Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-30

cry OUT ana clutch at the pare stone
walls. My head throbs as il it would
burst, tho widest thoughts crowd to my
brain In confused mass, do not COM
prehend them. My blood courses through
its veins like rivulets of molten fire,
burning the flesh at each pulsation.
How long the paroxysm lasts I know
not, as In the darkness I can take no
note Of time, but when ! grow calm !
think out the course Of the trial
Ireview my past life, live over again
my childhood, watch the purling brook
that in the summer kept me from my
books; / can remember every angry
word that Parsons and have spoken,
and groan in anguish; then the days of
our courtship rise before me; how proud
was on the day Laura promised to be
mine; how happy our brief married life
had been. l realize that no farewells
have been spoken, but she must visit
me. How long must ] wait before we
should meet againl
The long hours pass away until II
seems as If the night had come; I find o
can OF water and gratefully cool Dy
parched throat; then seek to lie down
| for the night, but the cell is too small.
The light apparently grows dim, and in
a cramped position try to get little
sleep; again wild thoughts surge through
my brain, but at last lose conscious
ness.
Again / am wide awake. How long ]
have slept know not, but ! am cold
and doze until it seems as if the night
would never end. never experienced
one so long before; tho silence Is oppres-
sive. There is rush Of cold air, and l
feel that another day had dawned. !
remember that have eaten nothing
since entering the prison, and also that
loaf Of bread lay beside the can Of
water l clutch 1t ravenously, but the
mouthfuls choke me. Must go on, day
after day, In this prisonl Is there no
help for me? How slow the hours pass;
have they forgotten me IN my solitary
cell, and would it become my grave?
Oh, for the sight Of a living face or the
sound OF human voice, even il IL was
but TO urge me on to harder tasks; will
lingly would ! work II could only DO
among other men.
After have almost lost all hope Of es-
cape, l hear footsteps approaching. At
last tho hour Of my deliverancs Is at
hand. How long it takes the jailor to
reach my cell; he is walking slowly. He
halts before my door, deliberately inserts
the key, the bolts move slowly, tho door
swings open and step forth. devoutly
offer mental prayer of thankfulness. !
follow my conductor and soon stand In
the presence Of the warden, who grasps
my hand. saying: II have good news for
you-you are free"
tottored and would have fallen had
an officer not assisted me- / cannot TO
alize that my imprisonment Is at an end.
My amazement Is even greater when
George Parsons comes forward, but In
the hearty handshake that follows wo
became friends. His story Is soon told
He had rece'ved letter stating that his
uncle was nously Ill in neighboring
state and wished 10 see him: at first he
determined to start the following day,
but found that walking across to juno
ton he could take an express train that
night.
Hastily preparing for the journey he
wrote . letter of explanation for bis
clerk, but 1t was laid In book and not
found until his return. He found his
uncle dying, but arrived in time to re-
ceive his blessing and fortune. II now
became necessary for him to make a
journey west, and he left Immediately.
Not until his return homo did be learn
Of the supposed tragedy, and lost no
time in coming to tho prison to release
me.
~ have telegraphed to the governor"
the warden said, land il you gentlemen
will step in and take dinner with me
you may take the afternoon train for
home. II will be an unusual sight," he
added jocularly.
"But." asked. "How can we reach
home tonight? There Is no train TO our
place on Sunday"
They looked at me in astonishment.
"How long do you suppose you have
been in PRISON." asked tho warden.
About twenty-four hours"
"You were in the solitary forty-five
minutes" was the reply.
But it was the longest day Of my life.
-Merrimac Budget.