Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-08-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
A Prison Chaplain.

Sou, JlUl, from
my very heart, old fellow, though
how you've managed to get so fa,
ahead OF us all | can't imagine
Vicar OF s! Why it's position
even l never dreamed of, and as for
you, l always looked upon YOU. old
man, as regular prison chaplain
and nothing else. No offense, Jim ;
you know what l mean"
1t was indeed with shock of as.
tonishment and almost credulity
that l had read in my morning pa.
per, only an hour before, that the
Rev. James Bourn, NJ. A., of Bal
liol college, Oxford, at present chap
lain of the Jail ut Smithley, had been
appointed by the trustees to the inn
portant post Of vicar of s., vacant
owing to it's previous occupant hav-
ing been made bishop. S. was one
OF the largest towns of the North,
and its vicar was always a man of
Importance in the church.. The
trustees had had some of the ablest
of church clergymen applying for
the post, and that my old friend
Jim should get it-though no one
valued his gifts and zeal more than
l did seemed to me almost incom-
prehensible. Had it been private
patronage no one could have under
stood it, but public competition. and
against such competitors
Jim smiled at my words. We
were again seated in my study.
Yes, Howson," said he, 81
thought it would give you turn"
Then he relapsed into silence, but
as l saw he had something further
to tell, l simply sat waiting for it,
without speaking.
HOwson," pursued he, "you
know I've some curious notions and
secrets, don't you? You often think
them wrong, but, though not boast
ing, | generally fiud them right in
the end. You recollect my last
story and theory, don't you? That
came out all right, didn't it ?"
l nodded acquiescence.
Well, old fellow, this is another,
and it has come out all right, too,
thank God. No secret you can have
Of mine can be greater than the one
you hold, 80 | may tell you this.
It's to be between us only, and an
other who necessarily holds it but
will keep it safe enough. know
you've not agreed with me when
I've held that this dogging of pris-
oners-often only once sinned-by
the detectives after their release
from Jail is altogether bad, but I've
always said it was, and | stick to it.
AS soon as any prisoner really shows
penitence and reformation in ear
nest / do certainly think he ought to
have a chance and be left alone.
Pm certain there would be fewer
criminals"
"I've heard that doctrine before
from you, Jim, but what has that to
do with your promotion"
Listen" said he.
at was when | was at Lowmar-
ket, about eight years ago, that set
out about 10 o'clock p. M, as my
usual custom was, for walk before
retiring for the night. There is, as
YOU know, a footpath that runs all
around the Jail walls, above mile
long, and 1t was along this path al
WAYS went. The night being fine
and starlight, | took my sister, VINO
was visiting us, with me. You re,
member Muriel, a girl Of about Is
then? We walked along, chatting
oayly, until we came to the back OF
the iaII. about half mile from my
residence, and then, whether II was
owing to the heat Of the evening"
hot August day it had oeenIor
nrobably from natural weakness, tor
Mnriel was not as strong then as she
ia now, can't say, but all OF sud,
don she said, "Jim, ! don't feel
wajl qn and before / could do any
thing more she had fallen 10 'he
ground in faint
81 had fancied for some rev sec.
onds before this happened that there
was a slight noise and rustic on III. ,
other side of the prison wall o ou'
I'D act II down to rats, which were
aiwsvs about the brook which nows
aaot As Muriel fell. l heard an
pabeI other slight noise like dull iIamh1, thad,
% V", uas too anxious then to troupit
about il. / bent over ana ruTpeo ,, 81
her hands, supporting her as well az az
Iio, aonId You may guess no" ue
1 S IO was 10 hear footsteps com
iIs, ilghteu teward me, though the walker Isl
ing ing, 'o%E s'et hidden by the angle of th'
was was, Sei needed help badly; Tht me
wall: ,or was a soldier, by ai'
newco,neh, ssoa hnt he stopped suddenly OF n
seeing US and lI"9ea seemed baS ,ad''ro noticed
tnrn back. Seeing ling & observing sar ng tn,
8 situation, after a sign, n,n "e,r 20 hell
J he advanced. ] asked h'n Nv ~ house