Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-08-11
THE WARDEN'S DAUGHTER.

warder in prison. Among the prison
crs was one at the registering of whsse
name ut his entrance Marion had been
present, and something in his youthful,
though sulen face, attracted her pitiful
glance. He had stolen repeatedly from
his benefsctor, and finally had admitted
into the house in the night time a 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. The one, who
was unable to escape, betrayed the COM
picity OF the young man in the affair.
lie was tried, convicted and sentenced.
There was no redeeming feature, ap-
parently, to the story, but somehow that
face haunted the girls gentle thoughts.
Perhaps it was because she had young
brother who was a wild lad, wandering
just now in disgrace, no one knew with
er, 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 a. the prisoners, one of them looked
up, and, changed as he was in every way,
thin feature, she knew again the black,
sullen eyes that were somehow like an
CRY, obstinate child's.
Her glance followed him as though fas-
cnated, and as he passed from sight she
sighed softly, and went in to look at the
prison record for the poor lads name.
1t was Aymer 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 sockets, or hid themselves obsti-
nately behind their wasted lids.
He never spoke, he scarcely ate, and
the prison physician told Marion that he
was dying of sheer inanimation.
"Its my opinion that he's trying to
.larve himself to DEATH" he said.
Marion drew near the sick bed.
She bent over him and spoke with
gentle frmness.
But she might as well have talked to
the blank wall, for all sign he gave OF
having heard her.
Marion left the ward with shocked
and anxious face.
LET me know if there is any change,
or anything that can do" she then said
10 the doctor.
But at dusk the physician was called
away by serious illness in his own family
and near midnight the assistant, going
his rounds, found Aymer Preston dead
in his bed.
"It's either make believe or heart
break" Or. Putney said, sharply, when
word was brought him, and he ordered
that Preston's body should be kept wrap
ped in blankets. and not removed till he
saw it.
The order was obeyed, but when three
days saw no change in the form, DR. Put
hey having meanwhile examined it, it
was removed to the dssecting room.
Marion Hydes window commanded a
view of this mysterious and horror-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, superstitious crea-
ture, nor by any means given to nervous
ness I; so, when she saw the window OF
the dissecting-room slowly lifted, and a
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
DIR. Putney had been right all the time.
Ayncr Preston was not dead, and thus he
was making one wild effort for liberty
Marion Hyde stood and watched him.
She could not have called out Just then
If he had been the most desperate and
hard ened criminal within those 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 a window, which
opened into an upper hall, and after an
effort raise it, and slowly drag himself
through.
Obeying An impulse which she could
not at that moment control, Marion softly
opened her door, and passed on without
her crutch for fear Of noise. She reached
the hall just as this poor wasted creature,
after brief rest, was urging his halfpar-
alyzed limbs 10 renewed effort. At the
sight of her be gasped and dropped into q
swoon, and Marion buried TO his side.
She dared not leave him, SO she waited,
rubbing his cold hands between hor ten
der palms, TIL he at last opened his eyes,
and she made him comprehend that she
wanted him TO come with her.
~ won't go back to prison, he whisper
cd between his teeth.
''You need not" she said, simply, and
led him to her own chamber.
g There was positively no other place
that was safe from the strict search that
she knew would be instituted as soon as
he was discovered missing. She procur-
ed him some garments which had belong
ed to her brother, and she got him some
food that would be SAFE for him to eat af-
ter his long fast.
He regarded all her movements with
the incredulous wonder of a child.
What has been the matter with me?"
he asked after while. ~ could not stir
any more than though | was dead, but l
knew all that was going on about me.
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