The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-01-16

The day was now breaking, and we
could follow them easily; so, pulling
our weary bones together, we sat out
on slow trot
We had only gone a few hundred
yards when we caught sight of the poor
wretch tioundering slowly along.
AS he saw us he gave one last effort,
and, lurching forward, fell
When we reached him we found a
well-built man, with good features, and
a pair of black eyes that wore deadly
haze and looked at us plteously. He
was almost naked, and his feet were
bare and bleeding.
We kindled a dead tree near by into
good fire and poured whisky down
him plentifully.
In short while he was able to speak,
and asked us what were going to do
with him.
At the end of the first sentence we
looked at each other with a slight air
of surprise. He did not speak like
convict.
His voice was clear and well pitched,
his rhetoric perfect, and everything
about him seemed to indicate that he
had seen better days.
He noted our surprise and went on to
say: Gentlemen, you have run me
down at last, and will, no doubt, take
me back to the mines, but / will nev6,
go back alive"
We both gave start, and exchanged
questioning glances.
He noticed this, and went on to ask
if we would listen to his story.
We both asSented. and, covering him
up with my greatcoat, bade him go on.
"My name" said he, sis Wilson, and
l was convicted of a forgery and one
that really committed. l was poor
clerk in $, when my young wife
died, leaving my only child, little
brown-eyed girl, for me to take care of.
In few months lost my position, and
could not find work of any description.
Things went from worse to worse. !
pawned everything had, and was re-
duced almost to starvation. One cold
night / went TO my little attic room,
and found baby almost frozen and cry
ing from hunger.
MY God, gentlemen, it was more
than l could stand Steal? Why, l
would murder to save that little ones
life"
Here the poor fellow broke down,
and the hot tears rolled down his face
The next day" he went on, 81
forged check for one hun dred and
fifty dollars, and got the money; but
the forgery was detected, and | was
sent to the mines. My little girl was
sent to house of charity and l don't
know where she is now, but | will find
her"
Then, reaching into hisragged bosom,
he handed us small locket.
"This picture" he said, "was taken
few days before my wife's death"
We opened the locket, and such
picture. A little fat-faced cherub, with
deep brown eyes, a little red mouth,
that seemed to say: kiss me, please"
and a tiny dimple that fairly sparkled,
as if merry laugh was hiding there,
ready to ripple forth at any moment.
"I'll tell you, old man." said |, ad-
dressing Tobin, and thinking of my
little brown.eyed sister at home, ''if
you take this poor fellow back you
will have to whip your best friend
first"
Take him back" said Tobin, with a
drop of moisture in his eyes from the
cold perhaps. How much money
have you got?"
"Only four dollars, but you are well
come to that" said l,
"Well, I'll tell you what" he said,
1--WE got five. Let's give this poor
fellow a start and let him go. 1t may
be wrong, but believe in the fellow" "
The half-frozen wretch was almost
up, with look of incredulity on his
face.
my friends" he said, for believe
You are my friends, don't do anything
that wouldn't leave you with "a clear
conscience or anything you think would
be wronging your country"
This settled us, and we prepared to
get him to the station.
Tobin gave him his coat and we
started to carry him.
purchased some ready-made pants
and shoes at a crossroads store for
him The sun was up by this time,
and we met farmer going to the sta
tion that save us lift, getting us
there in plenty of time for the train.
The one that he was going on left
some time before ours.
When the train came the poor fellow
tried to speak, but the tears choked
him, and squeezing each of our hands
the poor fellow got on, and nodded us
grateful farewell.
/ had given him all my money and a
good revolver, but | didn't begrudge a
bit of it. felt that it was only an in
vestment after all, and might turn out
good or bad. If the latter / had the
comfort of knowing had done fell
low creature kindn ess.
Eighteen years passed, and my little
sister had grown to young ladyhood.
She had graduated and gone abroad
with the principal of the school and "A
crowd of schoolmates.
She had been at school four years,
and had during that time formed a