The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-12-19

man would treat it-as a neglect of duty
which would be guarded against in future.
But the manager would not have it thus,
and regardless of the terrible injury he was
infiicting upon All innocent and unOffend-
ing man had him arrested.
From the moment the officers of the law
took the matter in hand Joe's destruction
was fOregone conclusion. and in the
mesheS of deceit, Misrepresentation and
perjury in which they encircled poor Joe.
poor Harry (whoSe only crime was that of
being friend to his injured companon).
became entanged. The day of trial came,
justice was dethroned and public sentiment.
which in its insanity knows no justice, TAX
ing her place. emptled upon the heads of
these two innocent young men the vialS of
her Oft-repeated wrong doing. They were
condemned and at the time they sat under
the spreading branches of the old oak tree
which were protecting them from the fall
ing snow flakes this Christmas eve they had
jhst been liberated from the Mountjoy prison
hell where they had undergone IL months
Imprisonment with hard labor.
Harry" said Joe as he grasped the hand
OF his diSheartened friend, will you be adj
vlsed by one who loves you dearly? will
you hearken to that sweet voice OF her
whose love for you none but Him who
hNOWS dll IulIlSS dIu lIOIll WllOIU dll UloSS-
ings flow can fathOm. she whom | have no
doubt is standing now at the doorstep of
yOnder cottage with her little fatherless
child-yOur beloved niece-with the holly
branch in her hand and ready to bedeck her
brothers brow with the ivy leaves of her
undying love and devotion; ready to press
you to her sisters beating heart. and know
ing your innocence, to strengthen you in
that sure though rugged pathway that leads
to your vindicatiOn. Listen to the noise
and tumult of the gathering crowd in the
city'S streets let us join the happy throng
and with it make merry the hearts of those
who love us.''
Joe" replied Harry, in tone of des-
peration. down deep in this aching heart
of mine there is a spot that will remain for
ever green in the love and respect bear for
you and those dear loved ones in my once
happy home which the storms and winds of
adversely can never blight or the sunshine
of prosperity ever change its verdant hue;
but in my lonely cell in yOnder prison |
vowed to be revenged. From the ruins of
all honest manhood which they have made
l will build up a structure of humanity that
will dog my enemies footsteps in the day
and haunt their sleeping hours at night, and
l will never rest until | have wiped out
their names and memories from the roll call
of the Grand Army of the Children of God.
The oath l have sworn is hazardous one,
but I'll keep it. so help me -.'
Seeing that further appeals in his present
mood would be useless Joe suggested
walk through the city which was accepted.
Down Gardeners row and passing the old
Round Room of the Rotunda whose walls so
often echoed with the voice of Irish orators
the wide arms of Sackville (now O'Connell)
street opened and received them. Passing
the pOstoffice, the initial quartet of the
O'Clock chime began to tune. The usual
crowd of idlers and merry seekers had COL
Iected to witness the oft-repeated discom-
future of the many hundreds who would
come at the last stroke of the clock to find
the trap of the early mail receiver sprung
and the open jaws of the 'tOo late' one
staring them in the face. AS the two
friends were passing by. well dressed
young man deposited some letters. one of
which fell unnOtced by the owner. One of
the by-standers picked it up, it had not
been firmly closed and Christmas card fell
out; it bore upon its perfumed face the
words: ITO my beloved sister wishing her
Merry Christmas" Harry caught sight of
the writing and for some minutes his bosom
shook and heaved with emotion. his face
assumed dead-like hue and he was unable
W pIOCeoU. Joe Witnessed tlo Change anu
inwardly thanked God. Continuing their
journey they crossed the river Liffey. which
divides the city in two. and pulled up under
the portico of the old Parliament House in
College Green. At other times and under
other circumstances what endearng men,
ories of by-gone glories would the old pill
lars have recalled. but now all thoughts
were lost in the deep ocean of present and
future personal considerations. They had
not been there more than few minutes
when hustle in the passing throng at the
(Continued on Fourth Page.)