Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-14

"Do you hear, Rulh7 do you hear7"
screamed, beside myself with JOY and
thankrulness. "He has saved your hus-
band dozen times, that hero, and now he
brings back your child 10 you. Oh, what
noble fellow how l envy him his feel
ingsp
He was in the room by this time with
Nell in his arms he heard me and gave
me just one look. l never saw him again,
but never forgot II, for il revealed the long
agony of bighted life, that moment strug-
Cling into Lope through expiatiou. lie did
not wait for Ruth's broken cry Of gratitude,
but was gone as soon as the child was in
her arms.
"Come boys" heard him cry cheerly
outside, "lend hand TO help the governor
to his room he's got a scratch or two, and
the doctors coming to dress them. Hewill
be all right again before we can get things
SET straight round here"
Governor Denham's woun DIS were not so
slight as Lester no 5ed, but they we're not
dangerous, aud when, 10 prevent my aunrs
alarm for my safety tfor the news Of "the
break" spread rapidly through the town,
parted from my friends before nightfill
and rode back to the hotel as had come, 1
leil three OF the most excitedly grateful
and happy people behind me had ever
seen.
II suppose ii is no use 10 urge it further,
Ruth darling" said her husband as we
parted, "but really do wish you would go
to San Francisco with our friend and let
MALTA ha .lo hn I,o.
You need the change too, If you would ev-
err think of yourself"
at is because do think of myself that
l prefer 10 remain where / am happiest,"
said Ruth decidedly. Gas for Nell, she is
a pioneer child, and will soon be as merry
and fearless as ever. But Jenny dear, we
owe you an apology for the novel dinner
party we have given you. When you come
back it will seem like a frightful dream,
and orderly again."
As we stood alone in the hall, from which
every sign of the late terrible conflict had
been removed, save the blood stains that
had sunk into the stone beyond the power
Of hasty washing to obliterate, Ruth said
in low, whispering tone that was full of
penl-up feeling, al told you that Lester was
a murderer condemned for life, Jenny, but
there are extennating circumstances in con-
nection with the crime. That is not his
name we call him by do not even know
his real one, but am convinced that he be-
longs TO educated and reputable people, and
that he suffers the keenest remorse for the
wild life that led him so terribly astray.
He became desperately attached to Span
ish girl, who was married when a child to a
brutal fellow who deserted her, and she
thought him dead. She and Lester were
to be married, 1 believe, when the missing
both. The girl he treated shockingly, and
it was in a fit Of rage at his abuse OF her
that Lester killed him; but appearances
were all against the deed, and he was con-
vicied Of murder in the second degree and
sentenced for life. Edward is kind and
discriminating, and he pitied him. Lester.
told his story freely, aud my husband gain
ed his lasting era titude by taking care of
the wretched girl by paying her passage in
a vessel bound for her native town in Mex
leo. The only favor we could show him
here was to separate him from the wretches
in the common prison by making him a
'trusty or prison servant. He understood
our motive for doing so, aud was very
thankful and most reliable. What we owe
him 10 day you know he makes light of
it, protesting that he only picked up Nell
from the gulch where the escaped convicts
had dropped her on their way TO the hills;
but he cannot lessen the debt; il is too great
TO be calculated even."
The subsequent report proved that TWEEN
ty.eight prisoners bad couspired to effect
the break, and by secreting tools they
wrought with in their sleeves passed in on
Saturday from the wall-building to cut an
entrance through the ceiling of their own
corridor into the loft above Mr.. Fosters
room, through which they droppe dwhile
the family were at dinner, choosing that
hour 50 as to produces surprise and secure
the child, who railways went below with Les
ter to help carry up the coffee. OF the whole
number, five were killed outright and six
wounded twelve escaped uninjured, but
were nearly all aiterward retaken; aud
five repented their share in the movement
or lacked courage 10 carry it out, and so
remained in the prison. The most inter-
esting item Of the whole came to me at San
Francisco in my friends letter. 1t said:
ave are looking forward with great de-
light to your visit, and planning every
pleasure our sterile life can yield TO make
it enjoyable. But you will not see Lester;
he is gone. His pardon, full and entire in
view of his courage and fidelity, and the
manly stand he took against the murder
GUS plotters, came ON Monday last, and at
nighlfall he len the prison to go by the
stage to meet the midnight train. TO
Mexico 7 were his last words to us. Heav-
en- bless him, and grant him wisdom and
courage to retrieve the past aud open fair,
bright futureW
MARGARET HosMER.
A PECULIAR MANS ADVICE. - The