Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-10

the joy shall feel at once more returning tc
the arms of my devoted wife"
| The woman's dark eyes blazed. She leaned
her face against the bars and glared at the
| shaven face before her. elbow much money
! do you 4Fant!" she whispered
The convict shrugged his undressing
looking shoulders. 'sMoney is an after con-
sideration; l am pining for connubial felicity
| She turned and paced the narrow space.
| The warder grew quite interested in the inter-
view Asarule his duties were very monoton-
GUS. He recognized the fact that the present
conversation was out of the ordinary run.
The woman seemed to have forgotten his
presence. She stamped her foot and turned
fiercely to the convict.
''Look here" she said, twill you 20 to
America, Australia, anywheres Money will
be found"
"Certainly not" said the polite convict.
"Besides, sir" he added, turning to the
warder with an assumed air of Difference, II
believe it is a sine Qud non, mean it is indis-
pensable that for some time I must report
myself to the police once monthg'
The warder nodded.
''God help us!" murmured the woman.
Then turning to the convict, she said:
''You'u let me know when you are re-
leasedr
''Oh, yes. I'll let you know fast enough.
You'll be one of the first shall come and
see. Now, if you've nothing more to say, I'll
ask to be taken back to my dinner. Good
and plentiful as the fare is, like it warm
better than cold"
The stolid warder could not help smiling.
The time usually allotted for an interview
with prisoner had by no means expired. 1t
was a new experience to find convict of his
own free will curtailing his privilege. He
turned inquiringly to Mrs. Miller.
'Got anything more to say to hing he
asked.
''No,n she answered sullenly. The convict
made her polite bow as she turned and
walked to the door of her own den She
stood outside on the gravel for moment, and
gazed modify after No. 1850 as he was con-
Quoted by his guardian across the open space
and vanished from sight round the chapel on
the way to his own cell. Then she entered
the waiting room, where she found the civil
official who had at first accosted her.
From him she ascertained the proper office
at which the inquiry she wanted answered
should be made; and upon applying there
learnt that No. 1,0S0, supposing he continued
to conduct himself as he had hitherto done,
that is, earning the maximum of eight good
in about six months time
''Then what becomes of hing she asked.
"Do you just put him outside the gate, and
tell him to be off?'
The officer smiled. ooh dear, no. He is
asked if he has any friends to go to, or where
he wants to go to. His fare is paid to that
place. He is given a suit of clothes and a
little money. After that he must do the best
he can"
Mrs. Miller looked thoughtful ''Is there
anyone could write to and ask to be told
the day he will come out?' she asked
Certainly. II you are relation or friend,
and willing to look after him, and wrote to
the governor to that effect, no doubt you
would hear from him.
''Thank you," said Mrs. Miller. Then size
gathered up her black skirts and left the
prison. She found her cab and was driven
back to the railway station. 1t was some
time before the train left for Weymouth; so
she climbed to the top Of the Chesil Beach
and sat down gazing out over the sea. Her
lips moved, although the rest of her body
was motlonless. She was praying, and the
petition she offered up was that Heaven in its
mercy would remove from earth certain
convict before the day came upon which he
would be entitled to demand his freedom, A
SAhA oAo p oy0A AoI d tGuSlOuS woman TO
make, but after all not stranger than the
prayers offered up by antagonistic armies.
The train started at last and took her to
Weymouth. Here she obtained refreshment,
OF which, indeed, she stood much in need.
Somehow she made a mistake in the time,
and missed the afternoon train The conse-
quenee was that 1t was past eleven o'clock
when she rang the bell of that methodically-
conducted establishment, Hazlewood House.
And the rule of Lakewood House was that
no servant should on any pretence be out of
doors after half-past nine; or, unless the pres
ence of company demanded it, out of bed
after half past ten
Her masters were in waiting, and at once
took her to task. She explained that she had
missed the train.
"W hat traing' asked Horace.
The train from Weymouth, sir.''
But Miss Clauson told us you were gone
to London"
Miss Clauson made mistake, sir.n
Horace felt nettled at the idea of any one
who held even vicarious authority from
himself making mistake. So he said, with
some asperity, "This must not occur again.
Mrs. Miller"
"And," added Herbert, 'sthe next time YOU
want holiday kindly mention the fact to us
Is well as to Miss Clauson. We have a. ule
II these mattersn
Mrs. Miller curtsied, and left the room.
''She is a curious looking woman.n said
Horace II wonder if we were right in taking
Ter without a characterm