The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-01

thought of herself but that was
ever SO. BY my selfishness and ex-
travagance brought her to pow
erty's door, and never from her lips
have l heard one word OF remon-
STRANGE or reproach. 1t was not
possible, in her loving thoughts of
me, that I could do wrong, that l
could swerve from the straight path
of duty and right doing. ..... -
"Be calm. my child, be calm"
ooh, mother, mother!'' l sobbed.
She sat iii the court during my
trial, quivering, painting, enduring
such anguish as never yet fell to
loving mothers lot, and when my
eyes met hers she strove to comfort
and strengthen me by wan. pitiful
smiles. Before and afterwards, when
my doom was pronounced, she did
not ask me if I was innocent. Such
a question would have been a treason
to love. And now, in this last inter-
view, with one hand upon my head
and the other raised to heaven, she
called down vengeance upon those
who had unjustly condemned me.
IL pray day and night" she said,
''upon my Bonded knees, with all the
strength ofmy heart and soul, Ipray
that the murderer may be discovered
before the dreadful hour that is so
near. Oh, my boy, my boy! My
darling, innocent boy!
And all the while she spoke the ap-
palling phantom was standing just
behind her, with it's eyes fixed upon
mine. Then is was that Ifelt myself
compelled to suggest the doubt, which
mercifully, had never yet occurred to
her.
"Mother, you do not believe I am
guilty, do your"
"Gracious God!" she cried, "Why
do you ask me such q question? Is
it to try me?" Am a monster that
such wicked thought could enter
my mind? Believe you guilty, my
innocent, suffering child?. No!
Though an angel from heaven were
to accuse you, Iwould not believe it.
I should know it was done for some
purpose-to try me. perhaps. as you
are trying me; but if my souls sal
walton depended upon it they could
not make me believe a thing so mon
strous, so false, SO cruel!''
The lips of the appalling phantom
standing behind her moved, and I
seemed to see the words:
''Tell her. Make confession.'
1t was not an entreaty; it was a
command. I hardened my heart,
and did not speak.
Then my mother related a strange
story of what had occurred to her on
the previous night. She was alone
in her miserable garret-yes, 1
brought her to that by my selfish de-
mands upon her. Many and many
a time has she given me her last
piece of money and gone without
food, to crafty me.
My father left her q comfortable
home. Irobbed her of it. He left
her an income sufficient for her wants.
| robbed her oft, to helast farthing,
and upon the altar of a mothers I'M
fashionable love, she sacifced it will
ingly, cheerfully, gladly. How often
has she said to me, "Here, my dar-
ling, take it, and God bless you'll"
And l took it, heedlessly, and left her
to starve. -
On the night previous to her last
visit to me here in my prison she was,
as / have said, alone in her miserable
garnet, on her knees, praying, pray
ing, praying.
"Pity me, pity me, O, Lord!" she
prayed, 'Let the truth be proclaim
ed! Punish the guilty! Bring the
murderer to justice-O, Lord Of all,
bring the murderer to Justice, and
save my innocent childY'
Then an unseen force lifted her to her
feet, and she heard a voice whisper
to her to go into the streets and find
the murderer. 1t was past midnight,
and she stole down the stairs softly,
for fear Of rousing the other dodgers
in the house, and making them Bit
terer against her than they were al
ready.
"They shrink from me-" she said;
"they avoid me. Women-mothers,
even-who once had pleasant words
I'LL lle, lolu CuclF dresses close as i
pass, so that l cannot touch them.
But they will know the truth soon,
and they will be sorry
Into the dark streets she issued,
and wandered hither and thither,
peering into the faces of the men who
slouched past her.
els this the MANI" she asked mute
ly of herself els this the man?'
And she looked for a light from
heaven to guide her to the truth.
A policeman laid his hand upon her
shoulder and twisted her face to his.
II am doing no HARM" she mean
ed. "Let me goP'
Seeing who she was, he released
her, and told her, not unkindly, that
she ought not to be wandering
through the streets at such a time of
night.
"You do not know" she sobbed
piteously 'you do not know. If you
have an innocent child at home, pray
that he may not be brought to shame
and death through mans injustice!'
He let her go, and she continued on
| hor wau Sho fol1o1yo1 nm ,,op ~