Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-11-09
VOL. XVI.

1
doors will open again to receive Jack"
'He swears he will kill himself, rather
than be retaken."
"The same old Jack, yet; if he swears
1t, no power will prevent him. If could
help Jack for your sake, for your
mothers"
81 knew you would. Harkl l hear
a step on the veranda. 1t is Jacks.
Forgive mel told him to come to you.
will go now. Good night" She
pressed a kiss upon my lips, and left
me.
Tap, tap against the blind of my Ii
brary window opening upon the ve-
Ianda.
Raising the winhow, pushed back the
blinds, and tall woman stepped over
the low sill, clumsily dragging the long
skirts after her. reclosed the blinds and
window, and turned to Jack, now stand
ing with his back to the cold fireplace.
The long dress was raised, and there he
stood in his same old posture, with both
hands plunged into the pockets of pair
of zebra marked trousers. 1t was Jack
Harkens, the escaped convict, in his
prison garb.
SCOT any cigars, Dick9 Thanks;
haven't had many cigars lately. Pm
quite a sight, am not, in my close
crop"
"You look changed. You have grown
thin" said, as l pushed a chair for
ward.
perhaps have; now, do you know,
Dick, prison life acts differently upon
different subjects2 Some grow fat, and
some thin. If man has been dissipated
before hisimprisonment, he gets fat and
healthy through forced denial of the
things which tend to make man seedy
and old before his time. One of the best
bits of advice l could possibly give to
broken down and shattered men around
town, would be-commit some crime
against law, and go and sojourn for
period in Sing Sing. On the other hand,
a man who has led a correct life, physi-
cally, 1mean, there is nothing that will
eat the flesh off of his bones, and plow
channels in his cheeks like prison air,
confinement, and-the thousand and one
constant yearnlngs to be free"
1t was strange study to hear this
man, with the marks of prison life upon
his face, right here within reach almost
of the shadow of law, calmly, philosophi-
cally discoursing the results, pro and
con, concerning a life without freedom.
Jack, you are in danger"
"Yes, perhaps; but have that about
me-this, a. tiny pellet, deadly poi
"And you prefer that to imprison-
ment2"
81 would, hence / am not afraid.
Dick, want your help. want to ask
a small loan. l am going to leave the
country"
"Then you must do it quickly. Your
very presence is fraught with danger,
danger to you, and disgrace to me-"
"Ies, | understand all that, Dick.
But you see, there was no one else, and
because of Claire, l thought"
"And you thought right. Here is
pocketbcok containing three hundred
dollars. Now-Jack, go away some
where, and, l say, Jack, you are too good
man to go down to perdition."
'No man can tell me what know and
think of every hour. l am going away
now. Think kindly if you can of old
Jack. Once in while look in upon my
dear old mother. Oh, my God! If 1
could but live over my past life! For
every tear her dear eyes have shed, I'd do
a deed of kindness no warm her heart.
But went the wrong way. And l say,
Dick, if there should ever come a little
boy to gladen your heart, don't ever tell
him anything about his outcast Uncle
Jack"
Re-arranging the dress, and again
covering his head, he stepped into the
hall, and I let him out into the darkness
of his remorse and into the gas-lighted
street.
How my creditors pressed and crowded
me to the wall. felt the good house
which I had reared trembling around
US; and my good credit, that which
had so long pointed to with pride, it was
crumbling, and l could not stay the ruin
which was progressing, and hourly draw
ing me to the procedure which l shrank
from in horror-bankruptcy.
Shall meet the inevitable like man
Shall I9-but stay; the last thought was
but an accursed temptation which must
not, as a man, contemplate. Still, it
would be so easy. A few thousand dol
lars saved from the ruins; and the border
between Canada and the United States is
tantalizingly, temptingly near. Away
with this cruel devil. | will be man
for the sake of my wife and children; a
man, even though my yoke be a heavy one
to bear. 1t may be shame, but it will
not be crime.
ga gentleman to see you,n said my
Office boy, as he poked his head through
the little window.
"Show him in," I uttered. It must be
my lawyer. The fat has gone forth
and | must brace myself for the shock.
In the morning the whole city will know
of my downfall. If ] have enemies they
will then show their faces in the broad
light; and my friends; / wonder will they
stand by me and mine, and pour out
their sympathy, for which we all shall be
30 sorely in need.
The door opened, and stranger, moi
my lawyer, entered.
The strangers throat was heavily muf.
fed, and when he accosted me l was un.
able to recognize his voice.
''May occupy q few moments of your
time, and without Interruptions
Whatever he wanted to occupy nv
time for could not tell, for / did NOT
know him, Judging from the small por
ton of his face left uncovered by the
heavy muffler and the long peak of fur
cap drawn down over his brows. I
pushed the door catch, and drew the
curtain over the small, unglazed window.
"Now, sir, please be so kind as to take
seat" | said as / turned.
1t was Jack Harkensl The same Jack.