Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-04-13
q gleasant Story.
THE WARDEN's DAUGHTER.

Marion Hyde was cripple, but for all
that she was beautiful. Her father was
warden in prison. Among the pris-
oners was one at the registering of whose
name at his entrance Marion had been
present, and something in his youthful,
though sullcn, face attracted her pitiful
glance. He had stolen repeatedly from
his beuefactor, and finally had admitted
into the house in the night time gang
Of burglars who had secured considerable
booty, and made off with it in safety,
save one, after severely pounding the
proprietor Of the house. This one, who
was not able to escape, betrayed the
completely of the young man in the affair
He was tried, convicted aud sentenced
There was no redecming features, APP
parently, to the story, but somehow that
face haunted the girls gentle thoughts.
Perhaps it was because she had young
brother who was wild lad, wandering
just now in disgrace, no one knew
whittier, and all the more tenderly loved
by Marion, because of his sad ways.
One day as she leaned on the window
sill, looking with wistful sadness into the
yard at the prisoners, one Of them looked
up, and, changed as he was in every way,
thin feature, she knew again tho black,
sullen eyes that yet were somehow like
an angry, obstinate child's.
Her glance followed him as though
fascinated, and as he passed from sight
she sighed softly, and went in to look al
the prison record for the poor lads name
1t was Aymer Preston
The next she knew of him he was il
the sick ward.
For few weeks she saw him there
but the gloomy eyes never softened. only
gazed straight before them from thei
hollow sockets, Or hid themselves obsti
nately behind their wasted lids
lie never spoke, he scarcely ate, am
the prison physician told Marion that h
was dying of sheer hamilton.
"Its my opinion that he's trying t
starve himself to DEATH" he said
Marion drew near the sick bed.
She bent over him, and spoke wit
gentle frmness.
But she might as well have talked t
the blank wall, for all sign he gave 0
having heard her.
Marion left the ward with a shocked
and anxious face
LET me know if there is any change
or anything that | can do" she ther
said to the doctor
But at dusk the physician was called
away by serious illness in his own
family, and near midnight the assistant
going bis rounds, found Aymer Preston
dead in his bed.
Its either make believe or heart
break" Dr. Putney said, sharply, when
word was brought hin, aud he ordered
that Prcston's body should be kept
wrapped in blankets, and not removed
till he saw it.
The order was obeyed, but when
three days saw no change in the form,
DIR. Putncy having meanwhile examined
it, it was removed to the dissecting room
Marion Hyde's window commanded a
view of this mysterious and borrow in
spring apartment. AS she stood at her
window that night she thought with a
vague thrill Of pain Of the one-cold, still
tenant Of that terrible room.
She was not timid, superstitous
creature, nor by any means given to
nervousness; so, when she saw the win
dow of the dissecting room slowly lifted
and gaunt, wild face appear at the
opening, instead Of screaming or running
away, she stood still. She knew that
her heart was throbbing wildly, but she
knew also that it was no phantom she
looked upon. DR. Putney had been right
all the time. Aymer Preston was not
dead, and thus he was making one wild
effort for liberty. Marion Hyde stood
and watched for him.
She could not have called out Just then
if he bad been the most desperate and
hardened criminal within these walls. -
Besides, the poor wretch was only mock
ing himself He could not escape even
now unless by miracle. She saw him
stop presently beside window, which
opened into an upper hall. and after an
effort raised it, and slowly dragged him.
self through
Obeying an impulse which she could
not at that moment control, Marion softlJ