Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-12-23


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 a 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 visit Christmas
morning. The day was bright. man
came in with the prisoners breakfast.
''Do you think the weather is likely
to change between now and tomorrow
morning?" Alfreds asked.
''Why sop
because II it should cloud to-day
will give me my last glimpse of the sun.
Has the young lady returned?"
mo, not yet"
"When do you expect her?"
Don't know. I'm hired to chop wood
and work about the place and not to
listen to the news of the family"
"Will the hanging be public?"
eAs public as out of doors can make
It."
''Do you think there'll be many peo-
pie present."
oh, certainly. People look for amuse-
ment during the holidays"
~ must say that you are cold-blooded. y
And why shouldn't ! be; why
shouldn't hate every man that's un-
fortunate?"
"Why should you Is the question:"
Because | 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?"
"Yes, they asked me il ! committed
the forgery and said that did"
"Oh, you are a satirist."
"Well, must go and split a piece OF
knotty wood. Fires must go even ii
Christmas do come. | suppose you can
take care Of yourself to-day, and as for
tomorrow, why, the sheriff will have
to take care of you"
He passed out and merry voice was
heard. The prisoners blood leaped.
Ruth had returned. All smiles and airs
Of gaycty, she entered the corridor; and
she was not alone; the sheriff and the
jailer were with her.
"Mr. Alfreds," she cried, 81 have
brought you Christmas present. Here
is your pardon"
''Open the door," said the sheriff. Be.
fore Alfreds' swimming eyes the iron
bars were shadow lace work.
Come on into the sitting-room," said
the girl; and she led him out
lie sat IN roclSing-chair. A long
time passed before he said anything.
"And have they discovered my inno-
cence2" he asked.
mo" she answered. LET me tell
you what / did. / made all the jury
men and the prosecuting attorney and
the Judge and hundreds Of other people
sign petition asking for your pardon,
and then I went all the way TO Nash
vile and made the governor sign your
pardon. Don't you think I'm smart?"
81 think you are an angel"
"No you don't-you think I'm hap
hazard rattle-trap. ! told the gov
ernor about your hair-think of talking
about mans hair-and ] said: Gov
ernor, he's got the loveliest eyes you
ever saw, but I must not talk this way,
for you amt in prison now"
He got up and stood with his face
turned toward the door. 81 must 60"
he said.
"Are you going very far away?"
"No"
"How far?"
~ am going to stay here until prove
to you that your mercy"
Excuse me-" interrupted the jailer,
stepping into the doorway, "but you
are no longer shut up"
"But he can stay TO dinner, can't
he, papa?"
"No, he'd better 60"
Alfrcds did not leave the neighbor-
hood. He was Stunned by men and
Frouyu.I unnp by xyancu now that "a,