The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1888-11-30
AN ESCAPED CONVICT.
In After Years I Am Repaid for
Lending Him Assistance.

Lending Him Assistance.
As boy, Harkens was advanced a
long way ahead of the rest OF us in
that shady lore connected with life's
career in knickerbockers. He was at
periodical intervals q scout; and we
never failed to envy him the luxuriant
switch which he wore-borrowed in a
surreptitiOus manner, from his
mothers toilet arrangements. We
envied that boy the possession of a
mother who wore a switch; and we
followed his leadership to the bloody
fray, and rescued the victim from the
burning stake, or dragged the pale
faced maiden from the lone wigwam of
the bloodthirsty aborigines of the wild
wood
Then he became a Corsair, a red
handed pirate. 1t was an epoch of
glory in the life of each and every one
Of us, when, in drawing lots, we were
allowed the glorious advantage of
sailing under his lag-a veritable
skull and crOss-bOnes, proudly defiant
from the apex of the Harkens hen
house.
Then, after the piratical course had
spent its fury, and after we had
doubly-dyed our hands in the poke
berry blood of our victims, Harkens
went upon an expedition right into
the wilds of Central Africa. How the
gloomy forests Of that wondrous re-
gion doomed up before us, as the brave
leader led US into the depths! How
we shot the fierce tiger, and lured the
gigantic elephant to his DOOM Hon.
we snatched from the very jaws of
death, and restored to happy homes,
the weak and defenceIess maidens!
That was boy life; that life which
presents itself to me, as I now sit here
in my library, like some sweet old
dream of happy days laid away in the
past-the past so freighted with
joys, and tinted with sOmber hues by
the tears of disappointment.
And HarkensP
Hushl Do not mention that name.
There is a respectable old lady living
but two blocks away-his mother. BY
her side sits tonight my wife, Hark-
ems sister. They are both highly
honored. The Harkens are all highly
honored-all but Jack, my school-boy
friend.
He is in prison. serving a six-year
term for burglary.
Two of the years have passed, and
Jack is still there; there tonight, and,
II kind slumber has not sealed his eye
lids, he is gazing into the impene-
trable darkness which crowds, COM
presses, fills his little cell like ten
millions of invisible blankets, crush
ing the life out of him, and rearing
in his dreams sad phantoms, which
reproach him like visitors from the
fearful land of penitence and remorse.
/ hear a step-hers, the woman
love; the woman whose heart beats
for me, and for whom my heart throbs,
as / lay aside my pen, and rise and
open the door.
1t is only a little white face, half
hid in the furry hood, pair of brown
eyes, and lips cold with the kiss Of
the night-air-nOw warmed to red
again by my kisses.
Little woman, your hands are like
ice. Come TO the fire and warm-no;
you can not. The fire has gone out.
Now l want you to go right to your
room and thaw out. You-see here,
Claire, what is the matter? Your
teeth are chatteriug like castanets,
and you tremble from head to foot"
Dear and she placed her chill
hands upon my lips, looked around, as
though she feared that the familiar
walls had ears. Jack is outr'
If she had told me that Jack was
dead, / couldn't have been more dumb
founded. Sing Sing is strong, and
holds many a laddie safe and sound
from the encroachments of the great,
big, free world. Yet men have es-
capped its iron doors and walls of stone
but few have escaped to live a life
OF freedom in this great world Of ours;
for the law, like the monster octopus Of
the Caribbean Sea, reaches out its innu-
merablc tentacles, one after the other.
20 draw it's victim back into its terri
bic embvace-terriblo alone to the evil
doer, but "a safeguard to which all of
good intent and lawful action look to
with emotions OF protection.
Jack, escaped? How did YOU learn
of itP' 1 asked, as l drew the SILVER
ing little woman TO me, and wound n
heavy coat about her.
prom his own lips"
What And you have seen himP''
] interrupted, more astonished than
ever.
Yes, at mother s-but the officers
will soon have him back again, un-
less"
"Wen, unless whatP"
"Uulcss you help him
"Why, my dear. that is a fearful
thina TO do. A man who holds the
position that / do in the business
world. assist an ESCAPED convict
Don't say TO- dear. Yes, l know
Jack IS what you say. II has broken
mothers heart; and but for you, my
dear 7 should die Of shame. Jack 10