The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-04-15

by her skiIlful fingers, to our neglect
go we remained with her, witnessing he
pitiable struggles.
"The first night she moaned at in
tervals through all its long hours, ant
more than once we heard her say, def
antly, Il won't, Iwon't!' And so on
for two or three days, her really fin'
nature seemed to be resisting something
which it was almost agony to contene
against; yet she seemed determined no
to yield to the counteracting impulse.
| "She would take us down at differen
times, and perhaps work q button-h0le
then be interrupted to do something
else; but as she held us in her soft, fail
hands she often talked to US as though
we were living things. How it was sht
possessed such remarkably pretty
hands we shall never know; but Ger
tain it is no lady in the land ever hat
more graceful, delicate hands than poor
Sue.
"One day, when she had been II
about week, she finished US entirely
finished US just as the short winter af
ternoon was beginning to gloom. She
held US lovingly. it seemed, and passed
her hands over us repeatedly in sort Of
caressing way-those lille hands. Soon
tears dimmed her eyes, and, rising, she
| vIo hn 81, ske
the bed. Sitting down with her wonted
habit on the edge of the cot, she slowly
unwound her wondrous hair-its weight
seemed to Cypress her that afternoon
and as it fell in all its rare sweep about
her she looked up at us, mutely regard.
ing her, and her expression was the very
saddest and sweetest we have ever vel
seen on q human cOuntenance.
"Then that conflict began again con.
corning we knew not what; she crossed
and uncrossed her hands nervously,
and glanced, now longingly, now an.
| grily, up and down the narrow cell; then
she grew quiet and very thoughtful
then tears like raindrops chased over hel
oval cheeks, and at last, throwing up
her hands, with cry half despairing,
half hopeful, she sobbed, L will; yes,
will!' and falling on her knees, she
prayed-prayed aloud. 1t was sin.
gular prayer, more like a child's cry
than anything else we could think Of
1t was for herself; for Reuben Hemp.
stead; then pause, and she prayed fol
the woman who insulted her so; she
promised so much, poor child! about
how good she would be, and how she
would serve God, and keep a clean,
honest woman still, if Jesus would bu,
help her.
"She stopped at length, as though ex.
hausteds but still remained on her knees
her beautiful head down, and her mid
night locks touching the floor; and just
then in the distance sounded the firm
even tread of two men. The approach
ing footballs came steadily along the cor:
ridor until they paused before No. So
and the warden's kind voice said:
"sThis is the cell, SIR
"There was a knock at the door, and
Sue, still on her knees, said rather list
lessly, 'Come in;' and man entered
alone-a man strong-built and shaggy
browed, with brown skin but q kindly
face and kindlier voice, who on see
ing the kneeling figure of the girl by thu
side of the little cot uttered one telling
word:
Sweetheart
"There was slow uprising, an ex.
tending toward the visitor those Gun.
ming little hands, q radiant flush on
cheek, lip and brow, as Sue cried, chok.
ingly:
"'Oh, Reuben, Reuben!'
"She went away that very night,
'bailed OUT no longer q woman who
was down. for God, in His great love
and tender compassion toward ,Uhoso-
ever should call on His name, had saved
her!
"Just as she was about leaving the
cell she looked back at US, and stepping
softly up took us down, and kissed me,
while on my mate there fell tear; but
Sue never saw it, and it remained I'M
wiped away, and that, deary, is the
small spot on my mates side, which is
never quite as bright as the rest of the
polished French kid, and which lowered
our price somewhat"
The voice stilled, and the boots set.
tied and shrank, and appeared slowly
retreating; they had almost vanished
when nearly jumped from the bed in
my eagerness to arrest their fight; but
there they stood, just where I had
placed them, and taking up the left
boot gazed with awed interest on the
little round spot I'd so often seen, and
which must now always believe was .
convict's tear.
My nap had done good service in re-
storing me to an entirely different and
better frame of mind. Going to the
closet and taking down my black silk,
decided that with fresh ruches it might
be made quite presentable for another
evening, and resolving to worry no more
over so unimportant matter I went
down to supper with "face on" which
made pa say, cheerily, I looked I" fresh
as daisy"
Next day I had splendid luck with my
sliced apple pies, but somehow the heat
Of the kitchen sent the blood into my
face, so that my cheeks would not cool
off, not even when I started for Mrs.
Col. Flushing's party.
Just as I expected, Cad Pinkerton