The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-25

but four years o. penal servitu le had lent
her gray, sickly complexion. Her hands
were coarse and wrinkled from occupation
in the laundry, and the locks of chestnut
hair, which protruded under her white cap,
were short as boys. A blue check gown,
thick worsted stockings and heavy nailed
shoes formed her costume, which was Gov
cred with a number of broad arrowheads
and had nothing in the way OF ornaments
but a red badge on one of the sleeves-a
good conduct badge. Maria Burt had almost
completed her term of servitude, for she was
to be discharged in a few days with a ticket
ofleave.
Apparently the recollection of this oc-
CURED to her, for. starting from the table,
she walked to a corner of the cell on which
hung card bearing the record of her con-
viction with the date of her coming release.
and she took long look at it. There were
no tears in her eyes, but she pressed a hand
to her brow and a sigh escaped her like
moan of pain.
Suddenly a wardress, who had been watch
ing her through the peephole in the door,
turned a key in the lock and entered the
cell.
Tell us the truth, Twelve" she said
brusquely, "was that gentleman your nus-
| band?''
"pve told you no." answered Twelve"
| indifferently.
We'll, he and another gentleman and two
ladies have come to the prison about you.
They are in the governors room now and
| they have asked to see the clothes you had
on when you were brought here"
And have they seen them?" asked the
| prisoner, whose chSeks became overspread
! with faint tinge Of color.
mo, for convicts' clothes are sold you
will have a new suit when you go out"
What sort of a suit?"
"Ahl that interests you," laughed the
wardress who was bouncing sort of servant
| girl. 'OhI the clothes won't be ANYTHING
| ht1tf dn To ind al lima fi..f.
with. Nobody will suspect where they Come
| from. But bark! there's the governors bell.
l expect you are going to be sent for"
| The surmise was correct. In another min
ute the matron appeared jangling large
| bunch OF keys and ordered Twelve" to fol-
low her. The pair proceeded down the
broad wing of the prison, 80 unsightly specta-
| Gle with Its black iron galleries and scores of
nail-studded doors. till they came to a pri
vate part of the building where the cover
nOr's office stood. The matron knocked,
and in moment the prisoner was ushered
ilto an apartment divided from roof to
floor by railing of bars. Behind these rails
Maria Burt and the matron stood alone; in
the other part of the room was grouped the
| governor, Mr.. and Mrs. Kurthew, Julia and
Henry Bennion. The latter was leaning de-
| jectedly with an elbow on the mantelshelf
but when the prisoner entered he would
have advanced towards her had not Mr..
Kurthew checked him. LET me try to
4 luentl1y ner nr5t SAID tEo SOilcltOr, coldly.
Julia, come with me-"
There was a moment of deep and solemn
silence. The father, with his daughter be-
| side him, gazed through the bars, endeavor-
! ing to detect the lineaments of his other
child IN the shame-stricken figure before him.
Maria Burt put up her hands before her
face and quailed. take down your hands,
| Twelve" said the mstron CURLY, and glanc-
| ing at Mr.. Kurthew, she plainly saw that
beads of perspiration had pearled on his
| forehead. Yet, after moments hesitation,
| the solicitor said hoarsely, so that he had tc
clear his throat in the midst of his sentence,
Il do not know-this-this person-do you,
Julia?'
NO." faltered Julia, with her handker-
| chief to her mouth.
"And you, Mrs. Kurthew?' said the gov
ernor, addressing that lady.
II do not know her." repeated Mrs.
| Kurthew, almost inaudibly. She had not
| left her place, and had only cast one fearful
glance toward the ratings, then turned her
| face away and burst out crying; under any
| circumstances her tears seemed natural.
Henry Bennion now stepped forward, and
the gaia which he bent on the prisoner
made her cover. His eyes cleaned as in
fever, and there was no uncertainty in their
expression. yet his voice was beseechingly
4 low and pathetic-almost whisper, as he
murmured, Don't you know me, Mabel?
Whatever horrible mystery may have
brought you here, don't be afraid to confess it.
You remember how loved you"
Il don't understand you, sir" murmured
the prisoner, whose features were convuised
by spasms
Look at me again; give me your hand"
| pleaded Henry Bennion. "See how mine
shakes Do you think l could mistake my
own wife?'
II ana not your wife, SIR" muttered
Maria Burt. Then suddenly trying to re-
treat from him, she placed a hand over her
eyes. whilst her features worked in a con-
vulsion that ended in hysteric laugh. No,
| I'm not your wife, l say-but If you like to
adopt me when 1 come out of Working, /
do1;t mind. No, no, if you re inclined to it.
No. that's not my wife, sighed Bennion,
dropping the prisoners hand. mabel
wouldn't have spoken like that
mo, Mabel wouldn't speak like that" re-
peated Mr.. Kurthew, drawing his son in
law away by the arm. Nov come along;
this scene is too trying for my wife; she is
ready to faint"
Mrs Kurthew had already tainted. She
dropped on the floor in a swoon the pris-
oner vanished from behind the rails without
giving her look.
1t went forth to the world that Henry
Bennion had been deluded by case of mis-
taken identity. Nevertheless, a few morn
ings after this strange scene
Working Prison. Maria Burt had just been
released. Dressed in PLAIN cloInes like
those of a servant-girl. she left the peniten-
tiary and walked hurriedly down the road
till she came to a corner where a cab stood
She halted a moment as if uncertain which
way to turn, when her progress was barred
by Mr. Kurthew appearing before her, hold
ing the cab door open. Get in Mabel" he
said, with a mournful composure; 81 did
not choose to recognize you the
prison the other day because of the scandal
it would have caused, but
II assure you you are mistaken, sir" an
swered the discharged convict retresting.
"Come, you need not be afraid of me-" said
the old man, wistfully; you cant deny that
you areImy daughter" %
Yes, yes; you are quite wrong; please
leave me-" faltered Maria Burt, and darling
from him she crossed the road, turned
/ dnun a cornar and was lost tn uie,u