The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-11-20

you
''When court was over called in one of
my detectives. and told him to 60 to the
head of the firm where this man worked
and whose store he had broken into and
tell him that wished to see him. Then [
sent for the poor mans wife, and little by
little the story came out. The poor woman
between her sObs and tears told it all. Her
husband was a loving, hard working, in
dustrious man. He had only one object in
life. his love for his daughter. She had a
consuming ambition to become a great
musician. He had spent all the money he
had made on her musical education and had
really kept himself not only poor, but in
debt by so doing. 1t seemed that she had
almost gained her object and become not
only good singer. but fine pianist. when
she went to her farther and said that it
would be necessary for her 20 take another
course of instruction with distinguished
teacher. The poor man had not a dollar in
the world. He was only wOrkingman on
small wages, and the money required for
this instruction was something that he
could not hope to get in the natural course
of events. He brOOded over it for a few
days, talked with his wife about it and fin
the money in other directions. he came
home one Saturday night with the desired
sum in his hands.
''He was as happy as school boy. His
face was all aglow, and his eyes danced
with Joy. He kissed his daughter, gave
her the money. and told her to 60 on. Sue
cess was now assured. The young woman
never for a moment asked where the money
came from, and after the frugal supper was
over the good wife took her husband aside
and asked him where he got the money.
He evaded her for long time, and finally
suspecting that he had not come by it hon
estly. she charged him directly with obtain
ing it by false means or foul. Hour after
-Four she pleaded with her husband to tell
her the truth. He steadfastly refused. At
last, at midnight, he could stand it no
longer, and in an agony of despair he broke
down and told her that he had broken into
the establishment where he worked, taken
some valuable jewelry and pawned it. The
poor wife was half crazed. But she was a
brave woman and told him that although
she valued her daughters education and
happiness and life above all else. yet she
would not let her husband do himself so
great an injustice, and she took him by the
hand and in the silent watches of that night
those two unhappy people walked along the
streets until they reached the home of the
senior member of the firm where the man
was employed and whose store he had rob-
bed.
"The woman nervously rang the bell,
and although the inmates of the house were
asleep she remained there until at last the
door was opened. Then she took her hus-
band into the parlOr and the head of that
great jewelry house sat down and listened
amid her signs and sobS to what she had to
say. She bade her husband to tell all. and
he explained the robbery fully, told where
he had pawned the stolen goods and the
woman handed the money he had obtained
to his employer, asked him to redeem his
property and forgive her husband. You
would have thought that any man would
have been touched by the poor wOman's
sturdy honesty and tears in that midnight
hour. but this employer was not. He locked
the door of his house. dressed himself care
fully. went out. called policeman and had
the poor fellow taken to Jail. He recovered
his goods and the law was about to take it's
course when l, sitting on the bench there.
saw that there was some story behind it all
and decided to investigate it. How elO-
quently that poor woman pleaded for her
husband that day in my presence 1 shall
never forget. and how stubborn the en-
ployer who sat opposite her and Shylock-
like demanded the pound of flesh will al
ways be bitter remembrance to me.
TOLD the man That the case was peculiar
one and it seemed to me an opportunity for
mercy as we'll as justice.
"'YOu had better decide l told him.
mot to prosecute this poor fellow. He has
never before been accused of any crime.
He has worked faithfully for you for many
years. He is deserving of some considera-
tiOn from your hands and this woman. his
wife. who was strong enough not to allow
him to commit this great crime. is deserving
of his presence and support in her declin
ing years.
1.-THE woman thanked me very gratefully,