The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-12-07
TIE FORGERiS WIFE.

ceaSclCSS patter OF ram drops ofoke ulS
mally on the quiet streets, and mingled
with the weircd echo to the sound of the
rushing tide rs it came from the river
Out into the darkness came, too, wall
low, sad, despairing. 1t was not the
echo of passionate grief, but rs if the
heart cried out in cruel pain at its sense
of hope bereft and life made desolate -
1t was such cry as sometimes breaks
above.the coflin-lil, or mingles with the
rattling clods when loTc and life have
parted. Il
1t was q low, ruinous room, ill-kcrf
and damp. The spider wove his web Oh
the bare walls, and the glare Of the light
ming flashed through the shuttcrless win
dows. There was pile of straw upon
the fireless hearth, and cradle beside
it. But it was not this that made the
salt tears come in my eyes. Above the
cradle woman sobbed her life SYay.-
The lips of the mother pressed like an an
gels caress on the brow Of the child,and
then cried out in agony:
"You must not grieve So" l said, and
attempted to lift her up. There is yet
hope that he may escape, all is not lost
yet"
But she needed me not, and the pass
ionate grief went on. l felt sympathy
for this young creature l could not con
troll. lad arrested her husband on q
charge of forgery, Mr.. = was
even then conveying him to prison.
A few days before check for several
hundred dollars had been passed and the
money realized. 1t was subsequently as
certained to be forgery. We dadopt-
ed the usual means of discovery, and
waited patiently for the forger 10 COM
mence spending the money. From the
description given us, we thought hin
some reckless youth whose extravaganza
would he the means Of his detection
Not so. Days went by, and we could
get no clue as to his whereabouts. BY
some means, it is not necessary now to
relate my suspicious fell upon young
man had frequently seen on the street,
never apparently doing anything, but
seeking employment. There was wild
frightened look about his face that might
have been caused by crime, and yet be
dispair. At all events, he answered the
description, and the night have describ-
ed, had followed him home and there
arrested him. AS soon as | entered the
door, his face turned pale and bitter
expression of bitter anguish swept across
his countenancc. ! do not know why,
but before single word was spoken,my
heart felt a reluctance could not account
for in making the arrest. You arc my
prisoner"
II know it," he said; and turning
around placed Il pocket book in my hand
with the remark ''Hcre is the money" "
"Why dc you DO this ? said, ''Ioa
arc eliminating yourself -
Il know it, but it is some reparation
for the crime have committed, and |
make it, could not use the money
after l obtained II"
His wife stood by, pallid with fear,
and her great blue eyes looking eagerly
first into my face and then into his "Oh
what has he done? 1t cannot be crime,
sir. he would not do wrong" And she
flung back the long fair hair from, her
head and clung to her husband as il
shielding him from some great peril, she
knew not what, yet feared, mcnaced him.
"Yes, Mary, am g,iilty of CRIME,
but God only, and YOU, know my tempt
alton. We are penniless, sir, my wife and
I; and our little one. cried for bread.
sought work day and night, but found it
not. | could have perished with hunger,
but | could not see them die" And the
mans strong frame shook like 4 child 5:
1t did not take NE long to learn that
they had come to the city, many weeks
before, from a distant State. Educated
and refined, they had been reared i'll lax
ury, and knew not the poverty that ST.
suddenly and overwhelmingly bcset them
Family disscnsion springlng from their
marriage had exiled them from home
and fgieads, and this was the result
Still had no alternative, and ! wa$
compelled to arrest him. 1t was then,
as MIR = led her hushand away
that the hitter grief broke out.
,'tIe has returned the money! | said
1t is possible they may not prosecute
him. Then all will he we'll
But he did it, sir, he did it, Mr.. F.
Yes, know, under the pressure OF 1
cruel necessity"
But this did not seem TO console hel
at all, and left her, determined to send
some one Of her own six to stay will
her. For this purpose | fastened a'
rapidly rs | could to the house of a lad,
near by. and stated the circumstances t'
her, begged that she would 90 and one
such consolation rs she could. The lad,
went, but when she got to the house
was empty-the mother and child wcr
| zone. | did not know this until tn
next evemng-nat, ind,e |, anhl her hus
h1nl' release. Cor lS soon As the ell