Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-25


| get the girl to speak. / he sat silent ano
utterly specifies, gain on the moor
bnt as the judge IN con versation VIII
others declared, "This pers, On remains
prisonerl She cannot go free! she
sprang from the chair ERE the last Woru
was uttered, let her eyes rove FROM one Ge
another until they rested on him anu
looking him firmly in the eyes, she a'ala
Il have suffered my seven days I'M
prisonment; tonight at halfpast seven II
is at an end. you dare not detain me
longer. You have not the right"
"That is not for you to decide"
"But, think, sir, am not guilty of any
thing; not only l, but two others will be
so miserable if you do not let me CO."
The poor child was the picture of suf-
fering and fright.
Now" said the Judge, mildly, an
swer me. Are you the Adeline Won X.
that was condemned by a military court
at B?n
"No, | am not the condemned But
what of that?" she asked.
Much, very much. You are guilty of
an act punishable by ten years imprison-
ment and a fine of from one hundred to
ten thousand dollars, and until judgment
is passed in the matter you return to close
confinement"
"Oh, God my God!" she cried, wildly.
II do not understand what you say. |
did not wish to do harm"
"That cannot avail you, even should
your intention have been of the best.
You cheated the court of a righteous
judgment by conniving at the escape OF
the real criminal"
mo, no, | did not think of such a
thing. / only desired to save another
from utter destruction. Oh, believe me,
the gentle, lovely girl would have become
insane. | am stronger than she. Never
would you have brought her alive to this
place, and if so only her corpse would
you have had to bring out"
even tina, will not clear you from this
deception or free you from punishment"
"What shall say to soften your hard
hearts ?"
"Ask that person" she said, pointing to
the detective. "He will tell you / have
only spoken the truth about my friend
he knew her. Do you think it was an
easy matter to place myself here? Did
not suffer indescribably? My strength
failed me even at the prison gate; but
thought of my friend, of her kiss, as at
parting she wept and moaned in her
anguish, and | became strong again, and
when my spirits failed me during this
time, that picture gave me courage"
"Well, well, tell your future judges
this, as you have told US. have nothing
to do with it. Perhaps they will, in con-
consideration of this, give you only two
years and 500 fine"
81 will do everything you tell me, sir;
but you will let me go now, will you not ?
Imay return home this evening"" she
pleaded.
mol" he replied, shortly.
"Must repeat it, sirs | shall go mad.
/ must be home tonight; my friend
awaits me; she numbers the moments
until see her again; she will die in her
sorrow and fear!"
"Your friend receives with you the
same punishment
"What say your" she screamed; "you
tell me she will suffer alsos Why, she
does not even know that l am here; she
believes that | have gone to some one in
| distant place to intercede for her"
examination may prove the truth OF
this assertion"
"My examinationl" the girl repeated.
ooh, / feel so strange; all is void In my
heart, and yet ii seems as if it would
break from the fullness of its misery. |
comprehend, and still do not realize. 1t
cannot be Oh, Mr.. Inspector, you will
let me go home this EVENING""
II dare not" / answered as firm as
could.
| "Not?"
That word enclosed my soul in so small
| space / cannot understand it. The
heart-rending cry uttered will never be
| forgotten. All was silent; only the quick
breathing of the prisoner could be heard.
| The Judge thought she had become salts
fed further words were useless, and by
motion he babe me take her away.
i led her out by the hand she uttered
not one word; arriving at the prison she
entered her cell in the same silence; her
eyes were hard and dry; she did not ap,
pear to see me, but sat with folded hands
| gazing into vacancy.
The pressure of her troubles was toe
much for the spirit of the girl; six days
had she waited for the moment when she
could face her beloved friend and say,
"You are free!"
She had constantly kept before her
mind the sorrowing picture of their part
ing, and then fancied the happiness hel
sacrifice would bring. Such visions had
| kept UtT COURAGEOUS dnu CncClIui, NJ"
with one fearful blow they were destroyed
and only the prospect of a life covered
with disgrace left her.
! appealed to the Judge in her behalf
and explained my fears in regard to Tho
girls reason, but one can become hard
ened through familiarity to suffering in
every shape. He anticipated nothing Sc
rious in consequence.
But her situation did not alter; she OBJ
served neither my coming nor going.
tried to draw her interest from her owl
thoughts, without success. She neithel
ate nor drank. Occasionally her eye
would be raised from the floor to fit from
one object to another, as if in search o
something that could not be found. /
was the restless wandering Of suffering
soul--the language of a broken spirit. Sh'
had exhibited the courage of man; sh'
had offered more than her life in the &C
of entering the prison; that she could no
realize the unhappy result did not detrac
one iota from the nobleness Of the inten
ton. She was not aware she was com
hitting something forbidden; she onl,
believed that selfsacrifice would brinl
peace to her family and happiness to he
friend.
Ny heart bled for her, and after eigh