Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-10-09

ALNt@N@tH
ike this that we have here 70 tel,
The nearly silent street fanzsd By
rs txo rows Of tall houses, most OF
The Blinds and shutters still closing
The windows at that early hour. vas
b=ing swept By . gang Of conFicis,
brought each morning ibroEgh Tue
prison gates for the purpose la the
line Of prisoners was al Old Nan
hose bsir and beard we're white 81
sIlver. AID whose ugly uniform Ga
not wholly hide certain staieilness
Of bearing which be. however. cid
not alloW 20 hinder his work But
in spite Of his progressing look and
manner il was TO be noticed that Only
be. Of all his Wrctched companions,
dragged at his leg ball aud chain
Yet Il seemed impossible TO believe
thai he excelled 10 crime The repulsiFe
looking xreiches about him
As the work Of cleaeing the streets
progressed the thOroughfare. q spite
Of the early hour, came at last 10
have one pssser-by. A tall, elderly
man. very plainly dressed, but wear
ing a kind OF uniform, advanced
along one Of the psyements. aud as
be looked at the gang of sweepers bis
eye quickly singled out the old pTIso-
ner This observer seemed soon To
notice that although the white haired,
aged man, 10 spite OF having the ball
and chain TO drag, managed, by sheer
eXertion. 10 keep up with the Others
10 his work. the oveTseer was nearly
always shouting at him Ia anger and
finding fault without cause. The
spectator stepped into The road to the
old mans side.
What" be asked, "is your crime,
that YOU are treated in this way :"
The old prisoner. at the sound of a
voice which had in il tone Of pity
looked up and stood still, resting his
broom upon the stones. IL was ter
rible story of persecution and cru
city be had 10 tell. He belonged to
distant province. and bis position
there answered TO the class in EOg-
land called "yoeman; he having
been owner Of a small property OF
his own. But, most unfJrtu naiely
for him. the farm Law on the skirt OF
the great estate of - and this
nobleman had fixed an envious eye
upon Its scanty fields, as King Ahab
did long before on Naboth's vine
yard. Their owner, prizing the spot
rs having been the home of his fore
fathers, refused 10 sell it TO the Count.
From that hour began his persecution
One legal process was served upon
him after another. costs being run up
at every stage. IA the end he was
fairly ruined, and was forced 10
agree to sell the farm TO the rapacious
nobleman, but be bargained that he
was to remain in the house for one
year more. One day soon after this
be was standing at his gate, deep in
grief at the prospect. A wounded
hare Unexpectedly ran by, aad, with
out thinking what be Was doing, he
instinctiyely raised his stick and put
the poor creature out of his pain.
At that moment the Counts servant
came up and arrested him on the
spot, aud although he had not laid 8
finger upon the hare he was taken to
prison. There he lay for six moths
before he was tried, and when he
was placed before the judge the in
fiuence of the wicked Count secured
his being sentenced 10 two years i'm
prisonment. In the meantime his
wife and children we're turned out Of
the house and plugged into utter
poverty.
That, SIR concluded the aged
prisoner, "is my history"
but can this persecution be pos
sibles" asked his sympathizing list
ener; why is your Emperor not in
formed of it:"
"Oh. sighed the old man, getting
his broom again in motion, "the En-
peror is far away; and, besides. in a
quarrel with a nobleman poor man
like myself must be in the wrong"
Il will see the governor of your
prison. was the Dext remark.
Nay, nay. sir" the prisoner
FASTENED to say, in a trembling Voice.
pray do not try to interfere in my
favor. A person once did So, and as
the result | suffered fifty lashes. and
have had to drag this heavy chain
Do not speak for me, or shall suf-
fer for it,"
Another voice now broke in.
speaking in loud, harsh tones.
There you are again, you lazy
fellow, chatteriug away your time in-
stead of working. Have you found
another soft hearted fool TO listen to
your whining; Do you wish another
fifty lashes. aud chain and bullet
for your other legs"
The brutal speaker was the over
seer, and he raised his stick to strike
the old man. But the gentleman
PARTED the blow with his walking
cane. sending the truucheon flying
"Sirrah." exclaimed the furious
overseer, II will arrest you for dar-
ing to interfere with an official. You
are Q prisoner, sirrahf
Leisurely the stranger unbuttoned
his surtout, disclosing 10 view q gilt
tering star upon his breast. IL was
the Emperor Joseph himself. He
was accustomed, when travelling, to
walk out alone, early and late, see
ing things with his own eyes.
Mercy meIcyr cried the terror
stricken overseer, falling upon his
knees.
Away replied the Emperor
Lead me this moment to the COVER
norm
The governor sank into a panic
still worse tnaa that OF the overseer
on hearing that the Emperor had en-
tered the Jail. He, however. STAN
mered out that the blame rested with
the Judge, who was q great friead OF
the Count
"Ogreai God above. what villaiDy,"
exclaimed the Emperor. Bot woe to
him who now Injuries hair OF that
old man.
Hurryipg back to his castle, the
Emperor ordered the judge 10 be
summoned before him. The result
WAS thai the judge was put into pri-
son. where be first OF all received
CITY lsshes, answering 10 those he