Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-10-18

Almost . half score - years % the
locs iep and other little matters 20 prs
on discipline had left their inpr-ss on
Osden Chalnsrs. There were d--r
lin !. In his face and gray threads IN hi
hair when a, last the state was saiists'i
and bal declared him again fr,e man.
lle felt uo slation at the faci that b.
wa a. 20 cat inio the wuFll again 80
b-como q part - H. H. had LIT toncl
With u. AMI felt that BE- bal NJ lnuss
any .harv ~ ,hs wuflds wUFk. ~
though h. hai not thought - ~. Trr.
haps n The question hal l.sn ssk~i D.
wou,L ju.t a. lisf have ssrV-i the ~
n his days uut thcrv. The prisrn hfe
does not make q man Amhitiyus. ana
Ions % cuIe with his fellow.
~ the wAnlen's onic-, where be- must
90 ior M. formal dischargc. . woman
Ma. waiting b. meet him. Slne slsisf
q msrry-a would h. g,-.i samaritan.
b. .upt.rsl. AMI wish~i che hal Mt
come. bli with M. oil instinct of oour.
ts.y tosarl all wumen hs went forward
AMI grcsissl b.r.
II was Lima Tennant
Il wru,e a. the warden. she saii In
quick explanation. "lIs told mo ~
would he i0lay; 80 have come io So
yuu an.l a. say gos-lby.-
Chalmsrs siar-i AZ her. but dbl no,
answer. 80 hai not extended her
haul nor given any other sign of greet
ing ~ - rvc0gniiion beyond her mc.e
words lie tnol to think why she hal
cume--wly ~ all II only 30 say gorlby
and why wa. she - cold aud disianp II
hal not ben 80 when they last met. lie
look~i down while b. was asking him
.slf this. and hi. eye took Ia the coar-"
suit that hal replaced his prison drrss.
Tie Wa. not convict now-but-and
slowly and fearfully the truth dawnei
uppn him-burn.d like molten iron
through all his being-sent the rel
blool surging up over face and fore
beai-ma.ls him shrink and crings from
this woman. eyes ~ he had never te-
fore from any human being's-dawned
upon him. say. the fact that now AMI
for all time he was an er.convic'. To
Lima Tennant, to all pure women and
noble men he was now and Tor all time
an outcas,. lie heard her words hut
duly as she spoke again. lie wished
that she would have mercy ON him and
90 away.
II promised you." he heard her say
ing. ''that ! would wait, that II living
would IL here TO meet you today. This
PROMISE have kept, although you can.
not know what II has cost me. Bu,
another promise that made l canno,
keep. and because | am not willing tina,
you should mistake my reasons and ~
think hardly ~ the ! will tell You why.
n you hal not deceived me would yet
have been your wife. IL, having de-
ceived me. you had yet confessed your
wrong and asked 10 lie forgiven might
have yielded. hut now both love aud
and faith In you are dead. Goodby."
She put out her hand with the last
words. and Chalmers took u AMI held u
Gloss In his own. while his poor confused
brain tried hard 10 understand her
meaning.
She had promised 90 be his wife.
No. no, his, but Georges wife, and now
she would not. for both love and faith
were dead Love for himi No, Tor
George that was dead. She was talking
of George. not 10 him. And she thought
II was George l-fore her.
Chalmers held her hand In q grasp of
iron. -o that she WINGED with pain: but
he did not see. for he was clinging.
through IL. TO life and hope and love.
"I.ina! Lima Tenant Ills voice was
only hoarse whisper. but something In
II brought u startled look to her face.
"l.ook at me- he said. ~ am not
George Chalmers. Do you not know
me,'
"Yes. yes she said. gazing at him
with wide eyes. II know you. ] know
you now. You ars Ogden Chalmers.
Tell me what 1t means. How did you
come here.-
"waitr' he answered. cautioning her.
"Not here-not In this place. Let us ~
away. outsiaie-anywhere."
They went out together upon the
street into the midst Of the busy life Of
the city: but Chalmers forgot TO look
about him at the brightness from which
he had been shut 20 long. There wss
but one fact In the world for him now.
Lima Tennant hsd renounced her love
for George of her own free win. and he
@as free now TO win her II he could
against the world. Tie forgot the past.
the horrible life OF the prison, the inersd.
icabls taint that Il leaves upon all who
have served within its walls.
When they found themselves fairly
within the busy crowd. they two alone
In q. though hundreds Of their fellow
bsings wers about them, Lima began b
question him again impstiently.
snow. tell me- she said. "tell mo
ALL
"what shall tell you hrstY
"Of yourself. How came you there-
bow long have you bsen therss What
n a 80 - ~