The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-12-25

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friend who drops q potion in my coffee,
soon fall asleep Exhausted nature
can stand the strain no longer.
am aroused In the early morning,
and few friends come into say fare
we'll; they realize the situation more
fully than Il do. A short railway jour
ney, ride In boxlike carriage and the
prison is reached. answer a few ques-
lions mechanically and exchange my
clothing for the striped dress Of con-
vict With an officer pass down a
dight Of steps and through long CORR.
dor lighted by single flame. am
pushed into small, dark, i'll smelling
cell, and for the first time realized that
the judges last words to me were, "And
the first day thereof shall be in solitary
confinement.
Everything had been dream up to
this moment, but the awakening is ter.
rible. As hear the last echo of the re-
treating footsteps comprehend my posi-
tion-alone in prison. It seems as If
shall go mad; a feeling Of suffocation
overcomes me, as in vain attempt to
cry out and clutch at the bare stone
walls. My head throbs as if it would
burst, the 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 l know
not, as in the darkness can take no
note Of time, but when | grow calm ]
think out the course of the trial.
review 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 I 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. realize that no farewells
have been spoken, but she must visit
me. How long must | wait before we
should meet again?
The long hours pass away until it
seems as if the night had come; | find a
can Of water and gratefully cool my
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 l try, to get a little
sleep; again wild thoughts surge through
my brain, but at last l 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; the silence is oppres-
sive. There is rush of cold air, and
feel that another day had dawned.
remember that l have eaten nothing
since entering the prison, and also that
q loaf Of bread lay beside the can OF
water. clutch it ravenously, but the
mouthfuls choke me. Must 60 on, day
after day, in this prison? 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 yptce, even Il II was
but 70 urge me ON to harder tasks; viii
lingly would work II ! could only be
among other men.
After ! have almost lost all hope Of es-
cape, hear footsteps approaching. At
last the hour Of my deliverance Is at
hand. How long it takes the jailor to
reach my cell; he 10 walking slowly. He
halts before my door, deliberately inserts
the key, the bolts move slowly. the door
swings open and ! step forth. devoutly
offer mental prayer Of thankfulnesa ]
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"
I tottered and would have fallen had
an officer not assisted me. cannot re-
alize that my imprisonment is at an end.
My amazement is even greater when
George Parsons comes forward, but in
the hearty handmade that follows we
became friends. His story is soon told.
He had received letter stating that his
uncle was seriously i'll in neighboring
state and wished to see him; at first he
determined to start the following day,
but found that walking across to juno
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night.
Hastily preparing for the journey he
wrote q letter Of explanation for his
clerk, but it 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. It now
became necessary for him to make q
journey west, and he left Immediately.
Not until his return home did he learn
Of the supposed tragedy, and lost NO
time in coming to the prison to release
me.
II have teiegraphed to the governor"
the warden said. land if you gentlemen
will step in and take dinner with me
you may take the afternoon train for
home. It 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 establishment.
Chow long do you suppose you have
been in PRISON." asked the warden.
'.About twenty-four hours"