Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-24
CHAPTER v.
THE SEAT OF THE SINNER

THE SEAT OF THE SINNER.
Six mon'hs-G00 years in reality. but
they called 10 six months-after the
painful business u the criminal court
the prisoner was allowed TO put on his
own garments. They were 80 desperate.
ly shabby that he would have preferred
the prison uniform but for the prejudice
which attaches TO 1t. His hair had been
for week or two allowed to grow. He
received the last visit from the chaplain,
who afterward quoted him as u terrible
example how mere profession Of rcli.
pion may harden the heart and make it
dead and inScnsible to spiritual infiu-
cnccs. and ut last-at last-thc prison
doors were thrown open and no stepped
oufsidc-a free man. He gasped and
threw out his arms He staggered like
drunken man. He was free.
Meditation in his cell had shown him
certain living realities. lie now clearly
understood that the game was finished.
Nothing that he had formerly done
could bc done again. lie must find ont
new way of living. He was still only
IS. He hal perhaps 20 years Of life left
AT the ridiculously low estimate Of half
n crown day for bare necessities he
must make that half crown by his wit,
with the burden Of his past history up
ON his back, load which the world
will never allow man to lay down.
He must bear IL till he dies.
a man who has trade may perhaps
get employment. If he is lucky. what
ever his character. a man who has u
rofession-especially IL that be the
sacred profcssion--if no loses his char
actcr can never find work. No name
was more blown upon than his own.
The story caught the popular imagina-
ton. There was something ludicrous in
the life Of the Rev. Paul Leighan. b.
A., deacon in holy orders The comic
and frivolous papers called him the
risky deacon: they called him the ire.
prcssiblc deacon; they called him jack
in the box; they drew pictures Of him
at various stages Of his career. He could
not. either, disguisc himself under nn-
other name-thanks to the music halls
and the variety entertainments and his
handsome. unmistakable face there was
hardly any one better known than him.
self. He had done his best by riotous
living to spoil his face. but 1t was as
yet unspoiled the fine lines and delicate
curves were there still, with those lovely
eyes which had won so many wcmen's
hearts.
OF course he had passed q heastly
time, u time wholly without comfort.
Even the services Of the chapel failed to
awaken any Of the old emotions-you
can't truly feel . religious rapture
dressed in prison gkb and sitting in q
pew all by yourself; il il absurd. He
sang the hymns because IL was . relief
20 use his voice. Well. it WINS over.
What next?
He stood outside tho prison gates ir.
resolute, despairing. He perfectly I'M
dcrstocd his own position: he had no
friends at all. By this time he had given
up thinking Of the girl who had once
loved him. How could he think Of her
out of the depths? Besides. his compan-
ions VI the music hall and the tavern
bars made IL impossible for him TO think
of her. How. he asked himself. was he
going To- earn his daily bread?
a man in rags and tattcrs leading a
child IA each hand passed along the road
bawling the ''Sweet BY and By" A
maidssrvant ran up the area steps and
tossed him penny and vanished. That
wayi' asked Paul with n sinking heart.
A string Of men crossed the road low.
CT down. They were sandwich men.
Each walked between two boards, his
face sticking ont above-cvery mans
face gloomy and black. .'Or that way ?"
he asked.
A gang Of men were working on the
road. They had brooms and spades and
were raking the mud into heaps for the
tarts tocollcct They We're broken down
wrctchcs. once prosperous or expecting
90 be prosperous. They drew . shillings
n day from the parish. They wore boots
in several stages IF ruin. but all letting
in the mud aud slush. and the day was
cold. "Or that way" Paul asked. He
was so miserable that he thought il the
best way. because such u morning work
in the half frozen mud would probably
kill man Of ut once. and so an end
Then there came along the street q
girl dressed IN n familiar uniform. She
had sweet face. not pretty. but pleas.
Ing. with bright and kindly eyes. She
saw him standing there alone and doubt
full She recognized the prison bird. She
ran across.
"Just OUT" she asked. He nodded.
waiting for fricrds;''
II have no friends-not one friend in