The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-02-13
THE TWENTY NINTH or FEB
RuARY


Governor lighted his cigar and leabe'
back 10 hls chsir A. the secretary went Il
tie door aud admitted On old msn VIII
bad beeo patrollipg the corridor impa
tieuily
The Governor will see you nov. Mr.
Baxter, said The secreiary.
The old msu, tall. thin. aud impetnous
strobe pAst the secretary without wor,
Of ihaaks. and came straight to where ,h'
Governor pas sIlting
Al lastl be cried Il last I've got
chance TO talk TO you face 10 face II yor
only lnev hos have lonsed for this. you
would base lei me 10 hefors.
Take a seal. Mr Baxter, said the Gnv
ernor. kiadly
Ihaak You, but Ia rather stand. icpli
cd the old man. Ia fact ia r,iier walk
| don't seem 10 be able 10 III ttf stand
when ! get talking abou, the by You
know why wanted to zee You. suppose
be inquired, suddenly. fixing the Govern
or with penetrating stare.
fou wish to urge your sons pardon,
take II, the Governor answered; aud am
ready TO listen to you. have all the pa
pers here, aud be indicated bundle OF
documents at his elbow. have just been
reading them.
But The men who wrote those papers
didn't know my boy as know him, aud
they can't tell you about him as can tell
yon. He's 10 jail, and he's been there
nearly three years, and he's twenty -four
years old today for today's his birthday
but hes cply hoy for all that He is
not man yet, to be judged as a man. and
to take a mans punishment. | cant tell
You that be didn't shoot the fellow, for he
did; but he did IT In his anger and be was
sorely tempted; and what's more; he did
It 10 self defense OBJ know that wasn't
brought ont at the trial but just you read
this, and be tore open his coat and pulled
out package of papers; selecting one of
them, he thrust II into the Governors
hsnds, That's from man who sold Bow
les pistol and knife on the 28th of Feb
ruary, the day before the fight Then you
read this too, and be picked ont second
letter and gave that to the Governor with
the same impatient and imperious gesture
That's from one OF Bowle's friends, the
fellow who was with him Just before the
shot was fired. He kept quiet at the trial
and said as little As he could He knew
that | was sick abed, and so be held his
peace. But I've been at him ever since
got about again. and now I've pinned him
down. And there's the result; the truth
must prevail in the end always There
IN that letter, be says that Bowles had
that pistol on his person on the morning
Of the goth; and that if it wasn't found op
the body, it was because Bowles dropped
it as be fell The pistol was picked up
that night under plank in the sidewalk. |
II was this same friend Of Bowles who |
found it then. and be said nothing the |
cur! Even at the trial he said nothing |
But knew he bad something to say, and |
at last made him speak. He's telling the
truth now. and the whole truth. Read |
the letter and see il it isn't He hated nv |
boy, and he said he wanted to see him |
swing; but | made him write that letter
And II that isn't enough, I'll put him on
the stand, and I'll make him swear to every
word OF it,
The Governor adjusted his glasses, and
began to read the letters thus forcbly plac
o in his hands.
10 bis esgerness TO be heard, the old
man could not brook even this delay, and
~ the Governor laid down the first letter,
be broke forth again; Today's bis birth
lay. the first he's had since the shooting,
he first he's ever spent away from me. He
was born en- the Goth OF February, and he
nas a birthday only once in four years,
sud il was Just four years ago today that
be got into this scrape, and fired the shot
hat caused us all this trouble. He was
,wen,y years old that morning, for be was
born in 1864; that was the year when Gen
irant was getting ready to smash JEFF
Davis and the rebels; that's why we cal
lin Grant ont OF gratitude for the saving
II the country. Sometimes think it's a
,ity he hadn't been born twenty years be
ore, so that be could have died at Cold
iarbor like a man. without ever having
seu the inside Of a Jail. But it was to be
suppose Our lives are laid ont for us
suppose. Maybe q boy born on the 20
1 february Is different from other boys, |
don't know. He was loved more than
most boys; know that we'll enough. {
rs raised on Cape Cod. and nv father {
ever gave me a caress; though guess he !
oged me, too. 10 his wag. But moved .
ut to Lake Eie when | was married, and /
at by the edge OF the lake We waited Z
~ wife aad |, for man child 10 be born
) US And We waited a score Of years and t
iore; and when Grant came at last. be Q
-ss our ouly child. Both bis sisters had
led in their cradles, So he was the son
I onr old age. Maybe We spoiled bin.
iteiy We spared the rod. Why, We low
4 him too much ever TO say bard word
, bin 10 the msiu be vas a good boy.
20 silA 81 times. aud skitiish - but sl
avs loving and easily led. His mother
al only TO look. aud bed jump 10 serve !,
sr. SO ve let bin do as be pleased. aud
ost generally be pleased Us. Perhaps !
ave him too much rope; I've often A
iousht 90. pos sec how nesr be came ],
anging himself But be vas good boz. Q
"a devoted 10 bis mother sissys. And
% loved hin oh hox she loved himl--
ore then she loyed ber husband. know !,
,ad ss che wss OF me. 4
Here tie old msn sioppsd 10 bis We q