Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-28

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but at last the old man yielded, and
taking his preseryer by the arm be led
him to the city.
/ CHigh up in the heavens the sun was
ashning, hot and sultry, as the aged father,
with tottering steps, led his stalwart cap
tive up the avenue that led to the court
house at Toulouse. The idle passer-by
gazed with curiosity at the spectacle, and
laughed heartily at such an incongruous
couple The old man, with one hand
supporting his feeble limbs by a stick,
and with the other holding the rope that
was fastened round the body of his com
panion, looked more ike a captured felon
than the man he was leading, Jules Re
nette, needless of all around him, was
walking slowly by his side, calm and self
possessed he was trying to forget the
past, with all its tender recolleetions, the
present with all its suffering, and to fix
Ibis thoughts on that future happy day
when, disencumbered of the chains that
bind it down to earth, his spirit would es-
cape to the land where all are free.
They stood before the mayor-the old
man with trembling voice claimed the
reward for the capture of the convict.
The mayor was incredulous; he refused
to believe a story that so i'll coincided
with the appearance of the parties con
cerned, but Renette calmly confirmed
the statement of his captor He offered
proofs of identity that could not be gain
said, and, on the evening of the day on
(which he had effected his escape, entered
once more the prison of Toulouse.
The moon shone cold and bright on
the outer walls that night, painting in
clear outline their deep shadows on the
moat below. Once more the warder
paced his dreary round, once more the
frosty air, and once more Toulouse slept
in calm and deep repose.
Jules Renette also slept, lcalm and
peaceful, in his cold, damp cell. A few
struggling beams of light for ced their
way through the narrow window, and
shone for a moment on his wasted face.
He was at rest now. Two great battles
had been fought that day; the one for
freedom and the other for peace The
struggle for freedom had ended, and he
was once more aslave; the struggle for
peace was over and he was at peace.
The captured felon slept, but not so his
captor. The old man had got his fifty
francs, but the money burnt his fingers
like molten lead Restless b e tossed on
his bed, and sought in vain for repose.
His crime lay heavy on his; mind. To
his fevered brain the sin of Judas was
hardly worse Had he not sold his pre-
server for a base reward2 The money
he had longed for was no W hateful to
him, and in his agony he cursed the
chance that had thrown it in his way.
He longed for the morning light, that he
might return his ill-got ispoils and un-
load his burdened mind. y. 49,.
The morning came at last. He sought
out the mayor at his private residence,
and throwing down the bag of francs
related with, fearful eyes and tremulous
voice the events of the pr evious day. The
mayors compassion was aroused. He
repaid the fifty francs from his own
purse, and Immediately reported the
noble conduct of the prisoner to the
minister at Paris. Renette was par
doned; and once more, as the sun shone
high in the heavens, he walked through
the streets of Toulouse, not now q con-
Wet in search of prison, but free man,
on his way back to the happy home Of
his boyhood .eaNAT
This is true story; an incident of
real life, ] have only drawn on my i'm
agination for those thoughts which must
necessarily have been passing through
the mind of the hero of our tale on this
even.ful day Of his life.