Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-07-26
maybe. I think we'd better keep quiet
about it. Yours very truly.

| WELL said Nancy, glancing over
tn, letter and it's date. that was
written the very day grandpa had his
stoke of apoplexy. l suppose that is
why it was never sent He never was
ths same afterward I wonder what
became of the forty thousand dollars9
Invent into the estate, ! suppose. Mr..
Terry probably saw to that"
Nancy laid the letter down and
went on with something else. But she
SON grew tired and shut up she old
dust trap in disgust.
There is nothing interesting in
there, she concluded, with a yawn.
1T is like everything else in this poby
oil house. Oh, dearl / can't stand
tiny longer. I won't stand It'll I'm
going to the city tomorrow
This was her own idea. While
everybody was hurrying away from
the heat and dust, Nancy was pining
TO- brick walls and the jingle of the
street car bells. The next day she
carried out her threat and left Fern
dale.
As she entered the car gentleman
get up with smile of welcome.
"Oh, Mr.. Graftonl" Nancy said gay
ly How are your l heard you were
sentenced for life to hard labor"
Is that the way you put it9" said
her acquaintance, well known cler
gyman; 81 believe they have appointed
mo chaplain of the penitentiary.
What on earth are you going fort"
Nancy persisted ut must be horrible
Fancy being shut up all the time with
a .ot of burglars and cut throatsr'
1t won't be all the time" said Mr..
Grafton, with an indulgent smile
besides some one has to look after
these poor wretches, you know"
Yes, l suppose so, said Nancy,
ruefully; but l wanted you at St.
Luke's. Do you know, Mr.. Grafton,
I've never been in Jail in my lifel"
II suppose not" said the clergy.
man, laughing.
mo" Nancy persisted, II mean
that l have never even seen peni.
tertiary. Ishould like awfully to GO
through some time"
And see all the burglars and cut
throatsa" he asked, quizzically.
Just for once. Do you suppose
could some timer"
There is nothing easier if yo,,
Ike" Mr.. Grafton replied II am go
ing over there tomorrow. and if you
would like to go along, I will take
you"
This was how Nancy came to make
the excursion, and the new chaplain
OF the Hoburn penitentiary made hi:
first round in company with beauti
full girl, whose blue eyes and COLDER
hair provoked many admiring glances
Nancy looked very sweet that morn
ing in a quiet gray gown, that set of
her slender, graceful figure to pcrfec
ton. a bunch of ferns and violets
was fastened in her corsage, and Mr.
Grafton smiled on his pretty compan
ion with quiet approval.
I'VE are just in time, it seems" ht
said, when he had spoken to the chic
warden. The convicts are just going
to dinner If you come out here
you'll see them cross the court in {
body"
Nancy followed him and theil
guide, a small boy, who conveyed
them to stairway leading down int
the court at the foot of which stood tn,
warden with folded arms, while tn,
prison clock struck H.
They will come out to dinner
now" said the boy expectantly, ant
almost at the same moment, Nancy
heard the tramp of feet on the flags O
the court yard.
The prisoners came out in thei
black and brown striped convic
clothes with short cropped heads ant
smooth shaven faces. At the sight o
Nancy's lovely face looking down a
them from the stairway, more thar
one stolid countenance lightened will
smile of pleasure, and the mel
glanced back more than once at tn,
pretty vision
Why, they look just like othe
men," Nancy thought, and then he
heart gave a great bound 4 man
pale face was lifted for a momeu
from those homely ranks, delicate
refined face, from which this mos
hideous garb could not wholly TAX
certain air of distinction The darl
melancholy eyes We're lifted to Nan
cy's face, and strange sense of rec
ignition came over her. Where ha,
she seen that face before2 Surely sh
had met that man sOmewherel VIII,
was hea The feet tramped by and tn
column moved on; but not before thi
strange prisoner had bowed his hca'
with the air of a courtier, and, Nan
cy obeying some strange impulse
threw him knot of flowers from he
bouquet.
His face lighted for a moment with
smile and then settled back into it
former shade of melancholy.
"Who is that3" Nancy said breath
lessly, as the men moved on, and sh
saw the convict touch the flowers del
icately to his lips. why is he here
, that man who bowed to me2"
THAT onea" interrupted the small
boy, pointing to the prisoner. That
, Draper He's swell, he is Used Il
be treasurer of some big company
and stole a lot of money; that's hoy
he got here"
, "Ohr' exclaimed Mr.. Grafton, wit
sudden interest, sis that Draper
Surely you have heard of him, Mis-
Stevensa He stole $40, 900 from you
, grandfather's estate"
What did you saya" Nancy CRIED