The leader., 1897-09-15
eesse6SV1owVv"v
!: ACROSS THE RIVER. :
9 BY N. c. SKEEh. 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


TWAS not pleasant part OF the city,
b. nortion that lay west of the
To- The streets were narrow, the
n,vements uneven, the houses small!
rnd dinoy for on that side of the river
.bo settlement of the city first began.
nearly \ century before. The river it.
self was sluggish and turbid; when low,
il smelled badly as well.
Across the river tall chimneys poured
out constant volumes of thick, black
smoke Except on Sundays one rarely
saw the blue of the sky. Snow was
never purely white across the river nor
the sunshine clear.
Little by little the city had crept over
the stream and up the low e. tern slope.
There we're the wide ,ireets and ave-
mes the great business blocks, the
handsome public buildings. One of the
largest of these last, however, remained
m the western side. The majesty of
the others would have been darkened
By it; no business man would build his
store-certainlv no householder his
home--n its vicinity.
So between it and the city's glory the
river rolled its narrow, muddy current;
the smoke of the great chimneys hung
above it Ike a pail or partly hid the
gloomy walls. Sent across the river
was said of the states convicted Grim
ilals.
One day in early autumn two boys,
one of them quite lame, crossed the
bridge and made their way through
the crooked streets toward the peni-
tertiary.
There she is, Denny" said the older
one, indicating it. 'Ain't she a whop-
per? Fifteen hundred folks in there.
What you scared at? She amt goin' to
jump out and grab you less you've done
somethln'"
The smaller boy-;he lame one-had
stopped short and was trembling from
head to foot II know it," he an
swered; but it looks so big-and So
awful"
He gathered up his courage with an
effort, limped across the street and
daddy's in here" he whispered to him
self, and, looking eagerly along the bar
rler, called, softly: Daddy, daddy"
HE can't hear you," said the older
lad, watching him with some sympathy.
you can't remember him much; you
weren't nothing but baby"
Yes, but do remember him, though.
Oh he was good-good to me, daddy
was. | wish | could see him. Daddy,
daddy"
We'll, we'd better be goin' back now
1t won't do no good hangin' round here.
You can come over again some time, if
you wanter."
i am coming-every Saturday. Oh,
wait minute, Joey, wait!"
They were near one of the prison
gates. 1t opened and man came out
'hrusting handful of papers in his
pocket as he came. Several of them
shipped from his hand and fell TO the
SIDEWALK, and as he bent to pick them
Up he had an eager assistant in the lame
boy.
Ihanky, bub-well, what is it" said
.ne man, seeing question in the boy
lsh face raised to his.
Mister" whispered Denny; "mister,
Slt-your prison?''
Mine and several million other
lolks," said the man, smiling. ats the
state prison, sonny. 1 live there, if
mats what you mean"
My fathers there" uttered Denny,
oreathlessly. Gould you-would you
yell MN that aunt has moved to town
and come here this morning-and I'm
eomin every Saturday-and give him
my love-and-"
Who is your father, and what's his
name?"
His name is Horace Menly," said
Jenny, dropping his head, for the mans
yes seemed to look him through and
what are you coming every Satur-
way Tor? You can't see him unless
H ere some older person with YOU"
mere amt nobody else" said Den
ny dropping his head lower still; "but
IN comm just the same"
lhree years. constant association
WIN criminals had not destroyed John
soseph's faith in humanity. He looked
s ae lame boy keenly over once. more.
III tell him." he said.
a. VIII you, mister-wiil you? oh,
'lank you, thank you, lots"
AS Guard Joseph returned from his
hs ,sha outside, the boom of the prison
-. a struck suddenly against the walls
~ sunk moaning down. From the
S'Asnops across the court, on their
nsy TO supper, shuffied the long file CT
m r like so,ne great, striped, slow
moving snake.
Aumber Sixty-nine was .'off his feed'
M. as hight, which means that he left the
ssm oh rare untouched. Opposite his
NE ns on the prison record stood the
'a dangerous" He was known to
-, violent man. and was always more
W. ssely watched when the sullen mood
days. uau peen TOT seserai
eh.. neres no use talking" the guard in
se OF his company had remarked
81 a S before to the deputy-warden,
tb;as s'Aty-ninc keeps up this sort of
wIsh tomorrow he's got to be settled
d.ne M right; Won settle him." the
-phsg Responded.
hasa the silsut meal ives anished the