there
to eat any more, my eyes filed with
tears and l could do nothing.
The news of Jamie's arrest spread
very quickly through the village
When they told it to Maggie Bryan, the
brave girl tied on her hood, and going
straight to the jail, demanded an inter
view with her lover.
She never doubted his innocence for
a moment, and there, with the black,
dreary walls surrounding her, she
vowed to remain faithful and true to
him always, and devote every energy
to secure his vindication and release.
Her presence cheered Jamie, and she
came from the Jail to my cottage, bring
ing many hopeful messages from the
dear boy From her first learned in
full the charge against him.
1t seems that on Sunday night, ia
mie had been seen near the Presbyte-
rian church, shortly before fire was
there. e
Nor was that the worst. Joseph
whose father owned the fac
tory where my son worked, was ready
to swear that he saw Jamie rush from
the vestry, where the fire broke out,
and that he spoke to him as he passed
David Butler, wealthy young man,
was Milward's companion, and his
statement was the same.
Jamie's explanation-the prelimina-
ry examination they called it--took
place on Tuesday. The magistrate
heard the evidence, and said that he
must commit the prisoner to await ac-
ton of the grand jury. We might
have got him out on bail, but there |
was no one there to become his bonds
man, for though Jamie had plenty of
friends, they were all poor. The boy
ert,kn ~ Lo-aL ,ror1- ruhofovar .