The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1891-05-30
HIS LIFE IN PRISON.
Mississippi's Former State Treasurer
Is Broken Down.
Brave Fight Of His Faithful Wife to Cheer
Him. E.

HOLLY SPRINGS, May A.-While In
Jackson last Wednesday I spent two
hours in the Penitentiary with Col.
Hemingway, the defaulting treasurer
of Mississippi, and as we'll, had u long
conversation with Eugene Story, who
is to be hanged for murder on June 2.
It was Mrs. Hemingway's day to spend
with her husband, and the sergeant
showed me at once into his Office,
where they were seated. Having
known me, years ago, each seemed glad
to see me, and with that elegant, graz
cious air belonging to them both, l was
assured kind and hearty welcome.
For few moments the contrasting
faces of wife and husband and the
dreary prison surroundings overpower-
ed me, and could do naught but glance
from one to the other.
Col. Hemingway is changed-sadly
changed. That jovial, bright face Of
former days shows traces of deep and
lasting sorrow. His eyes have lost
their luster; in place of that happy
smile that used to tighten up his coun-
tenance there is 4 sickly semblance to
it that plays over his pale, sallow face
as he talks Of by-gone days.
There is y restless, weary look about
him. Confinement is beginning to show
it's effects upon his robust figure; there
are lines of sorrow in his face, too deep
for pardon or hardearned freedom eyer
to erase. Whatever his sins may have
been, they have, vita the prison dis
grace, about broken his heart; yet he
makes u bold effort to appear cheerful.
OF his noble, brave little wife, too
much could not be said. Refined, OLE
CANT, fascinating and pretty, now pass
ing through the deepest at1liction wo-
man was ever called on to endure, she
appeared in this prison with no trace
Of sorrow upon her fresh, youthful
looking face, and with her merry chat
and sparkling eyes you would think che
was happy. Far from it. At home q
painful sorrow turks in her eyes, and
sighs are ever yelling up from her bro
ken heart; but these are left behind
when she is allowed to go to see her
husband. This terrible strain OF con-
cealing her feelings she stands once a
week-stands it for her husbands sake
cheers him as o true loving wife
should; but when the day is done and
tshe III ssenoe out OF the prison walls b0tJ
heart and physical strength give way
and she Immediately goes to bed ex-
hausted.
During my visit, Col. Hemmingway
stepped out of the Office a few minutes.
The moment he was gone shadows
darker than those on his own face rest
ed upon hers. The eyes that had smiled
and sparkled while he was present Ill
led with tears, while her face seemed
to age and grew white in u moment.
The strain, she said, to keep bright and
cheerful before him breaks her down,
but she has never let him see her shed
a tear. II have never let him know
how deep the sorrow his children and
I suffer at home," said she; ''nor do l
let him know how economically we live,
and how hard we are trying to work.
We all try to cheer him up. His
trouble is 20 great, but" land her face
brightened) It will all come right.
We must suffer and endure this, but as
sure as you live my husband will yet
come out innocent. It will all be clear
ed away it is sure to come right"
With this hope and unshaken conf
dence in her husbands honesty, the
brave little woman bears up. For her
sake, and for tho sake Of their bright,
interesting children, and that once
generous, noble, spirited man, Col.
Hemingway, long list Of friends trust
that his innocence may yet be estab-
lished.