The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-11-26

town some two or three miles distant
on the Ohio River. and when there
Ruedy proposed we get . horse and
buggy and 60 over to the Virginia side.
OF course [ agreed. IS / did to every
thing he proposed, and when he further
suggested that we have . bottle of
brandy added to complete the rig. ]
also assented. We had had something
before we left home. and now we treat
ed the stable boy before starting. We
treated the ferry man when we crossed
the river, we treated the first man we
met on the Virginia side, and then for
want Of some one else treated each
other. wasn't hardened to that sort
of thing so that is about the last have
any distinct remembrance of till woke
up two days later to find myself at q
low tavern in q little town some twenty
miles from the river. and there while
was trying to collect my rather bewil-
dered ideas and think what I had bet
ter do, the owner of the horse with q
Sheriff found and arrested me. The
horse was in my possession, and the
landlord said I had called it mine.
Ruedy had disappeared, and nobody
would believe my story. while to make
matters worse that region had been suf-
fering for some time from q gang of
thieves, and they were anxious for some
one to make an example of, SO was
taken back in irons. Court was in ses-
sion. and in less than q month had my
trial. my conviction and . five years
sentence. At first my one thought had
been to keep it from mother and the
folks at home. 1t would be happiness
for them to think me dead rather than
to know the truth, but when / found
myself locked up here. with even the
excitement of suspense over, thought
I should die. I was young. proud and
with all q boys wild hopes, and I al
most hoped I should die. But have
lived through three years of it, Of the
convict cell and convict dress and con-
vict silence. I told you that had'a
Christian training; that is something
one cannot easily shake of. The old
texts and hymns I heard in the village
church and in my own home haunt me
here, and one, HE will blot them from
the book Of His remembrance" is al
ways ringing in my ears, for it has
seemed that 1 was, indeed, utterly for
gotten of both God and man."
There was pathos of dull misery in
the tone as we'll as the words with
which he ended his story, that touched
Harley's kindly heart and made him
long to give some crumb of comfort.
but his training had not been particular
ly in a theological line. However. he
shook Brainard warmly by the hand
with ''Well. my boy, yours is pretty
hard case. but keep up good heart.
I'll see what can be done about it, and
as to your being forgotten that's all
nonsense. You know your mother
thinks of you every day of her life, and
as for the Lord. why who knows but He
sent me here to-day?' "a remembrance
of his sudden impulse flashing through
his mind and giving him q pleasurable
sense of being sort of committee man
of Providence as it were). 1--WE don't
know for certain that He did, of course,
but still it wouldn't do any hurt to think
so," and the Hon. Julius hurried away,
congratulating himself that his effort in
imparting religious instruction had
been quite brilliant success.
Returning to his hotel what was his
surprise, to encounter his legislative
friend, the '.member from Belmont
County, who had run up to look q little
after the affairs of State before the
meeting of the Assembly. and Harley
lost no time in imparting to him the
discovery he had just made that there
was q young fellow from his county in
the Penitentiary who ''really ought not
to be there.
$50 he says, ehr' with q superior
smile, for the Belmont gentleman hav-
ing enjoyed the advantage of ten years.
legislative experience was inclined to
look upon new corners, like his Bytown
colleague, as uns0phisticated, mere
chicks in fact in the ways of the would.
''Of course they are all victims Of cir
cumstances." he continued, critically
balancing his cigar; ''never knew one
to be guilty of the crime for which he
was sent; in fact, to take their word
they are the most innocent body of men
ever collected together.
But Harley was not to be repulsed.
"Just go over with me and hear this
boys story for yourself"
"Oh, I'll do that" was the careless
assent. "though doubt If it will bear
examination. But he, too, was touched
by the simple story. and, urged on by
his friend, made Immediate inquiries
into the case, which confirmed the truth
of Fuller or Brainard's statement, and
the facts being laid before the Govern
Or, Mr.. Harley had the pleasure be-
fore he left for home and Thanksgiving
of walking down to the Penitentiary
with pardon in his pocket, and it Is
doubtful II in all his full prosperous life
he had ever known many happier hours
than when young Brainard stood before
him once more . free man. his face
Q~>ok 18th $r~v 81 La N -l~~l