The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-22

0eputes, danDury ana SeeDacnofs cutoiou "uo io-
lieved Deputies Brown and Gumbleton, who had
been on the day watch at the prisoners cell. In
few moments the two latter officers left, and
their successors advanced shook hands with the
members OF tine group and greeted them kindly
chow do you feel tonight, Fosters" asked See.
bacher as he held the prisoners hand.
'Toleraply, thank you." was the response, ut
tered with apiritless information. The hand was
dropped.
Mrs. Foster poor lady, pressed her handkerchief
to her eyes. The officers involuntarily retired to
their seats few feet distant. They felt 1t was
sacrllege to intrude upon
GRIEF 80 PROFOUND.
II pity that woman from the bottom Of my
heart" whispered Hamburg. .
Seebacher leaned his cheek upon his hand and
nodded meditatively. The night keeper. gray.
headed veteran named Orr. drew q deep breath
and looked In the opposite direction along the
dimly lighted corridor. He has seen Q score OF
pini0ned convicts take leave OF friends and march
the short route 10 the scanold; but there was
something more here.
Whispered words; signs drawn rom the depths
OF strong mems souls; womans escaping sob
that must be freed to save the heart from breaK-
ing; low uttered endearments and farewells that
seemed too sacred to be voiced aloud. and mutual
Communications of souls TO G0d-the soul that 80
soon must take It's flight and the souls to be tested
yet in earth's fierce cgQcible-these are the only
sounds, ~, ----s.~zs -,
The of1cers are mute, oppressed, and heavy
GLOON OF DEATH
impending stills everything into gravelike calm.
The lamps shed dim, sdelong light along the
aun-tinted walls, the stove is heated to glowing
+ red, and in this great mausoleum Of the moral
dead, with Its three or four hundred red-handed,
violent and crime-soaked occupants, the stiffness
Of the tomb prevails for q little while.
Again the sobs and soughings OF the breath, ana
words half vocazed and the great trial is
reached.
'And now we-we-we-must go,n Ia heard in chOk-
ing, stammerng measure, and the group RISES
ooh, wiliaml' The cry Of q despairng soul
swels along the hall and ascends away up through
che tiers Of iron and stone to the arching granite
| roof and loving hearts and arms are entwined in
| grasp born of affection and despair. The wOman's
| yielding form droops on the brawny husbands
breast, that throbs and quakes over the volcano OF
burning anguish within. Tears, entreaties prayers
| farewells sobs and meanings swell up from the tu-
| multi of these bursting souls, and men with bowed
| heads and eyes suffused with tears sob aloud and
| cluster about the loved and doomed one
The Sherirs officers, liOn-hearted men, who
| have three times before witnessed
THESE DEATHLY PARrINGs,
|
with averted gaze, to hide the tear-gloss in their
| eyes, The gray-haired keeper treads a-tlp-toe to
the door, and he steps into the night air brushes
| his hand across his eyes, He gazes at the inky
cloud-pall overhead, regardless OF the storm with
out, but feeing from the tempest that is wrecking
| souls within.
| The tempest assuages and Hanbury advances to
offer the little succor that he may He lays hands
| tenderly on the devoted wife, whose c0nstancy is
| marvel even In the faithful sex she adorns. The
brothers close In an embrace Of eternal farewell,
and again, with .
CRY OF YEARNING AND OF PAIN,
the loyal woman cllngs to her love. little longer
and, half hating, half returning the stricken wo-
man, upborne by kindly hands, with face upturned
and arms swung backward for another clasp,
reaches the door.
Seebacher is quickly at Fosters side and touches
him with a gentle touch, born OF sympathy, as
though ne were woman.
The prison yard is reached. The door closes with
| slam, and her husband is entombed to her.
Across. the cold gray stones the mournful cortege
treads, and now halismothered wallings seem to
THE OLD KEEPER
has joined them, and opens the clanking doors.
There are fears that the crushed woman may sue
cumb but she rallies In a few moments the street
is reached. The sidewalks are wet and the air is
dismal, but she heeds none OF these She is kindly
assisted into waiting carriage with her brothers,
and fleet horses bear her away-teo last, perhaps
to the home where little ones await their father.
What shall she ever say when they ask why he
does not comes
The keeper and Hamburg return to the prison
and close the doors, and exchange not word as
they tramp to the corridor. 1t need not be ut
tered.
ALL THE FAREwELLs
are now taken. The prisoners father had called,
and with mutual forgivings and heartfelt "God
bless you God bless you'll they had kissed for the
last time. It was the unuttered benediction OF the
boys infancy-his manhood had not known the
touch of a fathers lips upon his cheeK-but now 1t
came as the seal of affection to life ebbng out.
lie culprits mother never visited him in
prison-she is an invad-snd her kiss and bless
ing were brought to him upon sisters lips.
And his children two just budding into adde's
cent beauty, and two others, prattling pretty,
chubby boys OF i've and seven years.
II don't want the children brought here,n he
said. ''Let them think OF me hereafter as
they have known me-a father at home,
not father behind prison bars,n and
his wish was respected. But on Wednesday
last new photographs of the little brought
to him by his wife and he looked at them scores Of
times. he handed them around to the keepers
and to his friends and was pleased and proud at
the compliments they evoked; for the compliments
were not batteries, the children are indeed pretty
and show mothers nurture and anecton.
The gong in the prison yard rang out sharply
about five minutes after the departure Of his wife,
and Keeper Orr admitted Rev. Mr.. Walker, Of
Calvary church, tall, slender gentleman Of sallow
complexion.
THE CLERGYMAN FASTENED
tn the corridor and his coming was timely in the
extreme for under the consolation OF his c0unsels
and conversation Foster gradually Gained his over.
wrought feelings. The reverend gentleman re-
NAMED nearly an hour with the culprit and then
sped away to exercise the same kindly Christian
once for the wife In her desolate home.
''Is there anything can do for you-anythng
you would like ~ asked Seebacher.