The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-07-03

Dr. Townley was not a hard-nearteu
man. but. as this was the first time he
had been called as medical expert, he
had entered the cell with his mind run
ming on the professional advantage this
case would be to him, and the nice little
sum he would receive for his opinion.
Doctors grow callous to suffering. DR..
Townley had worked hard, and was still
a struggling young physician. He had
a wife and several children to support.
No wonder he had felt important and
elated while riding down to the "Tombs'
to examine the murderer, whom he re-
garded as merely a ease
Before him he saw a man no older
than himself-a man whose broad
shoulders, massive limbs and strong,
sinewy hands suggested freedom,
space, honesty, manly labor. DR..
Townley began to feel rather uncom-
Portable. Few of us care to have our
feelings stirred unexpectedly, and this
honest face, with the heart-broken eyes,
was scarcely what the doctor had
thought to see.
John Blake" repeated the doctor, in
cool, businesS-like tones, Il want you
to tell me as carefully and as exactly as
you can all about your wife, your home
life, and how you happened to commit
the murder of which you are accused,
and which you do not attempt to deny"
The prisoners expression of hopeless
misery turned into one of pitifully
eager gratitude.
do you want me to tell you about
Dolly?" he asked, in husky whisper.
A tender light frightened his sunken
eyes, look almost of joy quivered on
the poor worn face.
The doctor seated himself upon ihe
little stool near the mans wretched
bed. go on" he said, quietly; "that is
Just what l want to know. Tell me all
about Dolly"
AS John Blake raised his head there
was no longer anything dull or heavy
in his face; the burrows of pain We're
smoothed and softened. AS he spoke,
his eyes became dreamy and his voice
gentle, as when big man speaks to a
child.
my Dolly" he began-he had forgot
ten his prison, he had forgotten his
crime-"Dolly used to go out by the day
dressmakin' and all kinds of SEWN be-
fore married her. She was the sweet
est little body. She had big, soft blue
eyes and pink cheeks, the whitest fore
head, and head all covered with cum
MIN brown curls. How her color used
to come and GO when l began to tell her
how pretty she was and how much l
loved her!" He paused. He was look
ing at Dolly.
How did you earn a living?" asked
the doctor.
I'm bricklayer," the dull voice an
swered. "One day, comm home from
work, bought lot of red roses from a
man who had basket of them on the
corner of Twenty-third street. / was
walkin' along with the flowers in my
hand, thinkin' about Dolly. as 1 always
have done. and always will. All of a
sudden there she was, with her face all
smiles an dimples, right before my
eyes.
Eve always loved red roses since that
day-that blessed day when she put her
hand in my big rough one, and let me
keep it there while we walked down
Third avenue that lovely spring evenin'.
well. though a bride oughter have
white flowers. Dolly knew what 1
meant when gave her big bunch of
them same red roses on our weddin'
day. 1 can see her fingers now as they
broke off the stem of one OF them to
fasten the rose on my coat.
There never was such a pretty bride,
The boys turned out in their best
clothes to see me married. and not
one of them fellers but said that she
was the most perfect little Pictnr' a