New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-30

with his beautiful cyeS-"I am the worst man
in the world TO give you information about such
things he said slowly. "fOr only yesterday
came out of prison, and this is my first day of
Ehcrty for twcnty-G.x years"
1t was a shock. We had thought q many
tragic explanations. but never this. a convict.
And convict. too. OF the worst ordc:. for TWEEN
ty-SN years mearj a ccmmutcd life sentence,
and life sentence are not given for light Of
fences II seemed impossible 10 associate the
idea of crime with the face Of the man
seated opposite, but there was no discrodiUng
MS own words. We waited lroathcSsly to- hear
the Failure Of the offence for which Ne had been
ccm1iued-to receive Is ;urances that n mad
been WronSfully accused and was the most i'll
used Of men.
None came. Neither at that time nor through
out the hours of the Journey did he uter a
word Of excuse or generation; but the absence
OF any attempt 10 talk good" o. 10 prove that
he had been unjustly sentenced was more inn
prcSSNc than Il hundred prot tdtiOnS. and made
as feel that Ne had been fortunate III our
oh nee Of Il travelling companion despite the
SINS Of the past
1t was some time before We could recover
from the shock. but While the sad brown eyes
searched our faces it seemed brutal to show any
sign of discontinue. and Margaret managed t.
Conjuro up the ghost Of a emile as she asked
where ne had been during all thes' years.
In the convict prison at Forte F"rralo. on
Elba. sienora. ! came oul yesterday morning
after having beer there for tWenty-six years
and two months. 1t IL a long ,imr'-
"A long time" echoed Margaret i'll dismay
"TWeuty-six yel~s' Why il u longer than
haze hVed-hvc years longer am only twenty
one"
The convict gave Pickering smile Nov thai
his history was known, and that hc had sccI
that We did not shrink from hin. in consequence
he seemed to find relief III putting his Thoughts
into words.
81 was twcntyyonc when / went IN. ne said
land now | am forty-seven. An, yes! IN an
SWer to the astrniShmont on our faces. Il saw
myself u "a lookmg-glass for the first time yes
to-day. and was surprised too. For moment
7 thought ii was my father and tina; ne hao
crno to meet me. bu; he Is dead ana 1t Is
who am old. 1t seems iik" dream slShofa
that was ever young. hut II hurt 10 see inNstll
so changed. fer all these years have been look
Ing lor ward ana saying. II VIII come II WI
c. ne and when | saw my face kh"W lhal
1 was TOO latc. and that IN" oid iif' IA" gone
forever My wife VIII not Know ne
We have not seen each Othrr sine was iak.i
away. She - a pretty GIN poor NINA. iaIr
like the isiora. with IN" same hut 'Yes. but
am changed 80 one in the Nliag, viii kh""
Nircolp Cennin now
But YOU are Still young man "f iorty'
seven has plenty Of time before itin. f"u must
not lose heart just when the good tim, is AT
hand You and your wife MAY hay" AZ many
happy years together a. You have mad sad ones
apart
knows: but one always hopes The hamhIn" my
little gil she = married herself. She was toe
young. when Jeff. 20 remember hel fatn'r ~
sigrora," and the inioerabie pam o. the darn
ewes once more pierced our hearts Tn"N nave
lived their lives it may hc thai am not wei
d,
come. S"m'lIm'S nave 'n"uSh' '"'' Woul,
bc better ~ never i"'uIi'u' Du' "'' IN ','I"
one dies hard, slshora! II J. h"' VIM "'Ai''t
that tho enu VIII come ana 1" stay away "H'i
one j. f"ee-It Is not III nature.
NO. indeed. ana IL ""uId nr'tK 'h''r "''ItS
# you dld. A woman 'al i' Nti !"'E'' n'' nu
band ana your wife viii hay" taught th" 'h'o
TO know YOU. The; Will nave talked about you
together, every day al ihclf uN"S an NOW, u
penG upon il they are full "l happiness ana cA
cNemont irhSihs I"i ne NUTS a. pas " ma
tn, ,.ftNN me. h, herr,