Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-20

accused of murder. He knew that
she would believe in his innocence, and
would come to him and comfort him.
These thoughts passing through his
mind increased the volume of tears
that were flowing from his eyes, and
he cried until he cried himself to
sleep. His sleep was filled with weird
dreams. He dreamed that he was
brought before a bar of justice to be
tried for his life, and that everything
that he had ever wronged was there
to testify against him. There was the
little dog with broken leg, the dove
with a broken wing, hundreds of little
birds with crushed skulls, and oh 30
many other things too numerous to
mention. But the most condemning
among these was a boy with dagger
drove to his heart, who said that jim
killed him.
Jim dreamed that death sentence
was passed on him, and big bird,
many times larger than an eagle, flew
down to carry him away; but just as
the great bird clasped him in its talons
he awoke.
1t was day. The sun was shining
through a hole in his cell, and he look
ed around at its bare walls, and it was
long time before he could realize
where he was. ,
"Good morning, Jim," said a kind
voice, and Jim looked up to see Mr..
Smith, his employer, looking through
the bars of bis cell.
"Oh! Mr.. Smith," cried Jim, spring
i ing to his feet, "can't you do something
for me?"
"I don't think can, Jim," said Mr..
Smith, sorrowfully. 1.-THE evidence is
so strong against you that your chance
is SLIM"
"But," cried Jim, "God knows that
I am innocent"
"That you may be, Jim; but you
have the name of being very bad
boy, and then Mr.. Kelly hearing the
cries for help, and running out of his
house found the body on the street,
and saw you running away. All this
will furnish positive proof of your
guilt"
"But, Mr.. Smith, I was the person
that followed, (and Jim's voice began
to quaver and the tears began to flow
down his cheeks) and only did it to
scare Mr.. Kelly"
"Alk that may be so; but nobody
will believe it, Jim." Saying this, Mr..
Smith walked away.
"Oh, what shall I do! what shall l
do ?" sobbed Jim, falling down on his
cot. eff 1 could only get out of here,
1 would live a better life, so that if
anybody said that did anything mean
nobody would believe it,"
care you sure you would live that
kind of life if you were free again ?"
Jim stopped crying and looked up.
1t was Mr.. Kelly, the chief policeman,
who was now standing at the door OF
Jim's cell. ayes, sir, I would" said
Jim, earnestly. "If I am not telling
the truth 1 hope I may never draw
another breath"
"Well, Jim, believing that you will
stick to your word, I will set you
Free"
"Thank the Lord !'' exclaimed Jim,
lioyfully. "Has my innocence been
proven ?"
"I knew all the time that you were
not guilty of murder; for no murder
has been committed in this town for
Is years. The boy lying on the street
last night was only drunk"
"But, why have you caused me all
this misery ?" asked Jim as he stepped
out of his cell.
"Just to show you what your pranks
may bring you to sometime. What if
that boy had been dead-murdered--
instead of being drunk Doubtless
you would have been tried aud hung
as his murderer.
"Mr. Kelly, I want to thank you for
this lesson, and ask you to forgive me
for all the mean things I have ever
done to you," said Jim, passionately.
ooh, don't trouble yourself about
that, Jim," replied Mr.. Kelly, laugh
ingly.
Now, Jim's opinion of Mr.. Kelly
was greatly changed, for instead of
thinking him the meanest man in the
world, he thought he was the best
man that ever breathed.
When Jim reached home he ran into
the house and threw his arms around
his mothers neck and said with tears
in his eyes: Mamma, I'm going to he
a good boy, with the help of God,
from this day-a boy that everybody
will love and you will be proud Of"
"May God help you, my dear boy u
replied Mrs. Stark, fervently.
And Jim kept his word. Indeed,
the improvement was so great on Jim,
and his employers confidence was in
creased to such an extent that he pro-
noted him to a position with salary
sufficiently large to enable him and
his mother to live in perfect comfort.