The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-12-22
SOMETHING ROLLED DOWN THE CHEEK
OF THE EX-CONVICT.


The Bright and Morning Star;
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
johnson looked stupidity about. He
saw faces lined with sin and suffering
the faces of thieves and outcasts. But
everybody was singing. He looked at
the platform. 1t was filled with men
and women dressed in curious fashion,
in dark blue costumes, with big scarlet
letters on their breasts. During john
sons prison life the Salvation Army had
sprung into existence.
He all my griefs has taken,
/ And all my SORROWS borne;
In temptation he's my strong and mighty
tower
rang out the voice like q clarion call.
And once more the poor, sodden way
farers to whom he sang answered.:
He's the Lily of the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star;
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
Something rolled down the cheek of
the ex-convict.
He put up his hand impatiently to
brush it away.
And then, half stumbling, he hurried
out into the night.
But as he fed through the fast fall
ing snowfakes he heard again the re-
frain well up like battlecry:
He's the Lily of the Valley.
Next day as he aimlessly walked
about he came face to face with man
he had known in his old life. The man
started as if he had seen ghost, and
then shamefacedly and hesitatingly ex-
tended his hand.
"Howdy do, Johnson" he said tim
idly.
"Oh, I'm well enough" said johnson
with a short, harsh laugh. "Tm trying
to get something to do. Perhaps you
could help me-"
"I-oh, novel;, you see, just now
everybody's taken up with Christmas"
eyes, so I see."
| "Of course you understand it's not an
| easy thing to recommend a-a"-
"a jailbird."
"Well, er-you understand"
"Yes, understand. l won't bother
you. I'll get along in some fashion.
I've little money. But tell me, can you
give me any news of Raymond"
swell, yes. You heard about his
failure?'
ellis failure? No."
| eyes, lost every cent year ago. Poor
as church mouse. Sick, too, heard a
few days ago. Rheumatism, believe
His wife,
eyes, yes, his wife,"
t'She's supporting him, I understand
sewing. They live somewhere on the
east side in tenement. Horrible come
down! Well, can't stand here all day.
Goodby. If I hear Of anything'-and
he was gone.
johnson stood looking after him in a
dazed fashion until gentle hint from
policeman reminded him he had better
move on.
So Raymond was poor and sick-his
revenge, then, was partly begun-and
that Christmas present?-some way the
thought of killing poor invalid did not
appeal so strongly to the Ishmaelite-
somewhere on the east side?-as well
try to hunt the traditional needle-poor,
sick, and Nelly sewing to support him
well, there was some justice in heaven,
If not on earth.
1t was the night before Christmas
when johnson strolled again into the
great rink where the Salvation Army
was holding its meetings. He listened to
the burning words which fell from the
lips of a sweet faced woman. She talked
of Gods best gift to man and spoke Of
peace and good will. Then again the
singer came forward, and again the
strains which had rung in Johnsons ears
for two days rolled to the roof. While
listening eagerly his eyes suddenly fell
upon the face of q woman who was sit
ting three seats from him. A pale, thin
shabbiiy dressed woman.
/ It was Nellyl
When she rose to go he followed her
| As she hurried away he stea1thily crept
behind her, his hand inyoluntaril,
clutching the knife over his heart.
DIP a rickety fight of stairs she went
and close behind came her pursuer. Sht
opened the door on the third landing
and went in. He crouched outside
holding his breath.
II The door remained ajar.
| He looked in and marked the poo
room, with its wretched belongings. HI
saw the bed and the sick man bolsterei
up by fabby pillows.
lis that You, Nelly" he heard Ray
mond say. u thought you would neve'
GOMEZ
"Well, John, dear, just4'an into tn,
rink moment to hear the singing. l
sounded SO sweet as came along. Her,
Is your medicine now"
Then johnson, listening, straining ev
cry nerve there in the darkness, heard
an awful groan.
y "What is it, John? the pain AGAIN.
eyes, yes. Oh, this is terriblel Nelly
/ am dying.
"No, no, dear, yeu will be better pres
entity Here drink this