The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-29
4 STORM ASHORE.
BY JAMES H. Connolly.


nervoUsly examining his hands.
Fool" said the old man, with con-
tempt, did you think l meant red drops
that human eyes could see? No. But in
the sight of God they are dripping with
the stains OF a fou murder. / read your
guilt in your skulking eyes, your impu-
dent assumption of brazen enrontery.
your falsshoods. All. you will not get out
of this hole as easily as you pretend to
think. There is but one road open from
here before you.
What is that. tather?" asked Silas,
tremblinQly, for he had already begun to
lose the fictitious nerve that had hitherto
sustained him.
The galloWs" responded the grim old
man, sternly.
''Oh. for the Lords sake, don't talk like
that" pleaded the young wretch, with
piteous howl. Its all your fault. any
way You wouldn't let me have any
more money, and 1 was hard up. You
told me the Van Deusts bad a mint OF
money, | didn't mean to harm anybody,
bu, ne jumped out of bed and cIinched
mo; the Jimmy was in my hand and |
was afraid OF being caught, and L Oh
my God! what have l said? You've got
me all unnerved with your cursed croak-
ing. ] didn't know what | was saying. Ii
wasn't true. l haven't been in a mile of
Van Deusts' for more'n three years. l
don't know who killed Jake Van Deust
any more'n you do. Dorm Hackstt did it.
| Why don't they hang him. curse him
and be done with it"
lie was crying, trembling The I'M
| happy father bowed his face in his hands
and was silent long time, while Sias
went rambling on:
Il can prove / was in New York that
night. There's lots of the fellers will
swear me out of IT, What if | did have
the seal2 Didn't Dorm have the handker-
chief? l know where l got it. | buyed
it one night from a stranger that got broke
in a faro bank. l can get fellers TO swear
they see me buy it, All | want is law
yer. You've got to get me one-a good
one. You will, won't YOU? Pm broke or
1 wouldn't ask you. I've had awful bad
luck lately. But I'll pay you back when
/ get out. And you wouldn't see your
son h-h-hanged, would your"
Uncle Thatcher raised his head and
looking fxedly at his son, asked slowly:
why did you come here today?"
Il don't know" answered Silas, almost
with desperation. because | am a id
fool, I suppose. l met Lem Pawlsts n the
city, and he told me about the trial, and
somehow had to come. l couldn't
keep away
And you still think that lawyer could
get YOU out?"
'Oh, yes. a good. sharp LAWYER from
New York, l know OF one that's I'D to
ell the lodges. He gets lots of the fellers
oil He'd clear me, Pm sure of it,"
And do you not see Gods hand driv-
ing you here and giving you up to man
justice? You think to contend against
His wiil2 To employ lawyer VINO shall
shield you from tho fate lie hiss decreei q?
Foolish and unhappy boy you have sown
and tbs day of harvest is nigh: the har-
vest for both of US: for you the full sheaf
OF ripe dishonor and death; for me the
cleaning OF bitter shame and grief. And
70 the Lord OF this harvest we may
neither of Us say nay"
As he spoke he arose from the cot
where he had taken a seat early in the iu-
terv!ew, stood before his son, and contin-
ued:
1t is not probable that shall ever see
you again. In due course of time YOU will
be tried, convicted, and hanged, and |
shall hear OF It all: that will be enough
for me. As lar as other people will allow
nae 10, i snail endeAvor TO forget that |
ever had a son. y GU have simply to con-
tInue, as for years past. 50 Tar as affection
or respect Tor his counsels were concerned,
in forgetting that you have father Send
me no gallows-tree messages OF psnitonce
and love. Carry your penitence, il YOU
4 have any, 10 your God; and may He in
! His Infinite knowledge and justice, gran.
/ you such mercy and pardon as You de-
/ serve
With this farewell, the wreiched father
took his departure, preserving his stern
! ness of demeanor as long as he was in his
| sons sight; but in the Jail Office without
ne gave way to his natural grief, when he
! could Tepress no longer, and much time
! elapsed ere he recovered himself sutfi-
GENTLY to go home. Silas, left alone in
his cell. threw himself upon his bed, on
his face, alternately weeping. cursing, and
| praying, in dslirium OF remorse and fear.
and no sound OF steslthy footsteps leaving
the adjoining dungeon reached his ears.