South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-10-04

IL seems tbst do. then. What is
your purpose2
simply 10 warn you. sir.
What good will it DO YOU If dis
charge HIM?
These questions cut close, and
Skiles WINGED little rs be replied:
None at al. SIR. didn't expec,
it to-except that inward conscious
ness OF doing service. though,
you would certainly not wish 10 have
man sleeping in your house whom
you sentenced Yourself aud who serv-
ed his term ia prison.
Well, now. Mr.. Skies, to be frank
with you, don'i believe in always
putting the foot of vir,u3us scorn on
q mans neck because he was once a
criminal. There's NO reason why such
man shouldn't or couldn't reform
and lead an Honest life. I've sem
fenced many men 10 prison, but new
or had chance to do one kind
ness. l hsnostiy believe that many
criminals would rise 10 rec,i:ude If
helped. and John is one of them.
We generally try to get rid of q
stumbling horse. Judge. said Skies
with a weak laugh. il you doubt
my story call the man in and face
him with it.
THIS Was exactly Whist Judge Par
ker did not wish to do. lie believed
the story bat did no, want to give
Skles the expected satisfaction OF
seeing Johns disgi ace laid bare. A
sincere sorrow for him arose, and ne
said:
No, Mr.. Skiles, I'll not confront
him with it now.
The pe.,ifogger thereupon bowed
himself out, somewhat crestfalien
as he had confidently expected to
win the Judges inh uence in al sp-
pointment he s6pirei to. and to have
seen the criminal ANONYMOUSLY dis.
missed.
Looking after him Judge Parker
mused-I do wonder why some peo.
pile love so much more to fnd evil
than good id . person. A noble
char acter is to then as q whitewash =
ed fence against which they delight
to throw mud. / hate to tell John
of this. but SUPPOSE il must be
done.
john promptly obeycd the sum-
mons, entering respectfully and ia
quiringly. A shade Of distrust upon
tue Judges face made him uneasy,
but he calmly and with manly digni-
ty awaited the c,mmunication.
Sit down, John, the Judge began
kindly; il may bca long interview.
He complied. aud began nervously
revolving hiss,raw hat by shifting his
fingers along the edge of tue brim,
but he looked ficmly at bis employer.
JohB-your surname, is it Dorkcrp
A slight pallor swept over the hon.
est face as he replied:
1t is, sir. You lave remembered
me at last.
You expe cted me to2
l did. yes, sir.
No, l didn't recognize you, John.
said the Judge, with q note of dis
appointment in his voice. but law
yer at the bar told me who you we're
Always some one TO give fellow q
kick, TO matter how hard he's trying
10 get up.
Now, John. he says sentenced
you ten years ago to the penitentia-
ry. Is it true9
II Isl sir, was the humble reply.
Aud you served your full term Of five
years?
Lacking the time OF commutatioa
I did.
What have you done since your re-
easeP
Nothing but try, sir shifting about
from place t, place. Two trieh
hard, desperate hard, to lead an hon.
est, true life, but us up bill work
There's weight on man like me,
sir. The opening peni'el lisry door
is at the very foot Of hill. and wbeh
a poor fellow comes out and tries 10
walk up, there's always some one glad
to push him back again.
Were you guilty of the burglary?
was. sir. 1t was my 6rst CRIME.
The easy gain looked tempting and
| fell. needed money bu. ther Ell
no excuse. deserved the punish
men'. Those awful years, sir, gave
me time for reflection, and deter.
mined that when got out. with
Gods help would pick myself up
again. It's heeu hard cruelty, fear
fully hard. but haven't fallen again
I'm an honest man In my heart, sir,
il the world won't acknowledge IL.
But Why didn't you tell me this
when you camef II would have been
better.
/ suppose i. would, sir. But l was
too weak. I needed work so badly
and IL you had turned me away then,
Why
What, John?
Never mind, II you please. sir I;
you didn't turn me of.
Very veil John, I'll not ask you.
Bot you said you had a special pur-
pose in coming to me. Can you tell
me that2
John Dorker arose. laid his hat
upon the chair, AID facing the Judge
said impressively:
Do you remember, sir, what you
said when you sentenced mtp
No, ! do not.