The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-04


contents, the dimpled hands that snatched at
The gift. and the sweet voice utteripg thanks
70 tho far-away "Mr. William" as she had
Always, now, this golden thread ran
through the dark and trsgical web Of his re- |
and anticipsSfons.
Thus more than ak months passed away. The |
fall and winter were over, and spring had |
come again; and those mysterious impulses of
new life which the reawakcning Of nature |
brings to tho human heart made this mans
himself that no should 60 mad if it were
longer continued. Tho Inonotony and
restraint were hard enouGh; bat that con-
suspended over him, was torture. Hanging
would be better than suoh Q life. i
Early in the Spring JefFries had boon moved
from his cell on the inner side Of tho block to
one ns.s the street and through the wlaow
house, its visitors coming and going. its
pleasant, open windows, with curtains blowing
in and ont, and, better than all else, he could
see little Minnie at play in house or garden.
He could see her dance in the breakfact room
at morning, and run to kiss her father, who
would lift her to her place at the table.. He
mug, and that she sometimes took lump Of
sugar from the sugar. bowl. He could SEQ her
mother lead her away to bed at evening, and
her, sometimes in her arms, sometimes chasing
through the hall after her. He could sec her
by day soberly hushipg doll to sleep, bend
ing absorbed over picture-book. or romping
in the garden. Once she stumbled and fell
there, and tho convict, watching her, sprsnE at
his bars 10 though lie would break them. He
gazed an hour after she was cnrried into the
waited to assure himself that she was not
much hurt Being satisfied at length, he ate
his cold mush and molosses, and drank his
cold tee without milk. and lay down to dream
There was good reason for his being pecu-
liarly anxious about his little friend that
night and indifferent about his supper, for he
meant to be Q free man tho next day or to seal
his fate at once. All his preparations were
made. He had sewed another dark half under
the gray half of his suit, so that by ripping
| few stitches he could pull off the gray leg of
his pantaloons, the gray side of bis cap and
jacket and appear in plain dark clothes, and
he had procured q guard key and n slender
iron bar two feet long, to defend himself with
| if attacked.
| Besides these preparations, he had been
careful to make good Impression on the
| minds of the keepers. He had been so quiet
| and docile that for some time search had
| been made, and no suspicious entertained of
! his designs. Moreover, he had for the first
| time since his condemnation begun to speak of
| trying to have his sentence committed to inn
prisonment for life, of course with the ap'
pearance of hoping for ultimate pardon. No
| one would suspect hi of risking his life in
trying to escape while he had any chance OF a
! communication.
Jeffriea had been for months at work on q
dollhouse, which he meant o surprise to the
warden's daughter, and also as q souvenir and
he bad begged hne wood, and, eiuce no tool
| could be taken to tho cells, he had been al
lowed TO shape the parts Of his cottage in the
same shop Every night. unknown to his
| keepers, he had bartered away his supper to
the convict In the next coll, receiving in return
glue to fasten his work together, bit of glass
to smooth the wood, and oil to polish 1t. 1t
was really beautiful toy house, for the man
had taste and ingenuity, and a heart to do his
| best 1t was finished with windows, doors
and balconies, and the rooms inside were car
peted and curtained with silk and velvet, aud
had chairs and tables SO finely carved out of
bones the convicts saved from their dinners, az
| to look like delicate ivory work. All his lei
sure sure; time for months had been given to per
| and there remained only to present it.
1t was bright evening in May, and the
chaplain was going his rounds, changing the
books, and speaking g kind word here and
there. Minnie, who had recovered from her
fall was with him, and when they reached
Jefries' cell, che went no farther She seldom
BILE to do SO; for the prisoner now showed her
his present, aud promised that the noxt day IL
should be given into her possession.
Minnie gazed in rapturous delight while he
displayed its beauties to her. Sho could
scarcely wait till morning to inspect it more
closely, and she put her hands through the
real.
The chaplain admired and praised, then went
on. 1 see that 1 must go on alone, Minnie,'
he said: !" cannot expect you to leave such
Will You remember me for this, darling y
the prisoner asked, when the two were left to
themselves. ..-
"ohi yes" she answered ferveutly. al will
love you always Ny father says that you
want to go homo. and whom tho governor
comes here again. I'm going to ask him to lot
you. The governor is splendid an, and lets
me coax him. But he pulls my hair. Though
she added, Hfter pause she pulls it real easy. .
! Do you love the governor better than you
do me :" the convict asked jsalously, with q
real PaDg at heart. What did that man, high
in wealth, rsnk, and happiness, want of this
littlo girlf Jefeies began to conceive dis
like for him, to think that even pardon would
besun welcome from him.
Il love you best" Minnie said thoughtfully
and"-looking. up with serious eyes Pm
saying prayers for you every night, and ask
| To save mo" he repeated.
| Yes. What is to save, Mr.. Wllliamf Nam IN a
eaid it is something good"
,n II -. don't know" he replied, both puzzled
| subject he would haze thous Of: and v hen