St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-22
HER PORTRAIT.
On the death watch,

All night long tramping YEARLY up
and down the Jail corridor in front of
the cell in which was confined the con-
demned murderer, ever now and then
stopping and going inside to see that the
prisoner was all right.
Thursday night Friday James Charl-
ton would be hanged. There was no
hope. Everything had been done, but
all in vain. No respite, no reprIeve, no
pardon. All the influence and wealth
of his family could not save him.
He had killed his man and he must
die.
As / tramp-tramp-tram and
down, up and down The corridor it seems
that each step L make brings Charlton
nearer the gailows.
Presently the pale face of the con-
demned murderer appears at the door
of his cell.
Come here, Burnsides," he called to
me. Il want you to talk to me-"
'All right, JIM" said l, what is it?"
49, FURNISHES. this is awful : awful!
Think of it. I'm no monster. | did not
kill Claiburne for nothing. Listenl l
loved woman, and she loved me in re-
turn. We were to have been married
within less than a week from the time
that | am now condemned TO be hung.
C.alburne came between US. lie was as
treacherous as an Indian, and acted in
| mean, underhanded way, and caused
the love of the women who loved me TO
turn to hate. l confronted him with
his treachery and he laughed in my
face. | shot MIN like dog, aud would
do it again if was hung ten thousand
times and you would. too. Burnsides.
And am to be hung for killing him
70 g n
He covered his face with his hands as
if toshu t out the awful visions which
rose upbefore him. Then recovering
himself, he went on:
Il have heard of men who have killed
men being haunted, haven't you? But
| his treacherouS face never hauntS me.
His ghost, even. would not have coun-
! tenauce enough to face me-"
He turned and walked the full length
| of his cell and back again, and stood for
! some time gazing at the floor, i'll deep
| reflection.
With quick start he looked up and
| said to me:
"Burnsides, will you do me a favor?
| I'm to be hung tomorrow, and it's the
| last thing l will ever ask you to do Tor
me-"
Certainly, l will, said |, "What is it?"
"DO YOU know where | once lived?
Where my heartbrOken mother and
sister now liYe?" lie asked.
Yes" L replied.
"Well, when you are off duty in the
morning will you go down there aud
ask my sister to look in my trunk and
send me the picture-a woman's picture
which she will find in a simple plush
case? l want to see it before | am
hung?"
''I'll do it, said, ''sure."
Now, don't forget it l wouldn't
miss seeing that picture for the world.
Say, Burnsides, it's the picture of the
woman | love, the woman l was to have
married. and have not seen her since
that awful day that [ shot Claiborne"
Tramp, tramp, tramp all night long
by the murderer's cell, till at last a
streak of gray in the east tells the
coming Of James Charlton'S last day of
earth.
1t was but simple plush case in
which CharltOn'S much-prized picture
was confined. But fearing the higher
authorities might object to It's going in
the murderer's cell, | took it from the
case and handed it to him.
He grasped it with eager delight, kiss
ing it thousand times, and finally
burst into tears.
Another of the prison guards was
standing gazing at him with open
mouthed astonishment.
He loves that picture" said / as we
walked away.
''Irs all that's left him of her." the
guard replied.
Outside the preparations for the hang
ing were going on. The reporters and
preachers were already on hand, but no
one had been admitted yet TO Charlt0n's
cell. | was assisting the guard i'll keep
ing back the enterprising young news
paper men.
Out of the throng came an aged and
dignified gentleman who, it was easy to
tell, was a clergyman. II want to go
to MI. Charlton's cell. | want to pray
with him." said he, speaking to the
guard.
'Well. sir. this way" said the guard:
The great host followed, and pressed
up to the door of the cell.
A terrible sight met their gaze.
Lying across the floor, with swollen.
obtruding eyes and frightful expression
of countenance, was James Charlton
dead!
Near him lay the woman's picture
torn across.
The causes of his death the medical
men were not long in discovering.
Some deadly drug had been absorbed
in the picture and he had killed himself
with it.
And so the gallows was robbed of