St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-04-04

y Nlat Hltlltu. lmpatlentlN.
"A CONVICT" The words were spok-
Ell hardly, as though the speaker de
fled his own emotion. "DoubtlcsS YOU
remember that day under the cheStnutS.
when even you drew up your dainty
ralmcnt from contact with that low
wretch who claimed my acquaintance.
All there is no escaping these old pri>-
on comrades they are no fair-weathrr
triemd>-alud Jim TmIrluw, my old cell
mate. sticks 10y me vet, you see
| stood a> one stunned while these
words. uttered with certain ironic bit
t"rIcs>. Il >tcely Stradinr>> of voice. fell
on my ear. Surely this WIS IL mad
wild dream, tr III which | should pres
emily awake. stood there silently,
bracing my trembling limbs against II
way->idr willow. No words were Civ
en- me i'll that hour either of hope OF
courage.
Il can not live this down." said Den
Is. as if speaking To himself; Il should
never have tried. | have been under
bolts and bars too long. think con-
wet shows all over me. feel the stripes
of those horrible prison garments
through this decent suit that have
earned. feel the close tainting breath
of the prison iii this free autumn air.
And ST.. seeing this good and kindly
ncighh"rhood has >iftcd me ont, | shall
he glad. very glad. to get away"
"AWaH ! repeated. Before me the
summer twilight SWAIN dizzilN; the
trees. the sky. the autumn tint>. spun
round i'll one strange. binding whill.
Not Immediately. This decent. law
abiding illagc will have to support my
presence il week or two longer They
may .jrcr me. and for aught | know set
their dogs Oh me before that time. but
can not leave good Mr. Darby in the
lurch. When the fall work is done.
however. | shall he done too with this
part of the world forever"
80 God. :" cried. ''It can not can
not he true. Surely this is IL bitter jest
of yours. Denis. | always thought YOU
We're a-;I-
''Gcmrlrman ," he qucried. with hit
/ ter laugc. Well. had that ambition
once. But in order to hc Il gentleman
one mtt>t have money. tried it once.
! | coveted boyi>hly a little dcccmcy. Il
little chance at school. Il little chance at
dIc>s. and for that attempt 1T gcntility
| received eight Years III pri>on-a tel-
on. Il countcItcitcr. the very lowest OF
/ the low"
/ drew back from him involuntailv.
Il Thought a. much. said Denis cool
/ lN. ~ on will not come near me now
/ ou are too proud. too good. to touch
. me with the hem OF your garment. And
/ Vet excuse mc-yOu remind me of my
mother. Ii l. Il good thing for Il lad to
Ice proud of his mother. l. il not Aud
am pleased t" assure YOU that min,
held Il kind of supremacy over her low
companions. maintaining an umcanmy
beauty and hrggarly sort of indrpen-
rucc t" the last. Poor Wild Madgr I,
She bdd lady like instincts 1t was Sh,
that taught me To play and sing. And
>inging->rln"l."
Il am not going tn-uight.' >vnn "ll
said. and tGrnrd AWAY family and wel-
ril,. "A that moment | caught sight o'
Nj. l.nWcll'> broad white hat. a> h,
came slowly up the road. Never had
he seemed tu me strong and quiet Il ref
ugr from my>cltan my woe.
''Thcr j. uilNi>,. To- hc standing her,
in the nigh; air. Esther. Come. viii
walk home with thee" He took my
hand uudrl hi arm with gentle au.
th"Iity. modified plra>antll t" Den i
and wc lrtt him standing there under
ia" tUrr>.
Perhaps l. WIS standing in the night
Air gave me the icy chill which | tnoh
homr With me that night. For tw,
weeks lItcI This never left my bed
The WoIld Went it, WAY. the sun >hnnc
TIA; late birds rhirprd in the autumn
branches. hut lay like one vho>,. lit,
Was utterly spent. exhausted. wasted
ncNci 1" tJk,. NJ the Old interests an,
the old employ inrit> again.
Nh. lowell Na> very kind /" me :,
kimd that "r,.u To listen for his foot
step. and vcpl weakly over his book,
and flowers MANY Il time. wished
might hc i'll forever. nor called up"n t,
face the actual life any more. BrNnm,
these quiet hills | knew the great hu
man struggle WIS going ON. the wrc>tl,
hctNrcu right and wrong. Crime. mis-
err. temptation all these did battle fu
souls. wanted Ia keep away from i
all. | did not want to deal with the
worlds gave problem. craVrd qui
r>ccncc. shrinking back from tho spec
ire that with tacc like D3ui> Owen
hcrkoncd me. II seemed ~ pleasant Il
hc cared tol a> Mr.. Lowell cared fn
. me, lie shut the curtains over alirl
thoughts. and talked To me of plcaSam
thiE">. He loved books and pictures
Il quiet. sunny life. The world WI
wrong. perhaps. IA little out of tune
. hui its iarring should not untumc hi
life. What there was good in it H.
. would enjoy: what there was evil h
4 ,,-,r,l,l ,li-,..,,.l t,,,,,, him, Hi.
: of those grave and placid natures who's
| gray hairs are II crown of glory to them
and who seem only with them to hav,
! attained the full ripeneSS and sweet
1 ness of their lives. | clung to him. hi
: Kindness. his love. would not thin
! of Denis: | set the thought of hiI
/ away he seemed to have gone down i
. some Shipwreck long ago. from which
. only had escaped.
. I'VE shall soon have thee back agai
p all right Esther" said Mr.. Lowell on
: day. aS sat bolstered up in the grcil
4 armchair. The girls are rumnin
/, wild without thee"
. "Will there be work for me when
> get we'll p | asked.
: There is always work for such Il
. thou art. sister," he answered, kindly
: but have long had it in my mind {
offer thee Il better vocation than that /;
: the mill. When thee is quite well "
: will talk of it,"
= He stroked my hair from my hot fore
). head with cool and friendly hand.
/ WAS good to feel that tender, cheri>hin
t touch.
t At that moment Mrs. Medium enter
B.. ed, on her afternoon vi>itation-a sell