The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-12

Uuly u lew years Oh, anu 4 .h6FO WY
children to think of and am q widow"
She was quiet at this for a time and
did her work in a random way; then
suddenly:
What amount of money do you cal
culate would bring in interest equivalent
to your pension?"
"a thousand pounds, l said, smiling,
and believing that it would put such
thoughts away from her mind.
She dropped the clothing she held and
seized my hands firmly. ''If you were
to receive 81, 900 would you help me?
Swear it by the love you bear your
children and as you hope for their well
fare"
"Oh. yes; I'll promise that" | replied,
to humor her, for | thought she must be
a little distracted with grief.
"Rerlember, that is a solemn promise"
she said, and just upon it the bell rang
to close work, and the prisoners began
to troop to their cells.
At tbs end of another hour my duty
would be over for the night, and after
seeing all the inmates of the cells !
should transfer my keys to the night
wardress in charge and go home. When
l came to No. 1875 cell l found her
calmer, and putting her arms around
me she embraced and kissed me. whis-
pering, "Good night, dear madam; re-
member, and God will bless you." !
passed out and left her for the night,
hoping that she had forgotten her idea
of tho letter.
AS / lived outside I soon put on my
hat and cloak, which covered my prison
uniform, and left for the night, and was
o at home with my children.
Judge of my establishment, after tax
ing off my cloak, when I put my hand
into my dress pocket, to find an I'M
stamped letter, which No. IS had evil
IDENTIFY slipped there before l left her
cell.
It was addressed to a city fifteen miles
away, and my first thought was toe
stroy it and I held it in my hand ove1
the fire, but my heart gave a leap as J
thought of her child, and, looking across
the room, saw my own dear boy with
his curly head bent over his slate, anc
my hand stated. / will not burn it, ,
thought. l will wait until morning ane
think what l must do for the right; SO :.
laid it on the mantelpiece.
After we had had tea I left my LITTLE
girl of twelve to clear away things Will.
went out to buy ea@bles for the neN
day. Twas away about an hour, and OF
returning my daughter greeted me with
Mamma, I bought a stamp and posted
your letter just in time. Another min
ute and it would have been too late"
"What letter, darling, was thatg'
1.-THE one you put on the mantelpiece,'
she answered laughingly; ''and you ow
me a penny for the stamp, remember"
l sank into a seat, overcome by tn.
thought that the letter was gone, TO,
good or evil, and at the hands Of my
child.
had a restless night, and on going :
my duty next morning found my charge
cheerful.
81 know you have helped me. know
it. l have been dreaming Of my boy
and he said he was better and would
soon see me-"
Silence" / replied; 81 cannot hea
any more Of this. ! shall get int
trouble"
"No, no; you will not; and l shall
bless you all my life. But I will say ne
more," at which I left her.
Next morning before going on duty :
received by post a small wooden box. o.
opening it I found bundle of bank note,
and a letter, tho notes being in fftie
to the value of 81, 900, at the sigh
of which my knees shook under me, the
pe~rspiration rolled from my forehead
and l nearly tainted. Here was a pre-
dicament, but l soon revived and pro
ceeded to read the letter.
DEAR MADAM-My wife informs IN.
that you have consented to help her, anc
l have received a letter from her, which
you have doubtless posted, for which aid
at her desire, l inclose you what you need
with many thanks. Burn this and dc
not use the notes for some time, for feai
of suspicion; at any rate, not until yol
hear from me again. Tell my wife ont
word, Yes l ask this as a favor"
! dropped the letter in the fire, ano
tuCA, LINZ Su4Aty eAAlSi ! LIN uAC hOoOs
under a loose board in the attic floor
When | commenced duty and saw tn.
anxious mother she looked at me with
eager eyes, and as my lips framed tn,
word EYES," the tears rolled down hel
cheeks. 'tMy dear boy, then, is better; ]
will trouble no more" left her, think
ing she might, as her boy was better.
nov give up her thought of escape ano
settle down quietly; consequently my
mind became easier.
Another day passed and l left her ono.
more. All that night it was very foggy.
and next morning | was to my conster
nation informed that No. IS had escaped
during the night, having loosened the
bars of her window, and being a slender
woman had squeezed through on to tn
sloping roof of a building, down which
she had crept, thence down a ladder
which had been left by the painters, and
being then in the open yard of the prisof
she had taken the ladder to the wall, OIL
gaining the top of which some help had
been afforded from the outside, possibly
by a rope ladder. There all trace wa
lost.
Of course I was examined, with others
before the governor, but nothing could