The Morning herald., 1877-05-01
The Wardan's Daughter

4
Marion Hyde was a cripple, but for al
that ahe was beautiful. Her father, was
warden in prison. Among the prison
ers was one at the registering Of. who's
name at his entrance Marion had beer
nresent. and something in his youthful
though sullen face, attracted her ,pitifu
Ia had stolen repeatedly from his ben
efactor. and finally had admitted into ths
house in the night gang Of burglars who
had secured considerable booty, and al
made off in safety save one, after Sc
verely pounding the proprietor of the
honss. This one who was not able to es.
oape. betrayed the completely Of the young
man in the affair. He was tried convic.
ted, and sentenced.
There was no redeeming feature, to the
story, apparently, but somehow that face
haunted the girls gentle thoughts. Per-
haps it was because she had young bro.
ther 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 over the window
sill. looking with wistful sadness into the
ward at the prisoners, one of them looked
up, and, changed as he was in every way,
with thin features, she knew again the
black, sullen eyes that yet were somehow
like an angry, obstinate child's.
Her glance followed him as though fas-
cinated, 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 obstinately be-
hind their wasted lids.
He never spoke, he scarcely ate, and the
prison physician told Marion that he was
dying Of sheer inanition.
It's my opinion thar he is starving him.
self to death, he said.
Marion drew near the bed.
She bent over him and spoke with gen
lie frmness.
But she might as we'll have talked to
the blank wall for all the 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 I can do, she then 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 his |
rounds, found Aymer Preston dead in bed. !
It's either make believe or heartbreak, |
DR.. Putney said, sharply, when word was |
brought him, and he ordered that Preston's |
body should be kept wrapped in blankets,
and not removed until he saw it.
The order was obeyed, but when three
days saw no change in the form, DR.. Put
ney having meanwhile examined it, it was
removed to the dissecting room.
Marion Hyde's windew commanded a |
view of this mysterious and horror-inspir-
ing apartment. As she stood at her win :
dow that night she thought with 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; so that when she saw the window of
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
thcobbing wildly. but she knew also that
It was no phantom that she looked upon.
Or. Putney had been right all the time.
Aymer Preston was not dead, and was
making one wild effort for liberty. Marion
Hyde stood and watched him.
She could not have called out just then
II LIE had been the most desperate and
hardened criminal within those walls. Be.
sldes, the poor wretch was only mocking
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
II, and slowly drag himself through.
ooeying an impulse which she could not
az that moment control, Marion softly
opened her door, and passed on without
!, Aer crutch, for Of the noise. She reached
me hail just as the poor VESTED creature,
after brief rest, was urging his half para
'yzed limbs 10 renewed effort. AT the
sight Of her he gaspsd and dropped in
ssNWoon, and Marion hurried to his side.
one dared not leave him, so she waited,
rubbing his cold hands between her tender
palms, till he at last opened his eyes, and
y she made him comprehend that she wanted
him TO come with her.
l. won't go back to prison, he whispered
between his set teeth.
You need not, she said, simply, and led
MIN to her own chamber.
m There was positively no other place that
was sale from the strict search that she
Knew \ would be instituted as soon as he was
discovered missing. She procured him