The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-16


the room, saw my own dear boy with
his curly head bent over his slate, and
nv hand stated will not burn it, |
thought. | will wait until morning and
| think what | must do for the right; SO
laid it on the mantelpiece.
| After we had had tea left my little
girl Of twelve to clear away things while
| | went out to buy eatables for the next
day was away about an hour, and on
returning my daughter greeted me with
Mamma, bought a stamp and posted
your letter just in time. Another min
ute and it would have been too late!"
What letter, darling was that?"
"The one you put on the mantelpiece,'
she answered laughingly: land you owe
me penny for the stamp. remember"
1 sank into seat overcome by the
thought that the letter was gone, for
good or evil, and at the hands of my
child.
had a restless night, and on going to
my duty next morning found my charge
cheerful
ii know you have helped me. know
it. have been dreaming of my boy,
and he said he was better and would
soon see me-"
Silence" 1 replied; Il cannot hear
any more Of this shall get into
trouble"
mo, no; you will not; and 1 shall
bless you all my life. But will say no
more" at which left her.
Next morning before going on duty !
received by post small wooden box. On
opening it found bundle of bank notes
and letter, the notes being in fifties
to the value of $1,000, at the sight
of which my knees shook under me, the
perspiration rolled from my forehead
and | nearly tainted. Here was pre-
dicament, but | soon revived and pro-
ceeded to read the letter.
DEAR MADAM-My wife informs me
that you have consented to help her, and
have received letter from her, which
you have doubtless posted, for which aid,
at her desire, inclose you what you need,
with many thanks. Burn this and do
not use the notes for some time, for fear
of suspicion; at any rate, not until you
hear from me again Tell my wife one
word. Yes. ask this as a favor"
dropped the letter in the fire, and
then, like guilty thing, l hid the notes
under loose board in the attic floor.
When | commenced duty and saw the
anxious mother she looked at me with
eager eyes. and as my lips framed the
word YES" the tears rolled down her
cheeks "My dear boy then, is better; |
will trouble no more" left her, think
ing she might, as her boy was better,
now give up her thought of escape and
settle down quietly: consequently my
mind became easier.
Another day passed and left her once
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 the
sloping roof of building. down which
she had crept, thence down ladder
which had been left by the painters, and
being then in the open yard of the prison
she had taken the ladder to the wall, on
gaining the top of which some help had
been afforded from the outside, possibly
by rope ladder There all trace was
lost
OF course I was examined, with others,
before the governor, but nothing could
be elected, at which l was much relieved
and thankful, and never enjoyed get
ting home more than did that night.
Matters went on as usual and had
not touched my notes; in fact, seemed
to care nothing for them, when one
morning, about six weeks later, | re-
ceived a bulky package, addressed in
lady's hand bearing the Canadian post
mark. | broke the seals quickly and
found, to my intense surprise, bank
notes again to the value of 81 900. The
letter inclosed explained everything:
"MY DEAR FRIEND-You will no doubt
have wondered many times, with others,
what had become of No. 18. am now
in Canada with my husband and dear
little boy, who is now, thanks to your
aid and Gods blessing, quite well.
"You no doubt know how escaped.
My husband was to wait for me outside,
which knew would be the same night
on the day you gave me his message,
Yes Iexpect you thought | had given
up my idea. descended by a rope lad
der which my husband had thrown to
the top of the wall, and behind a fast
trotter was soon in trusted friends
house, clasped in my child's arms.
May you never be separated from
your children. | must tell you in CONT
dence that my husband is the third son
of nobleman, and was unfortunately
led into difficulties and got into the tolls
of lot of sharpers and forgers, and
they used him as a tool for passing
forged notes. unknowingly got one of
those notes. and rendering it, was al
rested and suffered Imprisonment for it,
as you know, and thus did not involve
my husband. was aware that when
my time in prison was over that we
should leave the country, as my hus-
band had confessed all to his father
with desire to mend, and he promised
to start us to Canada with $4,000. Then
my boy fell i'll and you know the rest.
1.-THE first notes YOU received from nv