The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-11-11

"yoM are Ogden Chalmers. Tell nc
| rrhdt IL mcdnS."
| become part of it. He had lost touch
with it, and felt that he had no longer
any share in the worlds work. AL
though he had not thought of it, per-
| haps if the question had been asked he
would just as lief have served the rest
of his days out there. The prison life
does not make man ambitious, anx-
ious to cope with his fellows.
| At the warden's office, where he must
go for his formal discharge, a woman
was waiting to meet him. Some sister
of mercy---a would be good Samaritan.
| he supposed, and wished she had not
come, but with his old instinct of cour-
tesy toward all women lie went forward
and greeted her.
| 1t was Lima Tenant.
II wrote to the warden" she said in
quick explanation. :'He told me it
would be today; so have come to see
you and to say goodby."
Chalmers stared at her, but did not
answer. She had not extended her
hand nor given any other sign of greet
ing or of recognition beyond her mere
words He tried to think why she had
come-why at all if only to say goodby
and why was she SO cold and distant? 1t
had not been so when they last met. He
looked down while he was asking him
self this, and his eye took in the coarse
suit that had replaced his prison dress.
He was not Il convict uow-but-and
slowly and fearfully the truth dawned
upon him-burned like molten iron
through all his being-sent the red
blood surging up over face and fore
head made him shrink and cringe from
this womaus eyes as he had never be-
fore from any human being's-dawned
upon him. say the fact that now and
| for all time he was an eX-convict. To
Lima Tenant, to all pure women and
noble men he was now and for all time
an outcast. He heard her words but
duly as she spoke again. He wished
that she would have mercy on him and
go away.
| 81 promised you," he heard her say
ing, ''that would wait, that if living l
would be here to meet you today. This
| pIOIlllSS udfC hCpU, yOu Cdll-
not know what it has cost me. But
another promise that made 1 cannot
keep, and because am not willing that
you should mistake my reasons and so
think hardly of me l will tell you why.
If you had not deceived me l would yet
have been your wife. If, having de-
ceived me, you had yet confessed your
wrong and asked to be forgiven l might
have yielded. But now both love and
and faith in you are dead. Goodby."
| She put cut her hand with the last
words, and Chalmers took it and held it
close i'll his own, while his poor confused
brain tried hard to understand her
meaning.
She had promised to be his wife.
No, not his, but Georges wife, and now
she would not, for "both love and faith
were dead" Love for him? No, for
George that was dead. She was talking
of George, not to him. And she thought
it was George before her.
Chalmers held her hand in grasp of
iron, so that she WINGED with pain; but
he did not see, for he was clinging,
through it, to life and hope and love.
Lima! Lima Tenant" His voice was
only hoarse whisper, but something in
it brought startled look to her face.
Look at me-" he said. 81 am not
George Chalmers. Do you not know
me2
"Yes, yes" she said, gazing at him
with wide eyes, Il know you. l know
you now. You are Ogden Chalmers.
Tell me what it means. How did you
come here:'
"Wait!" he answered, cautioning her.
"Not here-not in this place. Let us go
AWAY, outside-anywher
They went out together upon the
street into the midst of the busy life of
the city; but Chalmers forgot to look
about him at the brightness from which
he had been shut so long. There was
but one fact in the world for him now.
Lima Tenant had renounced her love
for George of her own free will. and he
was free now to win her if he could
against the world. He forgot the past,
the horrible life of the prison. the inerad-
icable taint that it leaves upon all who
have served within its walls.
When they found themselves fairly
within the busy crowd, they two alone
in it, though hundreds of their fellow
beings were about them, Lima began to
question him again impatiently.
"Now, tell me-" she said, tell me
all"
What shall tell you first?"
"0f yourself. How came you there
how long have you been there? What
does it meanT' she repeated.
81 had never meant to tell you; but
will tell you now. went there of my
own accord. have been there all these
years" He shuddered involuntarily at
the remembrance.
"Where is your brothery"
81 am not sure. We exchanged names
and places. He was TO go to Mexico"
"Do l understand? Have you been
there for his sake, so that he might go
free?"
"You understand in part. ! have
been there that he might go free. But
it was for your sake. Lima. more than
his"
= This is too terrible" said the girl;