The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-02
CONVICT NUMBER 2,319.
A Song, a Memory and a Changed
Life.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER l.
A pretentiOus mansion, pleasantly Sc
down in the midst of spacious ground:
beyond the noise and crowds of the grea
city; the well-kept lawns, neatly trimmel
hedges and smOoth-rolled carriage ways
the primness and orderly arrangement o
which are just visible in the gathering
darkness, evidence the taste and wealth o
the owner. The long lines of magnifcen
elms which mark tae boundaries of tn.
drive, venerable in their age and grandly
massive in their size, lend an air of stability
TO the whole. and here and there dense
masses of shrubbery give variety to the
surroundings of the stately but snowy old
mansion. \ young moon. sailing swiftly
across cloudy sky, casts ghostly shadows
as she pIunSeS In and out of heavy banks
of clouds. Lights shine through all the
windows of the mansion, within which
There Is revel tonight, and here, in rooms
bright with the flashing light from rich
chandeliers, III an atmosphere heavy with
the mingled perfume of thousands of
flowers, youth and beauty and wealth and
fashion are assembled.
There IS music and joyous laughter, and
occasionally exquisite snatches of song, and
these sounds float out through the open
windows and break the silence which
broods over the scene. In the company
which throngs the parlOrS are to be found
men and women famous in their respective
walks in life-in the professions. in art, in
politics and the ranks of commeISc and
finance. The hostess, the wife of one of
the most noted luriSts of the day, beams
with satisfaction as she stands to receive
her guests. or moves from group to group.
making presentations or suggesting topics
of conversation where interest seems to
flag, for her reception is a success.
Presently, emerging from the groups,
she leads to the piano a fair young girl,
whose appearance causes a murmur of
applause, for she is at once recognized as
one whose artistic triumphs as an amateur
are at this hour on every tongue. As she
seats herself at the instrument and lets
her fingers run over the keys with the ap-
parent careleSsness that is born of com
plete mastery of the art, she strikes the
signal for a lull in the hum of conversa-
tion, and the guests gather about her in
expect4nt eagerneSS. Then, as the silence
of rapt attention settles down on the room
full of people, the artist sounds brilliant
prelude. A pause of a moment follows,
and then the room is full of melody as she
breaks into glorious song.
Her selection is a spirited rondo, and the
fute-like tones fill the room with the fresh
ness and profusion of the lark'S sun-greet-
ing melody. There is seeming reckless
ness in the manner in which the notes are
trilled forth, mounting higher, and grow
ing fuller as the close of the composition is
reached, with a brilliant burst as the
climax, that speaks the artist confident of
her power. She is greeted with murmur
Otapproval as she pauSes, and then with
the glow of animation and enthusiasm on
her face she again begins.
But now the voice has changed 1t is still
the tiute-like warble, but dreamily and
sadly soft and low The first melody was
the carol of spring, with the glorious sun
shine. the opening buds, the sweet perfume
and balmy air ofnature's youth the second
rs the wall OF autumn, as with mournful
face she PAGES the deserted gardens, her
breath sadly waving the dropping stalks
and stirring the stricken leaves com
passionately the while her eyes rain bitter
tears. The first was the rejoicing of the
bridegroom, strong, manly and eNUberant: /:
this the mourning of the widow over dead
and buried hopes and dreary desolation
The first, the children of Israel singing to
the music of their timbrels on beholding
the long-Sought Canaan; this Rachel
mourning for her children and refusing to
be comforted because they are not.
The last is the triumph of art, and thu
singer feels it. Thought, sense and action
are all yielded TO the expression of loves
deepest and saddeSt impulses. The hostess
and guests listen with pleased attention
aAu llS GlOSc DOllJS COnSfatula-
tionS. The artist accustomed to such
compliments, receives them with we'll bred
self-poSSeSsion and retireS from the instru-
ment, and for all present the incident has
ended. And is this ali! Can it be that in
the economy of the universe such divine
gifts are to be thus lightly wasted-the in
splratlon of the poet, the art of the COM
poser, and the heaven-horn melody OF the
singer to be thrown away! Let US look
farther and see.
Out where the shadows fall deepest on
the close cut sward, ears unthought of by
hostess or guests have listened to the
singer. Crouching againSt the trunk of q
tree in the thickest gloom man has list
ened with strained attention to every note.
"A mana tramp, a vayabond-in whose
eyes is fixed look that convictS and the
hunted, whether human or brute, WAR
An auditor certainly never dreamed of by
the artist He had crept in here when the
shadows of night were coming down
Trudging wearilY on towards the citv's
lights, the seclusion of the place at
tracted him and he stole into the
deepest shadows TO rest and hide.
To rest, for he is tired; to hide, for he
is hunted. He is under the ban of the
law, he has committed crime and merits
punishment. Almost his whole life's his
tory is summed up in these words He is
familiar with the interior of courts and
prisons; more familiar with them than
with the insideS of schoolhouses or
churches. Perhaps one is the complement
of the other. The learned jurist upon
whose ground he is now treSpassing could
not better recite to you the list of offences
against property than this man. He has
been a criminal from boyhood, the records
of the courts wolld tell you, but the courts
have never asked the question you would
perhaps ask-whyl.
Fleeing the laws penalties, invoked by
the commission Of q fresh crime, he IS
seeking the shelter of the city where, in
the haunts of the most hardened criminals,
ihe will be comparatively safe from pur-
suit Pausing here, he has unknowingly
taken a step towards working out his
problem of life. The artist has sung with
In the house to the surfeited ears of an au-
-dience to whom such entertainment is
not novel, but floating out beyond them
through th, open windows her song has
reached this man crouching low among
the trees, and heedlessly and carelessly as
it may have been sent on its mission, the
accomplishment of its purpose has begun. |
Awakened from restless and fear |
haunted slumber by the first burst of song
the fugitive's earliest feeling is of annoy |
ance at being disturbed. 1t is q warm, |
balmy night, and the air is laden with the /
perfume Of roses, but he has been indiffer-