The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-04-06

to-day, and had to help him a little
"Where is Lester, Ruth ?" asked her
husband.
"Oh, he is kind and helpful as ever, but
he does not understand making dessert,
you know, Edward"
That's true, and Miss Jane will excuse
you | am sure, for she and | have been
reviewing the principal features fpioneer-
life and she processes herself rather ia
love with it than otherwise"
1T is so fresh and enjoyable, despite its
dlscomtorts and inconvenience" | said ;
and need l quote stronger argument in
its favor than yourself, my dear Ruth ?
You seem perfectly happy. and | really
cannot see why you should not be So
She had her goIden-haired little girl in
one arm. and she laid the other hand
caressingly on her husbands shoulder
There is none | an happy" she said in
a low, earnest tone and then added laugh
ingly, 'or | shal! be as soon as Edward
gets well of sciatica and WangIlo recoy-
ers from his chlls"
Mr., Denham begged us to 60 before
him, and his wife led the way to the din
| ing-room.
Poor fellow ~ She whispered, ''hc suf-
TO persuade him to have his dinner sent
into the parlor, but in honor of your pres
ence he will come, and he doesn't want US
to see him " ince and wrthe under the
effort ~
Just as We entered the dining room a
young man came in by another door, car
rying a tray with dishes. had seen plenty
| OF Chinamen but this was not one, nor
! Ia wit fba
position of servant He was tall, we'll
pale. was decidedly good looking. He
wore pair of coarse gray pantaloons with
a remarkable stripe down one leg, but had
on beautifully clean and fine white shirt
fastened at the throat with a diamond but
ton. The weather was warm, and he was
without coat or vest, and had Il sash of red
knitted silk, such as MeXicans wear, round
| his middle
placed them on the table. please tell
| Wang-Ho about the coffee, Lester she
said as he retired
"ls that man servant, Ruth - | asked
in an astonished whisper.
"No," she replied in the same low tone
she is a murderer condemned tor life"
Mr.. Denham hobbed in and slid down
upon seat. appreciated his gallant at
tention, but it was painful to see the effort
| it cost; besides much as | had seen, and
familiar as was becoming with pioneer
| life, to be waited on at dinner by young
and handsome murderer condemned to
prison for life was sensation new and
startling, and was full of curiosity as to
the nature of his crime and the peculiar
! administration of the Western penal code
that made house. servants of convicts
Seeing my perturbation, Ruth evidently
intended to relieve it oy the explanatory
remark OF ''lIe is 'trusty,' Jenny dear"
but really threw no light whatever Oh the
subject
| 1t was a very nice dinner, served taste
| fully and with a home comfort about every
thing connected with the table that seemed
most unlike a prison, Mr.. Denham's in
| telligence and cheerlulness added to the
delusion that | was enjoying the hospital
tiles of a cultivated Eastern home. He ana
his wife had kept themselves thoroughly
familiar with all topics of general interest
through the medium of periodicals, and
, had much to ask about the actual progress
of improvements they had read OF and the
changes occurring among dear and famil-
lar Eastern scenes.
Lester came in again with the empty
tray, and quietly gathered the plates from
the table preparatory to placing dessert
| wanted to look at iiim-indeed, a tasci-
nation could not resist drew my eyes to
his face like a magnet-yet, somehow. |
dared not keep them there: the conscious
ness of meeting his glance, and feeling
that should then be ashamed Of my curl
osity, made them drop uneasily every time
he turned; and once when | found his
gaze rest on me an instant l felt myself
color violently under the quiet look OF his
steelgray eyes.
One thing was very observable in the
little group: the child Nellie was intense
ly fond of the man. and he himself seemed
to entertain and constantly endeavor to
express an exalted admiration for Mr.
Denham. While the latter was speaking
Testers animated looks followed every
| word and gesture: he anticipated MS un-
expressed wishes, and watched to save
him the trouble Of moving or asking for
anything
mo, no, Nellie stay and finish your
| dinner; Lester is not quite ready for you
| yet" Her mother said this in reference to
the child's eagerness to follow the trusty
| attendant from the room, and her neglect
of her meal in consequence. ''Nellie is in
| the habit of carrying up the sugar and
cream tor the coffee. and she thinks Les
ter cannot possibly get on if she does not
assist" aid Ruth in smiling explanation
as Nellie hastened after him.
| The next instant there was the mingled
sound of a heavy fall or succession of
falls outside. and one quick, stitled scream
| from the child
| "The dumb-Waiter, quick 1t has brok-
en- from its weights and scalded Nell with
the hot Coffee" cried Ruth. making a
spring toward the door by which Lester
had gone out
Her husband forgetting his ameness,
was instantly at her side, but some force
held the door against them both, and
abandoning it after the first effort, the IA
ther turned hurriedly to the one leading
into the hall. | sat nearest that, and in the
excitement | had moved quickly aside, so
that when it was flung violently open the
moment before my host the governor of
the prison reached it, | was thrust back
against the wall, from which place, half
dead with fright, | saw the hail crowded
with convicts, the foremost of whom held
a pistol directly toward Mr.. Dcnham's
| head
1t snapped with a sharp report, and
when the smoke cleared found Mr.. Den
ham had lodged the fire and was closed
in scutfle with the villain for the weapon.
A dozen more seemed to spring on him
from the threshold; heard his wiie's cry
of agony; and then the door at the other
side burst in, and Lester, with his gray
eyes cleaning like flame, bounded over
the body of q bloody convict that fell from
his grasp as he broke into the room. Quick
as thought he caught up one of tie heavy
chairs in his hands, and bringing it down
with desperate force on the heads of the
governors assailants. telled one, while the
other staggered back and dropped his
pistol. Mr.. Denham caught it like flash,
and fired it in the face OF wretch who
was aiming at Testers heart. The con-
victs fell back, and over their bodies the