The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-28
Select Stories.
THE WARDER'S DAUGHTER.


Marion Hyde was cripple, but for all
that ehe was beautiful Her father was
Warder in the prison, Among the prison
cFs was one at the registering of whose
uamo at his entrance Marion had been
present, and something in his youthful
though sulen face attracted her pitiful
glance. He had stolen repeatedly from
bic bencfactor, it was alleged, and finally
had admitted into the house in the night
time 4 gang of burglars who had secured
considerable booty, and made off with it
10 safety, save one, after severely pound.
ing lhe proprietor of the house. This one,
who was not able to escape, betrayed the
complicity Of the young man in the affair.
He vas tried, convicted and sentenced.
There was no redeeming feature, appar.
emily, TO the story, but somehow that face
haunted the girls gentle thoughts Per-
haps il was because she had young
hTother who was a wild lad, wandering Just
nov ID disgrace, no one knew whittier, and
al the more teuderly loved by Marion,
beeanse Of his sad ways. One day, as she
leaned on the window-sill, looking with
wialfnl sadness into the yard at the pris-
onefs, one of them looked up, and, changed
a. he was in every way, thin feature she
knew again the black, sullen eyes that yet
were somehow like an angry, obstinate
childs. Her glance followed him as though
fasoipated, and as he passed from sight she
sighed softly, aud went in to look at the
prison record for the poor lads name. 1t
rns Aymcr Preston. The next she knew
Of him he was in the sick ward. For
few weeks she saw him there, but the
gloomy eyes never softened, only gazed
straight before them from their hollow
se1kets, OF bid themselves obsthiately be-
hind their wasted lids. He never spoke,
lle scarcely ate and the prison physician
told Marion that he was dying OF sheer
inhnition.
sits my opinion that's he's trying to
siarye himself to death" he said.
Narion drew near the sick bed.
She bent over him and spoke with
gentle firmness But she might as well
have talked to the blank wall for all sign
he saye of having heard her. Marion left
The ward with shocked and anxious
faca.
4 let me know if there is any change,
Or apything that | can do, she then said
10 the doctor
Bnt at dusk the physician was called
away by the serious illness in his own
family, aud near midnight the assistant,
Eqing his rounds, found Aymer Preston
aeaa ia his bed.
It's either feigned or case of heart
break, " DIR. Putney said, sharply, when
word was brought him, aud he ordered
that Preston S body should be kept wrapped
in Markets, and not removed till he saw it.
2he order was obeycd, but when three
days saw no change in the body, DIR. Put
neg having meanwhile examined it, it was
semosed to the dissectinS room. Marion
Hydes window commanded view of this
mysterious and horror-in-spiring apartment.
Az she stood at her window that night she
thought with vague thrill of pain of the
one cold, still tenant of that terrible room.
She Ras not timid, superstitious creature,
nor by any means given to nervousness;
20 Nhcn she saw the window of the dis
sectipg room slowly lifted, and gaunt,
Wild face appeared at the opening, instead
VI streaming or running away, she stood
stll' She knew that her heart was throb-
binR wildly, but she knew also that it was
10 phantom she looked upon. DIR. Put
ney bad been right all the time. Aymer
Pteston was not dead, aud thus he was
making one wild effort for liberty. Mar
i9p Hyde stood and watched him. She
could not have called out just then if he
had been the most desperate and hardened
eriminal within those walls. Besides, the
poor wretch was only mocking himself.
Apcould not escape even now unless by a
'alisele. She saw him stop presently be-
side q window, which opened into an up
PA ball, and after an effort raise it, and
s'o0iy drag himself through. 0beying an
lmpnlse which she could not at that mo
ment control, Marion softly opened her
door aud passed on without her crutch,
'of fear of the noise She reached the
Pail lust as this poor wasted creature, after
Ailef rest, was urging his half-paralyzed
l'.Aks to renewed effort. AT the sight Of
Aet be gasped and dropped in swoon,
end Marion hurried to bis side. She
dared not leave him, SO she waited, rub
h'Nt his cold hands between her tender
Ra'ae, till heat last opened his eyes, and
saf nade him comprehend that she want.
g him to come with her. ~ y
! won't go back to prison" he whis-
fstad between his set teeth. 3ta
fou need not" she said, simply, and
'sN BIN to her own chamber.
fhere was positively no other place that
Erseafe from the strict search that she
kqNF would be instituted as soon as he
Nnt discovered to be missing, She pro-
z''Fed him some garments which had be-
'2H,&d to her brother, and she got him
se'''l food that would be safe for him to
~ utter his long fast, IIe9 regarded all
e's movements with the incredulous won
''rr of child. &MnUQF1T
N hat has been the matter with me ~
fe Hked after awhile ~ could not stir
sR} nore than though | was dead, but |
kp4R all that was going on about me.
Nst il was frightiul, waiting there in
'FeN dissectingrcom / believe il was
2z|f the horror of it that helped me to
pIr1k the frightful spell" rlRsAtf
suppose you we're 10 a sort Of ftfance, :"
A'lon said, thoughtfully.
What are you going to do with me ?"
e> Asked again.
don't know, am sure" she said