Smyrna times., 1901-10-09

tne sentence of Imprisonment Tor life
The hour is late, and he is anxious to
De at home. He has no compassion for
me. They lead me back to my cell,
and, thanks to some unknown friend
who drops ! potion in my coffee, 1
soon fall asleep. Exhausted nature can
stand the strain no longer.
| am aroused in the early morning.
and few friends come in to say fare
well. They realize the situation more
fully than | do. y short railway. Jour-
ney, Il ride in a boXlike carriage. and
the prison is reached. | answer a few
questions mechanically and exchange
my clothing for the striped dress of
convict. With an officer pass down
flight of steps and thrOugA a long corri-
dor lighted by Il single flame. l am
pushed into small, dark, ill smelling
cell and for the first time realize that
the judges last words to me were.
And the first day thereof shall be in
solitary confinement"
Everything has been Il dream up to
this moment, but the awakening is ter
rible. AS l hear the last echo of the re-
treating footsteps | comprehend my
poSitiOn-alOne in prison. 1t seems as
II | shall 90 mad. y feeling of suffOca-
tion OvercOmeS me as in vain | attempt
to cry out and clutch at the bare stone
walls. My head thrObs as if it shall
burst. The widest thoughts crowd to
my brain in confused mass. | do not
OH 1
through my veins Ike rivulets of mol
ten fire, burning the flesh at each
pulsati0n. How long the paroXysm
lasts | know not, as in the darkness
l can take no note of time, but when |
grow calm think out the course of the
trial
The long hours pass away until i.
seems as if the night has come. | find
Il can of water and gratefully cool my
parched throat. Then | seek to lie
down for the night, but the cell is too
small. The light apparently grows
dim, and in cramped position try to
get little sleep. Again wild thoughts
surge through my brain. but at last l
lose consciousness.
Again am wide awake. How long
lfaVe slept ] know not, but | am cold
and dCZc until it seems as if the night
will never end. | never experienced
one so long before. The silence is op-
pressive. There is 4 rush of cold air.
and feel that another day has dawn
ed. | remember that have eaten moth
ing since entering the prison. and also
that LOAF Of bread lies beside the can
of water clutch it ravenOusly, but
the mOuthfuls choke me. Must | 90 on.
day after day, in this prison? Is there
no help Ter me? How slow the hours
pass! Have they forgotten me in my
solitary cell, and Will it become my
grave? Oh, for the sight of n living
face or the sound of Il human voice.
even If it is but to urge me on to harder
tasks. Willingly will | work if l can
only be among other men.
After | have almost lost ALI hope of
escape | hear footsteps approaching.
At last the hour of my deliverance is
at hand. How long it takes the jailer
to reach my cell. He is walking slowly.
He halts before my door and deliber-
ately inserts the key. The bolts move
slowly, the door swings open, and
step forth. l devoutly offer mental
prayer of thankfulness. l follow NV
conductor and soon stand in the pres
ence of the warden, who grasps my
hand, saying: Il have good news for
you. You are free"
tottered and would have fallen had
an officer not assisted me. l cannot re.
alize that my Imprisonment is at an
end.
My amazcmcnt is even greater when
George Parsons comes forward. but in
the hearty handshake that follows we
become friends. His story is soon told.
He had received Il letter stating that
his uncle was seriously i'll in neigh
boring state ald wished to see him. At
first he determined to start the follow
ing day, but found that by walking
across to a junction he could take an
express train that night.
Hastily preparing for the journey, he
wrote letter of explanation for his
clerk, but it was laid in a book and not
found until his return. He found his
uncle dying, but arrived in time to re-
ceive his blessing and fortune. 1t now
became necessary for him to make a
journey west, and he left Immediately
Not until his return home did he learn
of the supposed tragedy and he lost nc
time in coming to the prison to release
me.
II have telegraphed to the governor .
the warden said, land if you gentlemen
will step in and take dinner with me
you may take the afternoon train for
home. 1t will be an unusual sight" he
added jOcularly.
But" | asked. how can we reach
home tonight? There is no train to our
place on Sunday"
He looked at me in astonishment.
How long do you suppose you have
been in prisOn?" asked the warden.