The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-08-04

ventures, and had gone off with her to
enjoy the ill-gotten gainsl
All these things burned AMI seethed
in my brain, till it seemed as If ], too,
must break out into important raving,
or blood curdling oaths, or passionate
prayers, such as re.echoed through
the long corridors abe ut me; for j was
| in that department OF the institution
marked Violent" and l could hear all
night long the wails-the groans, the
chickering's, the mad outbreaks of vio-
lence, the sudden shrieks and crashes,
that seemed to torture the very echoes.
Morning at last-through a barred
window that "slurred the sunshine
half mile"; yet l knew by even that
pale beam that the sun had risen upon
my wedding day
My wedding dayl Lisa was kneeling
perhaps at that moment breathing a
prayer for our future happiness. She
was a pious little thing, knew. | pic
tured her lifted soft brown eyes, full of
tears and hopes; her pretty folded
hands.
had never loved her enough, but
now-now that she seemed slipping
away from me, now that horrible
chance har severed us-she grew sud
denly dear and precious.
Lisa" l groaned "oh, my darling,
pray-pray as you have never done he
| fore, tor my destiny hangs on that
prayer !"
Oh, how slowly the hours crept on
The little bar of dusty gold that lay
upon the floor of my cell grew broader
| feebly. IL seemed thinner as it
broadened. thought of its fading
with horror.
Good heavensI Is there no help for
it-none? Must sit here, the sport OF
circumstances an innocent victim,
while my poor girl breaks her heart over
the strange delay? grow frantic. l
call out. implore. l beg the keepers
to come to me. / adjure them by the
memory of their mothers of their
sweethearts and wives, to listen to me
to believe me-to help me. Then listen
with a quick, throbbing heart. Every
ste in the corridor wakens hope that
springs up only to die away. They do
not heed memo one comes!
Oh, only man to bring me something
to eat! do not see what--l am faint
and sick with a great throbhing
from head to foot, as if were all one
pulse of pain. i spring forward.
"Oh, for the love of God" l cry,
"get me out of this! To-day is my
wedding day. This is cruel mistake F!
I will give you hundred rubles ii you
let me out. / will leave you my watch
in pledge. You have only to open the
hall door. Think of 1.-THE poor girl
that / was to have married is"
He did not even wait to hear me. lie
looked alarmed and hurried out, leav-
ing me 10 rave alone.
In vain. knew the time was past
the hour was gone. could picture the
surmises and whisperings OF the guests,
the rage-tne livid rage of the father,
the mute anguish of my poor little girl.
They were disrobing her, perhaps,
this very moment, laying ASIDE the
pretty dress and filmy veil, to be worn
agAin -ah, whenP Did she faint, or cry,
or lay there dumb with anguish, / won
deredP Would her heart say kind
word for me when others were traduc-
ing me? Oh, pure and trusting heart,
l have never valued you Alright, and
now am punished for it!
After that grew calmer. There was
no more hope, and so the quiet OF des-
pair came to me, and l sat dumbly
watching the fading of the bar OF sun
shine till it looked like a faint GOLDEN
mist, and then went out in darkness.
Another night had come, and slept
| from sheer exhaustion.
was awakened the next morning by
| a familiar voice.
"Hello, old Straightiacket, here you
are! No erd of row yesterday.
Couldn't find a clew to you or the dia-
monds, or the lady so fair, fair, with
| golden hair All, my boy, you are too
susceptible! But found the card with
her name this morning. You dropped
it on the floor, and it got showed out of
sight. / followed it up, and it's all
right. The prison doors unbar. Ri-tu-
ri-ru, the captive breaks his chains"
The keeper was regarding Alexis with
suspicious air, as if, instead OF
freeing any one, he fancied he shoulq
have another patient That young gen
tleman always took liberties with me
on account of his relationship to Shove
loft, but / never enjoyed them till this
morning. seized his hand rs if it had
been my dearest friend. / thanked him
with etfusion.
The doctor did not appear. He
turned my valuables, but kept himself
out of the way. Confusion at his mis-
take had perhaps overcome him.
reached the store to meet the united
wrath of the partners. When l in-
formed them that the diamonds were
gone, was at once dismissed from their
employ. My ofIense was in permitting
the case OF jewels to go out OF my hands.
had been betrayed into this by the
glamor of pair of bright eyes. Iwent
home disconsolately enough to find
note in nv room from old Schroeder.
"SIR-Your infamous conduct de-
serves punishment that my hands are
itching to give you, but cannot leave
my poor heartbroken child. have
been to your place of business, and heard
fha story of VOur eloDment with a vile
adventures, and robbery of your en-
ployers' diamonds immensely valuable.
am thankful my child has escaped you,
/ thank God your depraved taste made
you unfaithiul to her, and know she
will see the truth in time. / am going
to take her away at once from the place
you have made hateful TO her. 1t would
! be best for you never TO cross my path
again. ANTON SCHROEDER"
So all my plans had toppled down like
a child's cardhouse, and / sat despairing