The Red Cloud chief., 1879-03-20
THBWxvCr'S TALE.
AHodsrn Wandering 1ov-A Long Iraves
An Search - Rest.

THI CoSvlCT's TALE.
Auodsr. wandering ia Long fr.'sa
In search - Resa.
frrom she Des Moines Qo~a) Restseer.l
A year or 20 since . well dressed, vel
bred man came 70 Des MONIES ana
sought employment as . teacher OF music
or orpanist. He Wa q skillful perform
er on the instrument Is well as . COM
petent instructor. He secured . few
scholars and had shout concluded an
engagement to play the big organ Al q
Presbyterian Church when, suddenly,
and without giving any warning Z
reason therefor, he removed TO Council
Bluffs. There his career was about the
same that it had been here, and after .
brief stay he left the place and N 70
Atlantic. There, too, he remained but
q short time and then departed Tor st.
Joe.
The spirit of unrest seemed to possess
him. He paid his bills promptly and
was a man Of excellent habits. No scan
dals attached TO him, and TO those that
learned of his frequent migrations the
cause of them remained q profound
mystery.
"A few weeks or months since-it mat
tiers not which-a citizen OF De- Moines
happened to be called by business TO the
town in which is located one OF the Iowa
penitentiaries, and while strolling along
the streets, killing time until the depart
ure of q railroad train to bear him home,
he CHANGED to meet the mysterious mu.
stefan. The gentleman is himself gifted
with no small share Of musical culture,
had 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 beteen them, and during it the Or
ganist unraveled the mystery of his
frequent change of base. He had been
convicted on doubtful, If not entirely
false testimony, and sentenced TO the
Penitentiary in the town where this con-
~versation took place. There he had
served q term of impFisOnment.-The
Warden was kind to him and gave him
all the liberties consistent with his sit
uation. Learning of his musical skill,
that officer detailed him TO play the or
gan in the prison church. His execu-
ton 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
| q situation there and a class. He, how
ever, remembering the convict life, could
not endure the thought of remaining in
| sight of the Penitentiary walls, and de-
clined the proposal.
By the aid OF some friends he prOcur-
| ed 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 q
discharged guard from the prison,
where he had been confined,
and learned that the latter had
become 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 he
was again recognized, and at every
place some former acquaintance tina,
had known him during his dark days
would appear; and he would abandon
all and attempt to escape beyond the
sphere of recognition. In no place did
there appear to be any unkindness shown
him by any one of the discoveries, OF
any indication of revealing the mystery
of his past life, but ever before him rose
the specter of that past, and he feared
exposure. At length he abandoned the
vain %wanderings in search of q place
where acquaintance could not reach him,
and determined since he could not es'
cape exposure to return to the Peniten.
tiary town where his history vas so vel
known that he would be free from sus.
picion. He did SO, established himself
as a teacher of music, was engaged
as organist of the principal church
there, and is contented and hap.
py. All that ever was bad about him il
fully known where he is, and his life
since he became a free man is substan.
tial proof among the citizens where be
resides that his reformation is complete.