Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-04
he retraced his steps; ''but in this case
-" and he rang, and gained admis-


Having taken her to his room, he
went in search of the governor Of the
jail. and the two returned together
She sprung up at the sound of their
steps. and hurried toward them.
Your name?' said the governor.
"Hester CIarke-take me to her, she
added imploringly: and without a word
or question impelled by that terrible
force Of motherhood to do her will. the
governor, calling jailer, himself con-
Quoted her to the cell where the con-
demned woman lay. Outside the thres-
hold she paused. Il must go in alone"
she said; and as the jailer drew the door
to with a clang. he saw her standing
| just within, looking toward huddled-
up heap, scarcely visible by the light of
| the evening sky. For a moment the
man without fingered, holding his
breath; but all was still; then through
| the prison wall pierced an awful cry
and condemnation. all in one.
The prisoner had crouched away at
the approach of footsteps: her hands
| pressed against her ears, her face buried
in her knees; but at the sound of that
voice, cOnvulsive movement shook
| her from head to foot.
1T was my child" cried the new
| conner, advanclnga step. and then, with
both arms lifted and held before her
eyes. the condemned woman fell on her
| knees, and dragged herself painfully
along the tagged stones, reached the
| feet Of her visitor, and lay huddled
there.
''Mistress!" she said, in a voice that
was nothing like human, ''mistressI"
For a moment the mother stood mo-
| tiOnieSs, looking down on the SOrdid
~ hD,s for Re. hoy, e.
ernable impulse Of hatred seized and
tossed her on its waves. IBis,-this
poor contemplate thing had found
power to rob her of that treasure more
| dear to her than life, for which her
heart panied night and day like Sob
bling sick child in it's deserted cradle.
xiii me. mistress,n said Janet, half
looking up, and seeing that terrible face
above her, those uplifted hands clinch-
ed as in act to strike.
Kill you'll" cried the mOther,-'One
short, fierce pang, and all over; and for
| me-fOr me-GOd may forgive you"
she broke out, with that old, deathless
cry of the brokenhearted, but never
| will"
! The woman at her feet trembled I'M
| der the sound of that voice, even more
| terrible in reality than in her dreams
| then her hand went up to what looked
| like string of dull-cOlOred knotted rags
round her throat, and clutched them
| fast.
''If you'd come five minutes later"
she said slowly, ''Pd ha' been past your
forgiveness they, tired of watching
| me, and left me alone half an hour-I
was tying the ends O. this to the bed
when L heard steps. I'd ha' faced death
ha fo0nI
P'raps if you'd found me dead, you'd ha'
found word of pity to say in ears as
couldn't hear"
There's no pity in my heart" said
her mistress, in dull, hard tone. you
had none when you killed Tiny little
baby"
"Mistress!" cried Janet, in anguish.
why wasn't that in your voice when |
put the baby in your arms first. You
thrust it away, and said you hated it.
because itloOked at you with its fathers
eyes; and il you ever took it to your
breast in love. twas when was not by
to see; an when | asked you to let me
take it to my own people you never said
to me nay, but let it go Wi'Out kiss or
look; when it was gone you missed it,
an its little ways came back OnyOu like
an old tune, an you wanted the baby
She dared to look up. but the mothers
face was hidden; she stretched her hand
and touched her robe, but from that
light contact the other recoiled-''
hand that killed my child" she mutter
ed, Shuddering in every limb.
No. said Janet, sadly, Il didn't kill
the wee thing; but | am as guilty as if [
did, and that's why pleaded guilty
that, and because twas easier to die
than look you in the face agen."
You did not kill it!'' repeated the
mother, Selling Janet's arm in grasp
of steel.
No." said Janet. Mistress, if you'll
sit down beside me, I'll try to tell you"
I She CROPPED her way to the edge of the
pallet, and with uncertain steps the
the mother crossed the cell, and sat
down beside her.
The moment had come when they
must look in each others face, and
slowly in the fading light their eyes
met.
Tell me-" said the mother, scarcely
above her breath.
when L asked you to let me take the
baby away" said Janet, looking on the
ground, ''I'd wild Thought to lay it at
it's fathers door-its father that throw
ed you aside to be happy VII his new
love, an though you'd never told me
his name, in the fever you dropped a
word here an there, an one day [ found
something by chance, an afterWard
took the baby away by your leave, but
didn't go to my own people. I'd got
two names in my mind, and one was the
Red Hall, and the other was Lowell.
When my money was all gone; [ begged
my way, but always the child lay warm
ounn mo a115 wanted nnthjno on 90 af
last, got here; but twas mistake.
An old man liv'd up at the Hall, and
the young lord were away wi his regl-
ment in foreign parts; SO ia nothing to
do but just go back to you wiz that as
you hated SO bitter, an wished dead an
out O. sight-or so thought then, as
sat down by the pool to rest, well-nigh
clemmed wi hunger, an stiff wi cold"
She shivered. then, half covering
away, tried to pierce the gloom that was
gradually shutting out from her the
motionless figure by her side.
1T was but bit of pOOl-I'd never
have guessed 'twere deep enough to
hide anytning-and more than one pass
ed by while I sat beside tan all at
once the thought came to me that I'd
lay the baby down beside it, and leave
it there-SOme one 'ud find it. and care
for it, an I'd go back an tell you it had
died; an you'd be happy, an pr'aps
your life 'ud not be spoiled after all
Il kissed the little thing. an laid it
down beside the pool, an | hid behind
the trees to watch; but no one came,
and l were just battling it out if I'd
wait till twas found, wi the chance of
my being caught and put in prison, or
beg my way back to you, when [ heard
little cry an splash, an when [ ran to