Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-20
A WIFE'S DEVICE.

dS5uihS1 biS gray Shy VI u WlubtI bNliiBub IL
first met the gaze of the illustrious man
who had been condemned to fettered life
And as the drawbridge was lowered behind
his slow and weary steps and the massive
doors swung to again when he had crossed
the threshold, he felt that he was indeed
immured forever, that it was idle TO cherish
the painful hope of escape, that his dun
geon was living grave.
The first night spent in his lonely cell
seemed an eternity in length. In vain did
he toss upon his stonelike bed and strive
to sleep, while his passionate PAGES between
his narrow walls only tore and bruised his
feet and fatigued his limbs without bring
ing on aught of that wholesome WEAKNESS
which dims the eye and benumbs the feel
ings
Never seemed sunlight so beautiful to
him, not even when abroad of summers
morn he had watched it's golden tides flood
the broad landscape that lay like pictured
beauty before his vision, as did that first
faint ray that streamed in through the
grated window and played amid the fur
rows which anxiety had drawn upon his
brow as with the rude touch of the tortur-
ing iron. Like the finger of Divinity writ
ing there n choice and beautiful blessing
seemed that sunbeam, that one, stray, gold
colored ray from the arching sky, from the
fetterless world without.
The pride and the majesty of his man.
hood came back to the captive. More like
royalty sitting in purple robes, to be ad-
ministered unto, than aught else, seemed
he to the jailor when fey hours later he
appeared to replenish the scanty table.
He could not divine the cause of the sud
den and mighty change. He could hardly
realize that the lofty and commanding
form which now seemed so proudly to
tower above him was the same bowed and
trembling one that he had half dragged
thither weary burden but the night be-
fore
Well was it for the illustrious prisoner
that his soul had grown so strong. Never
else could he have endured the severe and
rigorous treatment which was continually
imposed upon him. Never else could he
have endured the separation from his young
and beautiful wife-the fair, delicate crea-
ture that had slept In his bosom like a
flower on sunlit bank or bird in a hid
den nest, filling his heart with the fragrance
and music of summer.
But never yet did iron bolts or oaken
doors or grated windows resist forever wo-
mans will; never yet was heart so stern
but that at some moment it would have Il
kindly mood, and though months passed
on ere she gained her way her patient daily
and nightly toll was at length successful,
and one sunny morn in springtime when
the greeting sunbeam had shown broader,
brighter light the door of the dungeon
swung open, and the companion of his life
and labors, pale and thin with weariness
and care, but with a spiritual loveliness
Ill -,
pearance, appeared before his astonished
sight, and ere he could press his brow to
know whether it were not the phantasy
of a rapturous dream she fell on his bosom,
wound her soft arms about him and whis-
pered: "Thine, thine. They could not keep
me from thee"
Once immured beside him, the same love
that had sued so long and truly for that sad
yet blessed privilege became earnest in en-
deavors to set him free They had friends
enough outside the castle walls TO bear him
at once to a place of safety, but within
there was none but cold, callous hearted
guards, whom she dared not attempt u
bribe, lest discovery should sentence them
to deeper and darker cell.
But one day, when months of weary
waiting had passed, she obtained permis-
sion of the jailer to examine large chest
of books and linen belonging to themselves
the key of which had been intrusted to his
care. He tarried by her side as she drew
from it one and another article, till he was
satisfied that nothing had been smuggled
into it that could either aid to soothe or
liberate them, and then went his way with
out the least idea that through her mind
had flashed thought of freedom.
AT nlghtfall, when he drew the bolt, with
matronlike anxiety upon her brow, she
begged he would obtain leave for her to
send to a friend just outside the castle
gates and have her take charge for awhile
of her chest of linen, for though, and she
sadly smiled as she spoke the words, its
owner grew white shut up within a dun
geon, that grew gray and yellow and would
soon be ruined.
1t was SO simple request, SO womanly "A
one that it was granted without the least
ado, and early the next morn the oaken
chest was borne away-borne away, not
with linen in it to whiten in the dew and
sunshine, not with moldering volumes,
but with human form, crouched almost
out of shape, its thin white hands pressing
convulsively its beating heart, lest its wild,
loud pulses should echo forth, its pale lips
pressed with frantic motion to the tiny
breathing dperUureS WHICH Hdu Deen urlIleu
with painful toll.
Who may picture forth the weary hours
of that long, lonely day, as the captive wife
on bended knees and with streaming eyes
poured forth to heaven her prayers of love,
or who may tell how anxiously her bosom
throbbed lest the jailer should discern her
falsehood and ascertain that the roll of
linen covered up so carefully on the couch
and called her sick and almost dying hus-
band was but ruse to hide his flight till
she could feel that he was safe? 1.-THE heart
knoweth its own bitterness" Hers had a
gall no drop of which can be expressed in
words.
Yet proudly did she demean herself, when
at length the story came to light-so proud
ly, and yet so womanly, that the stern
judges, who, when first they heard the tale,
condemned her without trial to an inn
prisonment for life in the same dungeon
from which she had freed her husband, re-
Tented of their harsh decree and gave her
not only the freedom which she craved, but
laurel wreath which will be fresh and
green SO long as the name of wife is cher
ished and n holy word.-Mrs Caroline A.
Soule in New York Journal.