The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-17


severity.
"And what have you come for ~
"To see my father" The child burst
forth with one great sob, and for moment
her little frame was shaken with a tempest
of feeling.
"And who is your father ?" asked the
warden kindly.
Gle is Mr.. Lloyd, !" said the child, as soon
as she could speak for her rushing sobs.
The warden looked at the taller.
Lloyd there are three Lopds here-jim,
Bondy, and Dick, said the iailer.
"That may not bo their proper Names"
responded the warden
"Thats So" said the Tailor, " but | can
| try 'em all. Little one, was your fathers
name Jim :"
The child nodded her head, or they thought
she did she was all convulsed with the re-
action brought on by the termination of her
journey,
elf it's Jim, he's a bad one," said the
| taller, in n low voice "he's in irons this
morning for tempting to break jail he don't
| deserve n little gal like that one, the villain.
| Come child, I'll go and find your father"
lie took Rates shaking hand with the
other she dashed the tears away as fast as
they fell. 1t frightened her almost into
calmncss to see the ponderous door at which
the jailer applied the great key, and the still
ness of the stone passages, the dmness
thrown over all, the constant succession of
bars, and bleak, black walls were terrible to
| a sensitive mind like hers. How the heavy
tread of the taller and the tread of the war
| den behind him echoed through the gloom
| and the space 1t was, in truth, n great
tomb through which they moved-a tomb in
which were confined living hearts-whose
throbs could almost be heard in the awful
stiffness. On they went, snow through that
passageway and then through the other.
| Everything spoke of crime-of fierce passions
| subdued and held in stern control--every-
thing, from the grim face of the ferocious
watch dog to the sentinel armed.
| Then they turned and went up the stairs,
the iailer holding the scared bird close to his
side with tender clasp, the warden follow
ing. Another tramp, and at last they came
to a standstill. The iailer raped at cell
door. Slowly the figure of n man, with a
harsh, hair-covered face, appeared.
Here's your little girl come to see you"
said the taller.
| Little girl hem you're green" said
the man, in glum accents. I've got no lit
tie girl, or you wouldn't catch me here"
Father" said the childish voice. It
sounded so sweet, so childish, in that terri
bic prison. But as the scowling face came
close TO the bars the child hid her head
quickly in the jailer's arm, half sobbing-it
| wasn't him.
Gwen try the next one."
He walked further on, and spoke more
pleasantly this time:
"Well, Bondy, here is little Kate; don't
you want to see herY'
Little Kate -" there was long
pause. 81 had Kate once-not a little
Kate; broke her heart-God pity me Go
on; it can't be for me-"
Again the sweet voice rang out.
" Father
The prisoner came up close to the bars
a youthful face, framed with light wavy
hair--a face in which the blue eyes looked in
nocent--a face that it seemed sin to couple
with foul deed, gazed out. 1t was a
child's earnest, pleading, fearful eyes; dark
expression rolled like wave across his brow;
a grOan came up from his bosom, and with a
long moan he staggered against his bed,
crying:
d" Take her away; can't stand the sight
of anything pure like that"
Kate had hidden her face second time
rs she feebly cried, " 1t isn't him." so they
kept on to q third cell.
Jim, here's little grl-Kate, your
daughter-wants to see you.'
A stupid "whatr - came from the bed
the man had probably inst awakened
"Tour little girl
There was sounding of rattling irons that
made the girl SILVER. Dimly appeared the
face and outlines of 4 well-made made man
the countenance handsome, but evil. lie
seemed not to comprehend, but as fast as
the chains would permit him he came for
ward and looked ont at the anxious face be
low.
| With a loud convulsive cry she exclaimed
Father father - and fell nearly senseles
against the jailer.
"Katie 7" exclaimed the man, and there
was nervous twitchihg about the muscle:
of the mouth Whatever has brought he
| here p
The jailer was calling the child to con
seriousness.
f "Shall we let her come in there ?" aske
the warden.
Jim was dashing his hand across his face
( A smothered eyes - issued from his lips
l They opened the ponderous door and pu
the child within. Her arms were out
stretched, his were wide opened, and the
came together with a clanking sound-to
Y gether about tho form of that poor littl
child ,.Sr
4 "Oh, Katie, Katie |" and then there was
quiet crying. By-and by the man lifted tn
e little head, whose glossy curls were fallin
on his shoulders-and oh what sharp raj
tie of chains smote on the ear--and locke
| in her face. After moments irresolutio
(; he kissed her, and then his eyes fell unde
v her earnest loving look.
t "Katie what made you come 2"
G Wanted to see you, father" and the hea
was on his shoulder again.
J. ",HOw did you come, Katieg Never min
d the noise, they are locking up they will |
here again and let yOu OUT
" 81 walked here.pS
''From New York, child p
g Yes, father"
4 There was no sound save that of the chain
- as he strained her closer to his bosom.
:" And how did you leave her, Katie-yor
" mother ~
l. The question was fsarfully asked, but n,
II responded to. lie gazed eagerly in the child
9, face her little lip was qniyering.
o. Katie tell me quick"
l. " She died, father"
o grOan-a terrible groan-followed Il
mans head fell in the lap of his child, al
II he wept with strong cries. The jailer al
the warden said that they never saw a sigl
so woful. And the child tried to comic
e him, till his strength seemed to be gone al
his sobs were like gasps.
n, Oh, Katie, when did she die OH II
@ poor May my poor grill"
=. " Ever so long ago, think ever so MAJ
p weeks, replied the child " but she told n
t. TO come and see you and comfort YOU"
| "Oh, this is hard, very hard She alwa
ct forgave me-"
Is She told me to pray for you, too she to
or me to ask you would be real good after y,
O. came out and meet her in heaven"
"In heaven in heavenH' groan
~ the man, giving way in his agony. r.
g child was angel-guided Her soft touch W
better for his SOULS good than the strip
od and the chains. lie had been hardened
10 her little love melted down the adaman
of had found the good locked up in his natul
and she had sent her sweet smiles throul
Il, its prison door. Long he sat there, his he
er in the lap of his beautiful, quiet child. No
IN dared disturb him; jailer and ward
We walked TO and fro.
N lE..l.. r,,,