The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-21
would you let me out if you coult

"Would you let me out if you could
get the key?' he asked, one day.
She pretended to pout. "Why should
I? You'd run away and then I'd not
have nybody to talk to-"
''But if I stay here to talk to you
shall be hanged"
'Yes, but woman would rather talk
to man, even if he is to be hanged for
it, than not to talk at all"
''What an odd little creature you are,
Miss Ruth"
ssOh, you think I'm odd, do you? That
isn't very kind of you. I was in hopes
that 1 was something besides odd
Anybody can be odd"
'tBut anybody can't have your sort of
oddity."
ssOh, then, I've got the oldest sort Of
oddity. 1 don't know whether to like
that or not. Do you know that you are
the only man ever met that didn't try
to hatter me?''
ST didn't know it, but if I am, why,
must be thankful for the distinction
''Oh, you must, must you, Mr.. Sar-
casm? Why don't you tell me something
about yourself?" she asked, after a
moments pause.
81 have-I have told you that 1 am
innocent
s'Oh, that isn't anything. Anybody
can be innocent. Where do your people
| live?''
81 haven't any people"
'Well, where do you come from?"
ST have come from a place where
there was no happiness to a place where
nothing but misery and disgrace can be
expected. - -, soa .-,,,o,, 49,, toll,
that way, Mr.. Alfreds.'' 81
''And would you expect me to inspire
gayety, Miss Ruth?"
ssNo, don't think I ought to expect
that. But you are not without friends,
Mr.. A1freds. Most all the ladies in this
town are interested in you"
ssWome11 are ever interested in a man
who is about to be hanged he replied.
sob, don't talk about being hanged.
I don't see how they can hang you, you
are so nice" He laughed. 81 don't;
really don't. Now if you were some ugly,
good-for-nothing thing, it would be diff
ferent. You follow my advice: When
you are taken into court look just as
pleasant as you can.''
unfortunately, Miss Ruth, the jury
will not be composed of women
ssWell, don't you fear. I think it will
come out all right
But did it come out all right? The
court met three days later, and after a
very short trial Alfreds was sentenced to
be hanged. It was no surprise to him.
He was to meet death sixty days later,
| on the day after Christmas. 1t was
| dark when he was taken back to his
cell, and he clung to hope that Ruth
might come to console him; but the
weary hours passed and loud-mouthed
dogs bayed the turn of night. Morning,
and still no sympathetic face, no voice
of soft encouragement. Weeks passed.
Ruth was away on a visit. Christmas
morning. The day was bright. A man
came in with the prisoners breakfast.
s'Do you think the weather is likely
to change between now and tomorrow
morning?'' Alfreds asked.
| ''Why so?''
| because if it should cloud to-day
will give me my last glimpse of the sun.
Has the young lady returned?''
''No, not yet"
''When do you expect her?''
''Don't know. I'm hired to chop wood
and work about the place and not tc
listen to the news of the family
''Will the hanging be public?"
''As public as out of doors can make
| it,
'tDo you think there'll be many peo.
pie PRESENT."
"Oh, certainly. People look for amuse-
| ment during the hOlidayS''
81 must saytthat you are cold-blooded.
tAnd why shouldn't I be: why
shouldn't hate every man that's un
fortunate?"
''Why should you is the question:"
Because I served term in the pen.
itentiary.''
"What had you done?"
''Told the truth
''What, they sent you to the peniten
tiary for telling the truth?'
Eyes, they asked me if I committed
the forgery and I said that I did,
''Oh, you are satirist.'
''Well, must go and split piece OF
knotty wood Fires must go even i
Christmas do come. suppose you car
take care of yourself to-day, and as fol
tomorrow, why, the sheriff will have
to take care of YOU
He passed out and a merry voice was
heard: The prisoners blood leaped
Ruth had returned. AL smiles and air;
of gayety, she entered the corridor; anc
she was not alone; the sheriff and th'
jailer were with her.
"Mr. Alfreds," she cried, 81 have
brought you a Christmas present. Herr
is your pardon"
''Open the door, said the sheriff. Be
fore Alfreds' swimming eyes the iro1
bars were shadow lace work.
Come on into the sitting-room, saic
the girl; and she led him out
&c sat in a rocking-chair. A lons
Aassed before he said anything.
"And have they discovered my innocence,
he asked.
"No," she answered, "But let me tel