Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-29

is ready well eat for Tn as hungry as a
bear, and after supper I've something I'M
portant to tell yon.'
These last words he spoke hesitatipgly,
but was glad to know that he was about
TO unburden his soul Of whatever secret il
contained.
So we sat down to the table was JUS
pouring out the tea when there came ;
loud and unexpected rap at the door.
opened it and found Mr.. Heating, the
constable. He lived not far off, and hac
been a friend of my husband.
Good evening, Mr.. Heating | said.
Good evening, madam" he replied
docs James Riley live here ?"
"And don't you know he lives here :
answered.
as he at homer"
'Supposing he is-what them"
Il must see him. | have an order Tor
his arrest
..What do you mean by that ?" | asked
angrily. .Surely you're joking, Mr.. keat-
inc. You certainly wouldn't carry Jamie
to iail. You know he's never done any
evil deed"
ITS a sad duty" answered the consta-
bic. "but arrest him must, if he's in the
house"
well, he's not in the house, nor has he
been tonight
Before these words were fairly out of
nv mouth, Jamie himself stepped TO the
door.
He had listened TO all our conversation.
and now he spoke, in his clear, manly
voice:
'.I'm ready to accompany you. Mr..
Heating; but with what crime am |
charged ?"
Mr. Heating spoke very low, SO that
should not hear, but hear did, and the
words made me faint AMI sick. tried to
Danish the horrible suspicion of my sons
guilt. but could not forget how the bells
changed the night before.
'.Mr Heating" said, as calmly as
could, though my voice trembled, Twill
YOU let me speak to my son alone one
minute?n
Certainly. Mrs. Riley
Then the lad came into my room, and
the constable stood without the door, and
took my boys hand in mine, and looking
up into his face, spoke these words
",James Riley, by the love you bear me
BIZ the memory of your dead father; by
the hope of your souls salvation, speak
truly. Are YOU guilty or innocent?"
s.lnnocent. mother-before God inno-
cent? and he bent down and kissed my
wrinkled forehead, and lifted the great
load of doubt from my mind.
Then 90, darling said, "and may the
Lord in his mercy watch over you and
bring you forth from this tribulation.'
So Jamie went with the constable. and
sat all night by the fire place moaning
and crying, as thought of my poor boy
in the cold stone cell of the jail
When morning dawned tried to rouse
myself for the duties of the day, but. oh
how lonely and desolate the little kitchen
looked, and when laid the table and put
Jamie's plate in the accustomed place,
and thought how. perhaps, for long days
he would not be there any more, my eyes
filled with tears and could eat nothing,
The news of Jamie's arrest spread quick
ly 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 interview with her lover.
She never doubted his innocence for
moment, and there, with the bleak, dreary
walls surrounding her, she vowed to re-
main faithful and true to him always, and
devote every energy to secure his vindica-
ton 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 fully the
charge against him.
1t seems that on Sunday night Jamie had
been seen near the Presbyterian Church
shortly before fire was discovered there.
Nor was that the worst. Joseph Mil
ward, whose father owned the factory
where my son worked, was ready to swear
that he saw Jamie rush from the vicinity
of the vestry, where the fire broke out,
and that he spoke to him as he passed.
David Butler, a wealthy young man, was
Milwards companion, and his statement
was the same.
ea 3r [coNcLUDED IN NEXT PAPER.