The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-04-12

They had been seen on the road togeth-
or a week before, and the murdered man
was never seen alive again. This friend
was arrested and tried. The circum'
stantial evidence was strong against
him. He was found guilty, and SEN
fenced 10 imprisonment for life. Fit.
teen years Of his confinement had pass
cd when he received : pardon, and was
released.
ION the morning and just at the hour
when a boys went to clear the barn,
he came out OF the prison gates, and
stood looking up and down the busy
streets, As though he were half blinded.
s'The gate-keeper followed him kind
". Where are We goin', S~eventy-sey-
emp he asked, calling the man BY his
prison number; for he EVE had heard
his name.
al don't know
"sGotn no kinr
"The man did not answer. He sat
down on the curbstone, his eyes blink
ing, his mouth twitching ~nervously. He
looked wistfully NJ the gate, as II he
would ask to b taken In again. In that
fifteen years his cell had grown to be a
home to him. He had no other home.
The keeper turned to 60 in.
Don't leave me, Jackson he said,
feebly putting out his hand.
jackson stood beside. MIN. Take
a cigar, he said, in token of their new
equality .a,.l. Mr.
81 have never smoked
"sWhere : ye goin', anyhowP'
Seventy-seven stared vacantly up
and down the street. When he had
gone in at that gate, he was a young
and handsome man. He. had been 4
lawyer in fair practice, with a mother
who made an idol OF him, and hosts Of
friends.
"Now he was bent and white haired.
There was not a man whom he could
call friend, or a house where he had q
right TO shelter, in all the world.
lid like to 60 back he said, with
a miserable smile.
Cant do that, my hoy. You were
in for
"sNlurderi'
"sYesi'
81 was innocent muttered Seventy
seven. And then, suddenly, as if the
free air and sun accused him afresh Of
his crime, he rose and stretched out his
arms.
Before God, l was innocenti' he
cried.
eyes, Of course, Of course said
Jackson. You all say so. But | be-
lieye you, Seyenty-seven. Got no kinP'
MY mother died eight years ago.
My brother lives in the old homestead.
| don't know whether to 60 to him, or
what would you doP' turning in his
bitter solitude to jackson as a friend.
"sGot the money TO go?-
"'Yes, the prison. society gave me
these clothes, and money TO pay my
way home. But
"sHow's yer brother treated YEP Has
he gin you the cold shoulder?'
"sNo. After he married, ten years
ago, / never would see him when he
10 the prison. l wanted him to
feel clear Of me; | was a cursed black
spot in his life. He does mol know I'm
out. thought I'D keep clear Of him;
.ut-oh, | can't. | canti'
HE covered his face with his hands.
He was 20 utterly alonel Only TO see
him once mora-to 60 through the old
.ouse-to lay his head on his mothers
".I don't know what to advise said
Jackson. sKinsfolk don't generally kill
he fatted calf for returned jail birds.
you might try t.. don't see what
Else you kin do, in fact
about noon the prisoner got of the
at the station next his old home.
He walked down the road. Old Aunty
Stannix was smoking in the door of her
"sJohn Pardee lives in the old placer
ne said, ~inquiringly, stopping in front
II her.
".yeh. Denis his boys a-fshin' in
ie branch yunder. Stranger in dis
country, sah?'
THE man shook his head and walk
"a m A stranger. Why, there was
rot a stone or a tree which he did not
remember and love!
.'He came 10 his brothers gate and
il. and then, CHASTITY as death,
urned away. He could not risk IL.
".lf John should speak harshly to
ne, it would kill met ne said. where
ire bis boys? Ill 60 10 them. What
'ver they say to me, III take IL for a
ign
He climbed down the bank. If the
spoke harshly 10 him, he would
urn his back on his old home-forever.
she stood i~rresolute on the bank
them. Bill saw him, aud made
lp his mind 70 fling a stone at him.
The man caught the boys scowling
and stopped. What was the
His life was a wretched wreck
Why should he intrude It into his broth
'r's happy homep
"There seemed no place for him in
Y the world-but the ~prison-cell which