The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-08-25

for you. 1 did not know 1t was neces.
sary. Forgive me, child, every pang I
have cost you. I asked the prison
authorities to let me breakfast with
you this morning, for knew what this
day would be to you, and I wanted, If
possible, to say something comforting
to you. Somehow, l don't seem to have
managed very well. I wish you had
some woman friend near you. wish
you had not come to the city with me-
1t makes it harder for both of us. Will
you bring the child here and let me say
good-by to her? If it goes against me,
1 shall not see either you or her again.
1 would not like you to come so close to
convicted criminal
Her arms had fallen to her side like
lead. He would not put it into words.
1t must be that he could not. She tot
tered from the room to fetch Ninette.
In the darker hall she nearly stumbled
over the two prison officials who were
standing guard at the door of the room
where she and Sibley had just got
through with that dismal breakfast.
One of the men put out rough hand
with kindly intent. He saved her fall,
for which she did not even thank him.
When she came back along the same
way, after hurried five minutes spent
in fousing Ninette and buttoniug tiny
dressing gown over her nightdress; the
sentinels were gone. So was Sib1ey.
He had scrawled a message on an enve-
lope and left it on her napkin.
81 have taken the easiest way for
both Of us. If do not come back to
you tonight leave at once for Glen
burnie. wish you had some woman
friend near you. AS for my little
daughter, Ida, all I ask of you is to
make of her as true a woman as my SIS
ter is She will send no man to the
dogs If you do that"
She sat down on a comfortless chair,
which CHANGED to be close by the barred
shutters of her one front window, aud
clasped her long white hands behind her
head. There was nothing to do but to
wait and to listen. The verdict would
be proclaimed on the streets some time
that day. The Norcross affair was
worth money to the newspapers. The
public would be eager for the extras as
they fell futtering from the presses.
How long she sat there she could not
tell. She had lost all record of time.
Perhaps it was another hour, another
day, another week, when she heard it in
the distance-thenn nearer, shriller, more
distinctly incohercnt:
'.Extray' humble, mumble-''Nor-
cross"-mumble, manufacturers your
extrar'
She opened her blinds and leaned out
To- &oS>o~-sch hoe %a Thu N
gamin caught her swift motion. He
was across the street and at her vim
dow in a second, with fresh damp
sheet held aloft- She seized it, flung
him his pay, and drew the shutters to-
gether again with hands which almost
| refused their service.
Guilty.
Two small arms were placed about
| the bent neck of her crouching figure.
s'Auntie, I loves you. I loves my
papa Where is my papa? want him
| to come here"
Ida shook her of ruthlessly. There
was nothing in life worth any atten-
ton but that dimsy printed sheet in her
lap
It was to spare her father this that
God took him But why take one and
leave the other?
s'why should I, o Lord of might and
| justice, be left to suffer what was toe
great for him to bear? Is this infinite
justice, infinite pity, infinite mercy?"
Ninette lifted up her voice in wailing.
The room was dark. That crouching
figure on the floor filed her small soul
with fear. The unusual is full of ter