The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-03-27

son, and when you are let out of prison, il
you'll come to me, I'll do what can for
YOU because l promised HIM when he was
dyins'-Brydell paused, and a slight
change came over Esdales face at this but
he said nothing, and Brydell turned away.
The next day but one, the court met and
it made short work with lGsdaile. The tes-
timOnY complete, and the ottenSe OF
striking an officer under the circumstances
was almost as grave as II it were iii time or
wa.
When Brydcll was called upon for his evil
dcnce he gave ii in a plain and straight
forward way, and his examination brought
OUT the fact that the alleged Black was the
son of Grubb, the marine, who had been
known TO one or two Of the older officers in
the court BryQell could not but make the
best showing he could for Esl!aic and some
thing III Esdailc's face seemed to Indicate
that a humanizing process WAS going on
,>.tniu hiIn. &c Was indeed the cunning point
in his life. Before that he had not fully
realized the wrong-dolng OF his whole life,
but finding himself on TRIAL Tor d charge
that must send him To prison save him some
awful moments of reflection.
Only day or two we're consumed III the
trial Every time that Ery,leU saw Esdaie
led forward to his place - be tried fer what
was in military morals and discipline ter
rlble Ofense, it gave nina u iceiILg q agony
He thought of his kind Ola friend, and the
tears WOGid come INTO his - n spite on
himself. Esdaie was sn%tliaHly cool, and
behaved civilly and respect l Nv to the
court.
At last the verdict was given 'nt--fve
years in prison. Everybody was surprised
at its leniency. Esdaile, when called up for
sentence was asked If he had anything
TO say.
only this, if you please gentlemen" he
answered calmly in the tone and manner of
an educated man. THE time was when
Mr.. Brydell and | were not 50 unequal in
our standing. | made a mistakc-commted
a fault, if you will-in my early youth that
has made me what l am. 1 had not seen
Mr.. Brydell since; we had both of Us been
youths together, On the night of the storm
/ stood apart from my mates watching him
and enVyinS him. Here thought /. is he an
officer. suddenly finding himself in a po-
s'tcn to reap the greatest credit, with the
admiral the captain and all the officers in
the squadron to witness it, while l, a sailor
before the mast. forced to conceal my real
name, poor and friendless. might have been
where he is. And when l went aloft l
secrecy knew what / was doing. When 1
came down on deck he spoke 10 me; / be-
lieve that he acknowledged that he spoke
impatiently and some deVl seemed to rise
up in me and I would have killed him if
could. But that has all passed. have been
tried fairly and impartia}ly and all l can
ask is tn mercy of The court
Iii the midst OF deep AMI breathless
silence the verdict was read-ftc years III
prison. Esdajie, still wearing his impressive
look, neither sroaned nor fell as men some
times do in his awful circumstances; he only
SAID, after painful pause of a few min
uteS:
tharl. the court for its very moderate
punishment ana l should like the favor of
seeing Alr. Brydell"
Brydeu was hastily sent for. He had
purposely kept out of the way; the sight Of
Esdajles misery was terrible to him. He
was found, though. and at once came in re-
Spouse to the summons.
Mr.. Bryden,' said Eslaile, in the same
composed ana reasonable voice, i have
received my sentence and nothing [ may
say or DO now can mitigate if. You VIII
therefore think me sincere when l ask
your pardon Tor my conduct and tell you
that if | live TO get out of prison l will
lead a different life. Won't you shake hands
with me, sir?
Brydru, choking with emotion, held out
his hand and for the first time III the lives
of the two young men they mel in mutual
good will
1t was now time for the Naad to sail
for home and Esdailc had to be taken back
in her before he was consigned to prison.
IL. was kept in solitary confinement and
treated vigorously bat not un.ndly. Bry-
GcH asked permission of the admiral to 20
70 Esdail4s cell every day for u few min
uje4. Trcy would talk together and Bry-
Gcu began to see that Esdajle was in
deed a changed man. These visits became
the one bright spot in I2sdaile's hard lie,
and when at last the ship reached New
York he felt that he had at least one friend
in the WOIlu.
one night some years after that. Brydell.
now one Of the brightest leutenants in
The navy, sat in his pleasant quarters
writing. His wife sat near him under a
softly shaded lamp reading. After Ions,
silence broken only by the scratching of
BrydeIs pen, he turned to her and handed
her a paper.
Read that Minna," he said, "Esdaile,
I believe is d reformed man. These people
VIII give him 1t place as bookkeeper. but
as he told them frankly his past history.
they write me if / Will SO on Esdaile's bond
fCy s. coo they viii take him. / don't be-
Meve there is the slightest danger; his
fault you know, was not connected with
money, but ! don't think it right for any
man to assume this sort Of Responsibility
without his wife's consent. So ii rests
with you whether L Shall guarantee Es-
dale or not"
Alinna took the letter and read ii carefully
then handing it back said softly: "Of course
YOU must sign it, Didn't you promise the
poor marine when he was dying that you
would befriend his boy?'
1T is you who are befrending him now"
answered BrydeIl. whenever a man is
saved there IS always good woman who
has a share in it. Between US We will
redeem my promise to dear old GrubD.
Here goes" And Bryden signed the letter.
The End.
Love and the Master.
Love. he led the Master
IN q garden lone
Where the darkness Swallowed him
With it's grief and moan.
Ard Q for him-the Master
Within that garden drear!
The keen thorrs climbed and kissed his lips
And left Their crimson there.
Love- he led the Master
From that garden dim,
And with sharp thorns in mockery
t-rca. 11al rnIInl The brow of him.