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

faint and far,away reflection Of remembered
childhood and Innocence. Every hard face
softened. and met her glance with Frightening
eyes, and every heart blessed her-the war
Near the end Of the line there was q man
whose overseers never turned their backs on
him-of whom every officer 10 the prison was
aes Of
tion.
II personal beauty had aught to do with
an unjust one; for tho convict was not only |
strikingly handsome, but had an air Of superb |
Sr .ay Inc black hair was thrown caresssy
exquisite features, whoee expression when he
looked down. was one OF pride and melancholy. |
sIt Then he raised those fGl black eyes the
and brilliant regard. No smile ever was seen
on those compressed, naughty lips they never
spoke save when obliged to, and never asked
favor. And it was we'll known that he watch
ed day and night, for any chance OF escape,
asd cherished deep, cold hate for his
Is ne approached her, Minnie smiled up into
his face, then started forward, and, taking his
| hand. walked on with him, to the horror Of the
conviots. For the man himself, he merely
| submitted to the soft clasp of her fingers, and
| kept his eyes downoast; but his face turned q
deep red, which had not faded when he reach
| ed his cell door.
There the overseer interfered, and drew
Mimic away, just as she was entering the
~ want to go into his play house, and see
tho, pretty pictures on the walls," che said.
| "You must not n was the reply. ct 10
wi1asd to 60 in there Its no place for y01 l."
That glance blased.
Tho convict lowered his eyes,
Minnie walked on reluctantly to the end OF
tho ward. aud stood there while the cell; doors
were locked then, when she sow the hands
walk, full of frolio, and caught one of them.
"You can't get it awayw she cried, holding
on to the white and well-formed hand with
her tiny fingers.
Had any of his keepers been in front of
Jeffres' cell then they would scarcely have
recognized him him., The bold eyes were soft and
smile of tender sweetness trembled about the
mouth
Minnie leaned close against the grating. and
looked through at the pictures that lined tho
| walls of the cell. Only the iron rods separated
her head from that guilty breast, some of her
bright locks pushed through and touched the
convict's sleeve, and her tender hands still ca
rossed that hand that had been stained with n
| brothers blood.
care they your pictures Z" she asked.
He reached, and, taking the prettiest one
80 Ainnie' Ainniew said the deputy child
iDgly, as he came do low +, the walks. after
She displayed her picture with childish de-
# to %S 81 sae s oad n0ddns
you thank himi" well, we must go
now. You can come again some other time"
friend. ~ shall como to see you again very
soon. And 1 want to kiss you now" running
back again.
The deputy, with the ohiid's hand in his,
hesitated, and looked embassassed. He made
q point of being scrupulously civil to the con
victs, and was particularly careful not to Of
feud THE one Z; but he shrank from allowing
such leave-taking.
"It won't hurt her, SIR" said the prisoner, in
an eager voice. "She is too pure to take a
STAIN"
The ohild's hand was released, the convict
bent inside his cell, and took the kiss she gave
him through the bars then Minnie went into
am not sure that like it," Mr.. Raynor
said, after he had heard tho story. He took
the child in his arms. am not sure that
shall let my angel 60 down to that place
Q again."
"But, father" his wife said gently, III on,
do Sood ought mot to
). nor, indeed, very often in any way but she
y might go down occasionally with ono of u.s. OF
n the deputy: As Jeffri'' says, che is too pure
The wife prevailed; and, thereafter, Minnie
. Rsynor's sweet face often cheered the gloom
i OF tho prison. Inc ConVlCGS learned TO Ol09e
r her small shadow as it fell across the work OF
I book carried close to the cell-door for light.
. They would start and smile ct any sign Of her
oomiug-a laugh, word. or the patter OF
. tho side of the prison next tho street Thought
. themselves repaid if, after day Of toll and
silence, they caught = glimpse Of the child
3 house. They fabricated wonderful toys for
) her in their leisure hours-balls that bounded
marvellously, ornaments carved from coup
| hpn nd t1puf at IN Ira
Q apart put together. In return, she gave
them smiles and thanks, aud whatever dainty
che could coax from her mother to carry in.
But to no one this fair visiorLso dear N
\ to him whom she had first bestowed her
preference for on her he concentrated all the
softness which the Others showed toward any
one who noticed them. She the only one
0 to whom he spoke, on whom he smiled; and
4 for her sake he would humble himself to any
extent He who had before scorned to ask q
favor, now begged for tools and materials to
mako TOYS for the Marden,a danchter. He