The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-04

some men in a neighboring field, and
was Overpowered. This mana ruined
gamester, once gentleman-had changed
me from an honest, honorable lad, to a
felon, and then, disregarding the honor
which is said to exist even among
thieves threw me over to save himself.
l would be content to give five years OF
my life-nay, more, l would be content
to add five years of life-could / pur-
chase that one half minute of which /
was robbed.
"My family disowned me, and made no
attempt even to procure counsel for me.
All -forsook me except little Mary, from
whom got a tear-stained letter inclosing
a five-pound note, her quarterly allow
ance, and telling me she would never for
get me. My father had forbidden any OF
them to write to me, or even mention my
name; but Mary had disobeyed him. II
can't. be wrong to write to you, dear; she
said, for you are my own brother, al
ways
'There was flaw in the evidence,
which my counsel took advantage Of; but
Mr.. Pierson worked against him
privately, collecting evidence for the
crown, and l was convicted. Heaven
grant there may not be many poor
wretches who leave Old England with the
feeling which l left it. If had the
opportunity, would have put an end to
my miserable existence. l was taken in
a cab, strongly guarded, from the Jail to
the wharf. We passed one of the parks
on our way. ! had been in prison some
time, and the fresh green grass, the trees
and flowers had never looked so beautiful
as now, when / knew l was looking on
them for the last time. l thought of the
hedge-rows white with blossoms. in
Northumberland the lark singing over.
head; Mary, perhaps, in our favorite
nook in the orchard, weeping bitter tears
as last goodbye to her handsome
Teddy as she fondly called me. Nc
wonder my heart swelled when though:
of those who in the sight of God were
guilty of my crime.
GAS we went down the dock, child
passed us with bunch of cowslips. Just
two years before, / had gathered them fol
Lucy in the Kentish lanes. The child
looked up wistfully, as ] passed presently
she ran after us and put her cOwslip in my
hand. That was the drop too much in
the cup already full to save my life
could not have kept back the tears which
rolled down my cheeks. / was handcuffed
but one of my guards thrust handker
chief into my hand, with few cheering
words grufily said. That touch of sym
pathy, and the child's gift, saved me
from utter despair. That was the last
saw of England. My life here has beer
the same, day after day, except the few
nights spent in the bush, the two times
/ got of. They mostly let me alone now.
keep to myself, and I've never told word
of this before. l had almost forgotten
wasn't Jim Brown until to-day. Die
you hear how / hurt my arm?'
zone of the men told me you were
helping to raise heavy stone, and thai
you let the lever slip in some way, and sc
got your arm crushed"
"That's true, as far as it goes; a gang O
us were working on the road when a car
riage passed. looked up as l stepped
out of the way, and who do you think
saw? Lucy and her husband! She was
looking just the same as ever, only
touched her dress. She looked calmly OF
mel was only convict, covered will
the dust from her carriage wheels. 1
she had recognized me, the color woulC
have faded little from her pink cheeks
tnink. wonder if she remembers th'
letters / wrote her before / was traZs
ported? l told her some home truth
then. She knows who to blame for m.
wasted-worse than wasted-life.
"Twelve years didn't seem much to me
l looked after the carriage like on,
stunned. The lever slipped from m,
hand-you saw my arm. didn't thinl
of it until I found couldn't lift it. MI
Pierson has got some high appointment
here, some one said. OF course his wifi
will be feted and fattered. wonde
how she would like to be reminded O
that summer in Kent. How would sh
look if / should stop her carriage, and re
mind her of the time she swOre to low
me forever, or how often her bright hea'
has rested on my shoulder. l can fee
the thrill of her soft lips yet on my cheek
There, that's all. Do yeu believe in jus
tice? / don't. The cause of evil shoul'
be attacked now, it is only the victim
The woman to-day is more guilty than
She drove me mad-and yet she rides b,
in her carriage, respected and admired
while /, in my prison dress, can never b
anything but what I am-411."
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