Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-05-13
SfIeft Story.
Three Darkened Lives.
BY MRS. A. N. FREEMAN

one OF peculiar alIo especial interest 10
the citizens. An old man, for long
time pastor of one of their churches,
had been accused of crime. The post;
office had been robbed, and eircumstan.s
tisI evidence pointed to him rs the gull
ty. 1 looked upon the prisoner with an,
interest that an ordinary case would net
have excited. 1870 sfs .
His head was bowed upon his breast,
and could see that the soft brown hair
was plentifully sprinkled with gray
He possessed q splendid physique-a
broad, white forehead, an aquiline rose,
and firmly-cut mouth-but with an
expression lingering about it that show
ed him to be as sensitive as girl. That
peculiar magnetism which makes one
feel look, betrayed to him my critical
gaze, and he raised his eyes to mine. /
can never forget that Look and even
now, after the lapse Of many, years, /
can see those same sad eyes glowing
with truth, and burning into my mem
ory a conviction Of his Innocence as last
ing and enduring as time.
A young girl worked her way around
the bench upon which he was seated,
and, reaching up one of her hands,
caught one of his, and passed it to her
sweet lips with = caressing affection that
had something almost motherly in its
action. The prisoner looked sdejec ed,
broken-hearted and dispirited. The
young girls look was one of hope, trust
and firm reliance upon the justice of her
country,
Only once she left him, and that was
when she was called to the witness
stand. A delicate handkerchief was
produced, neatly embroidered, and trim
med with lace. Had she ever seen it be-
fore? At this question the bright beam
of hope vanished from her eyes, and the
warm flush died out of her face. Alas
her own fingers had wrought the tiny
flowers that embellished it's corners; il
had been birthday gift to her father.
Then they produced portemonnaie-a
little gem of beauty-overlaid with shell
and pearl, and bearing upon its side the
initials of her own and her fathers
name. Poor child! She buried her face
in her hands and sobbed aloud, Her
fathers conviction depended upon her
evidence. Should she withhold it?-
Should she disclaim all knowledge OF
these things? Must she be the means
of csndemning her fsthery Something
more than admiration beamed from the
prisoners eyes. as the girl threw back
her hair and said firmly. yet sadly, .It
is my fathers handkerchief-my fathers
portemonnaie.' .s'E - ss'ies.a -.
His case was ably managed, but only
conviction could follow such evidence.
The daughters testimony supelied the
last hnk. The handkerchief aud porte
monnaie had been found withintlle post
Office, evidently dropped there by the
burglar. The stolen letters were found
within the minister's yard, rified of their
contents. One of his coats was found
among the shrubbery,r covered will
whitewash whoever had entered the
pcst-0ffice had done so by crawling over
door; the walls were low, and the
lime from them had brushed off upon
the coat. sasss 2, -.
His sentence was twenty years in the
State penitentiary. ~ss-rz ~
A pitiful moan came up from the poor
girls breaking heart, aud escaped
through her. paIlid lips, as she stood
there and heard the sentence, holding
her condemned father by the hand
Pale rs the dropping lily crushed In i
storm. with the tears rolling silently
down her pure white face, she looked
like Niobe mourning for the last of hel
hopes.
Isteod very near the two, and Just be
fore the sheriff replaced the manacle:
upon 1nS piiSoncrs HTists, preparatory
to leading him back 10 the fail, the ole
father laid his hands upon his daughter,l
head, and with all the pathes of NOR,
than earthly love, called down heavens
choicest blessings upon his child.
have spoken of this man rs old. =
Some men live more in single day thar
others do in years. So this man, takel
from the quiet seclusion of retires
home, and thrust into feIon's cell, ha,
experienced that which had bleache,
his hair, sunk his cheek and furrowe,
bis brow. Ten years of his former hap
py life would not have made the chang
wrought by a few short weeks. But
ave live in deeds. not years-in thoughts nc
In feelings, not In nsures on the dial. -
We should coanttime by heart-threbs. He mos
Who thinks most. feels the noblest. acts IN
This mans name was Robert Martin
He was highly connected, and psssesse,
aspiendid education, having graduate,
at one of the best colleges Of the land
But although previously widely know
and beloved, and connected with mau.
of the great msyemeutsof the day, fron
the hour of hrs triati his fianls wAs seldom
mentioned or referred to. His friend
tried to bury his memory in oblivion :
All newspaper paragraphs in regard T.
him were suppressed |, and now in look
ing over file Of the old Transcript
published At New York IN thai year
find only this little paragraph:
The Sheriff started with Robert MAJ
tin to-day, for Albany. A pleasant joul
ney to- his Reverend worship. !. Ma
Uncle sam give him quarters suitable t
his deserts. .zssr = -.et
These events happened in the sprin
Of 1885; and it was not until many year
later that was nabled to crafty m
curiosity in regard TO Robert Martin an
his fate.
While smokiag on the piazza Of m
hotel, the afternoon OF the trial, list
ened to two voices in the Asitting-room
mo, Willie" said girls voice, -
can not accept your generous Offer You
wife must come to you possessing y nam
~ fair as your own.nE
.But, Marah," !" replied deep voice
trembling with emotion, II can notgiv
you up. You were promised to me. E
long ago!esa ~lsr fsz - s9'1
II knowit, WilIie.E But I believe m
father innocent. / have no means q
proving him so; but my infaIlible fait
in him willsnever change. You can M
feel SO. All, Willie, my deep love f
both OF you has enabled me to father
your feelings. divine your thoughts
Don't speak, Willie; you believe hir
guilty. shall never believe him so
and, feeling thus. can never be other I
you than / am now. SO good-bs
Wjllisl"