Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-13
THE CoNvICTs A
A Modern Wandering lew - A Long
Travel in Search Of Rest

Des Moines Register.l
A year or so since a we'll dressed,
well-bred man came to Des Moines
and sought employment as a teacher
of music or organist. He was a
skillful performer on this instrument
as well as competent instructor. He
secured a few scholars and had about
concluded an engagement to play the
big organ at the Presbyterian Church
when, suddenly, and without giving
any warning or reason therefor, he
removed to Council Bluffs. There
his career was about the same that it
had been here, and after a brief stay
he left the place and went to Atlantic.
There, too, he remained but a short
time and then departed for st. Joe.
The spirit Of unrest seemed to pos
sess him. He paid his bills promptly,
and was q man of excellent habits.
No scandals attached to him, and to
those that learned OF his frequent mi
grations the cause of them remained
a profound mystery.
A few weeks or, months since-it
matters not which-a citizen of Des
Moines happened to be called by bus
mess to the town in which is located
one Of the Iowa penitentiaries. and
while str0ling along the streets. kill
ing time until the departure of a rail
road train to bear him hoEe, he
CHANGED to meet the mysterious musi-
clan. The gentleman is himself gifted
with no small share of musical cul-
ture, and frequently admired the skill
Of the ~Organist as displayed in this
city, and was personally acquainted
with him. He also knew something
Of his wanderings. A conversation
took place between them, and during
it the organist unrayeled the mystery
Of his frequent change of base. He
had been convicted on doubtful, ifnot
entirely false testimony, and sentenced
to the p%enitentiary in the town where
this conversation took place. There
he had served a term Of Imprisonment.
The warden was kind 10 him and gave
him all the liberties consistent with
his situation. Learning of his must
cal skill, that officer detailed him to
play the organ in the prison church.
Ills execution was so excellent that it
attracted the attention Of the other
musicians in the town, and when his
term Of service had expired they
offered to procure him a situation
there and a class. He. however.
remembered the convict life, could
not endure the thought of remaining
IN sight Of the penitentiary walls, and
declined the proposal.
BY the aid Of some friends he pro-
cured enough money to supply himself
with suitable clothing and came to
Des MOines. where he engaged in
teaching. as before related, and was in
a fair way to thrive and prosper in his
profession, when one day he met on
the streets a discharged guard from
the prison where he had been confined.
and learned that the latter had be-
come a resident Of this city. Then
the dread Of exposure oppressed the
Organist, and hastily settling up his
affairs he fed to Council Bluffs.
There be was again recognized, and at
every place some former acquaintance
that had known him during his dark
days would appear, and he would
abandon al and attempt to escape be-
yond the sphere Of recognition. In
no place did there appear TO be anv
unklndness shown him by any one Of
hrs dl%scOyercrs, or any indication Of
revealing the mystery Of his past life,
but ever before him rose the specter
Of that past, and be feared exposure.
At length he abandoned the vain wan
derlngs in search Of a place where ac-
qlaintanee could not reach him.
and determined, since he could not
escape exposure, 70 return 10 the poni.
Tertiary town where his history was
50 well known that lie would be free
from suspicion He did 80, estab-
iisied himself az a teacher Of music.
wa engaged as organist OF tho princi-
pal church there. aud is c|ontented and
happy. Al that ever wal bad about
him s fully known where he is, and
bis lie since be became a freeman is
substantial proof among the citizens
where DC resides that his reformation
Is complete.
The Chinese Method.