The state journal., 1884-12-13


'fWould you like to see the doctor, sil
or the Governor? or the chaplainS"
asked in helpless sort of way. The,
are within call, and would gladly com
IT you care to see them"
mo, no; | want nothing. nor nobody
Only to be let alone" he answered
"And now / am indeed alone" b
added, pitifully. After that he lay 70
several minutes with his face buried il
the pillow, and neither spoke nor moved
Going to make confession, maybe?'
whispered Stockley.
shook my head. / wasa firm believe
in Mr.. Van Klugen's innocence. "Only
/ losing his nerve a bit" l whispered
back, through being shut up so long.
After little while the condemned
man got up and began to pace from END
to end of his cell, with something of the
air and manner of Gagged animal. %
must have some brandy or l shall &C
mad" he presently exclaimed. SIS
| there such a thing to be had in this cursed
| hole?"
81 will make inquiry, sir, | said.
With that l rang the bell and sent 8
message to the Governor.
Ten minutes later a warden with a
small decanter of brandy knocked at the
cell door. The prisoner seized on
the liquor eagerly, and drank off two,
thirds of a tumblerful at draught, as
though it was so much water. After that
he took to pacing his cell again. And SC
the night slowly wore itself away.
Once in the course of the night he
stopped in his walk by the little table
and opened one or two of the big tones,
within whose leaves he had been want to
find solace for so many weary hours.
He stopped and opened them merely to
glance at their title pages, and shut them
again with an impatient "Pish -
Every time the prison clock struck the
hour he stood and counted the strokes.
Just as the clock had done striking 6 he
laid hand suddenly on my shoulder.
CAT what hour on MONDAY next does
my-my little affair come Off" he asked
His dry, bloodless lips seemed as if they
could scarcely frame the question.
cat Q O'Clock, sir, to the minute
"Ah--l" 1t was more a sigh than an
exclamation. With that he resumed his
endless walk.
Neither Stockley nor was sorry when
time came to go off duty.
went home and to bed, but only to
dream of the singular change in Mr.. Van
Klugen, and when woke up he was still
uppermost in my thoughts.
When Stockley and / went on duty
next evening, Mr.. Van Klugen glanced
up at us with sort of moody indifference
but did not accost lis as he had always
been in the habit of doing. A long,
weary night, and then Sunday dawned
peaceful and bright. The fresh air, the
sunshine, the happy chirping of the birds,
had never seemed SO sweet and pleasant
to me as they did that morning as
walked down the long dull street home
ward from the Jail. Only one more night
and my thankless task would be at an
end.
When went on duty on Sunday even.
ing was told that the prisoner had no
visitors during the day Not even his
mother had come to take her final fare
well Of him. 1t was strange very strange.
l found him very pale and haggard, and
to all appearance almost worn out from
want Of sleep and an almost total ina
bility to take food of any kind. His
strength had to be kept up by stimulants
administered under the doctors direc
tons, for which, indeed he craved
eagerly. About midnight he asked for
writing materials, and was busily en-
gagged with his pen until after O'Clock.
Then he lay down in his clothes and
slept, with many fits and starts. till 6.
A few minutes later the chaplain knocked
at the door.
Mr.. Van Klugen had written two let
tiers in the course of the night. These
he sealed up and gave into tho chaplain's
hands. One of the letters was to be
opened by that gentleman a week after
his (Nlr. Van Klugen's) death. The
second letter was addressed to Herman
Trevis, Esq, The Pavement Waveney
Mallow," and it was the prisoners
earnest request that this letter, together
with mourning ring in black and gold
which he took off his finger, should be
delivered by a trustworthy person into
the hands of Mr.. Trevis as soon after
all was over as might be convenient.
Such wishes are sacred.
Three hours later Mr. Van Klugen was
no longer among the living.
".
On the Thursday morning following
| was sent for specially by the Governor.
With him I found the chaplain. They
wanted me 10 find out Mr. Herman Ire
Wis and deliver into his hands the letter
and the ring left for him by Mr. Van
Klugen. The distance to Waveney NAL
low was forty miles, and was instructed
to start by the first train. l was glad
enough to have such holiday, and all
my expenses paid into the bargain.
! reached Waveney Mallow in due
course, and was not long in finding Mr.
Trevis' domicile. 1t was an old-fashioned
red brick house, standing back from the
street in b courtyard of its own. l rang
the bell, asked for Mr.. Trevis, and was
ushered into a small ante-room.
Presently there entered to me an
elderly lady, handsome but care-worn.
There was troubled look in her
eyes, and an apprehensIve some
thing in her air and manner, as
though she lived in momentary dread of
hearing some unwelcome tidings.
asked for Mr.. Trevis. Her son, she
said, was away liz London. Would not
she do in his steadt
l was sorry, but my instructions were
to SEQ Mr.. Trevis himself. If that gen.
tleman was in London, to London Unjust
go. Would she kindly furnish me with
her sons address,
Eyes, Of course l WILL" she replied,
If it is really requisite that you should
have it. Butt hope there's nothing
wrong-that you have no unpleasant
business with my sol, which renders it
necessary that you should see him in per-
SOM"
Nothing unpleasant madam, so far as
know. Merely to deliver into his hands
letter from gentleman who died few
days ago."
Her face frightened at once In that