The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-07-27

uttered his time worn jest
about liking me so well that
he was glad to see the last OF
me. It was the handshakc OF Il politi
clan, the wit of one who repeats an ole
Toast that has done duty in innumer
able companies. Yet 4 little later
when the last formalitics were Gone
and 1 was as free as any man, he spoke
with a near affectation of sincerity.
M"Make your life worth living" he
Eaid. you're young and strong. You
ought to be happy, and l hope you will
be-
iS"When l am happy" was my answer
gyou shall know of it. l will send
Some one here to tell you. l will send
the man for whose crime have suf
Tered"
k'fd drop all that if l were you,," said
he. ..There's nothing in it."
sThe man did not believe in my limo
cence or credit me with real purpose
TO solve'the mystery of my unjust deg
radiation and torture. His opinion was
Of no consequence to me. 1t had al
ways been the same. Yet his words
discouraged me, hardly know why
perhaps because they We're the last to
be spoken as l went forth alone.
l was bitterly resentful of that lone.
Illness. My few friends in the city had
seemed so loyal in the early days and
most of them almost to the very last
Only few weeks before my release
had received word of Il feast that
would be spread for me. The girl
had cared for so very much had writ
ten that she was counting the days.
And then they had all fallen away
from me at the end. | could fancy how
one after the other had rccoiled from
the ordeal of meeting Il convict till
there was no one left to eat the feast
with me. l had a singular vision of Il
table, amply spread and surrounded by
vacant chairs, as | walked away from
the walls that had restrained me dur
ing those two interminablc years. AS
for poor little sweetheart, it was her
parents doing, no doubt. They had hu-
morcd her Whim for awhile and at the
last had fled in panic, taking her with
them. Even the lawyer | had hired
had deserted me. Truly l was begin
ming my fight for vindication single
handed.
The energy was all gone out of me.
felt an actual desire to give up, to drift
away out of sight-a desire like the
longing for sleep that comes to one who
is freezing.
At the railroad station | experienced
n certain timidity at first. but it quick
ly passed away Plainly no one mark I
me for freed prisoner. Some of the
men scanned me with cnviOuS curioSi-
ty, for | was exceptionally well dress
ed. \ pretty woman who Glanced to
be beside me at the window of the tick
ct Office thanked me for some trihinG
courtesy in manner that was very
flattcring.
The experience was so agreeable that
] put myself in the way Of assisting
her again as we were getting aboard
the train. There were no seats in the
parlor car, and we were obliged to 90
forward into an ordinary coach, where
we sat down side by side. | felt my
self drifting into chance acquaint-
ancc, and | must confess that the sen.
sation was distinctly pleasant.
Here WIS person who had no share
in my past. Indeed. one has no need of
any past at all in such an experience.
The chief pleasure Of it is in the sense
of absolute beginning.
"This is somewhat informal" | be-
gan awlwN"Nly, for We couldn't sit to-
gether without talking after we had
once begun.
81 don't mind that in the least" said
she. Il trust my instinct in such mat
tiers. One should know the riSht kind
of people from thr others
fancicd eat she mi-lt have clHss"d
eX-convicts among tie Others" and
my conscience t..i"d to send me forward
into the smoking car, but refused
obedience. My utmost concession 10
honesty was to offer her my card. 1t