The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-15

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| thing--gossip announced 1t as strug-
gle for Nellie Desmond's hand.
Joseph was led back to prison where
| he craved the God of Mercy and jus
tice to establish his innocence and
wreak vengeance on the wretch VINO
perpetrated this double murder.
The last week of his imprisonment
was fleeing fast and still no evidence
to prove him innocent Surely God
will not permit this to be consumated,
is his thought. Did Nellie believe him
the cause of her wretchedness? This
thought surged uppermost in his mind,
| Day by day he looked forward to
/ freedom until 1t became a question of
hours and not days; in order to render
escape impossible an extra guard had
| been placed on duty. This newcomer
| was not we'll acquainted with his sta
tion and he was subject to the order
| of the head guard Such items found
| their way into the newspapers which
were rife with accounts of the tragic
affair.
| The morning that was to seal Jo-
seph's fate was lazily opening her
| azure orbs when a woman with long
| black cloak sank exhausted on the
| prison steps. on her arm was Il small
| basket containing several delicious
apples, but these were laid aside as
the guard appeared. She appealed to
| him in the name Of heaven to bring her
a glass of water.
The guard, a good-natured fellow,
hastened on his mission of mercy, ana
soon returned: when she had taken
sufficient she thanked him, and in re-
| turn for his Kindness gave him two
| large apples from her basket. Having
consumed the tempting fruit his weary
head dropped on his downy cot for the
| fair adventures had administered a
| drug. which. thoung not injurious,pro- o.
| duced a heavy stupor on the consumer.
Seeing the desired effect the strang-
| er gains possession of the keys ana
casting aside the dark cloak stands
before us, a full-hedged guard.
Commencing a heavy tread along the
| corridor the new guard meets his mate
| (who thanks to a shadow, is unable
| to detect the change) and bids him
seek his needed rest till a. m. When
! the passage is cleared, the new guard
| stands before Joseph's cell and, after
uttering some low words. leaves the
| corridor for an instant and returns
with a bundle. which he passes to Jo-
| seph.
At . a. M, as was customary, the
! lights were eXtinguished. Fifteen min
utes later the heavy clang of the door
| is heard and the prison apparently
sleeps. But from out it's silent shad-
| ows two forms walk briskly. one a
| great bearded man and the other the
| lady previously recorded. When con-
| siderable distance had been traverSed
| the stranger discloses her identity. and
| there before him is the pride and JOY
of his life-Nellie Desmond
She hastily relates all that has trans
pired since that dreadful night. briefly
telling him of the malady that con-
| fined her to her room. She concluded
by stating that on hearing of his plight
she determined to rescue him from the
| Jaws of death. BY the aid of Mary
her maid, she was enabled to secure
the dsguses both now wore.
Both now poured forth the secrets
| from the innermOSt receSSeS of their
| hearts. then vows too sacred for pry-
ing ears were registered before Heaven
Joe sealed her cherry lips with kiss,
and thus they parted. Back to Il life
| of longing she goes and. seeking her
room. kneels to offer thanksgiving to
| the Father who protected her during
| that trying scene. ConSecrating her
| work to Heaven. she goes to obtain the
rest so necessary to her
Next morning she appeared at break
| fast but artfully concealed her agita-
| ton when the subject is introduced
While the search was being conducted
Nellie played her part well, and fire.
quently was cheered by letter from
her friend Jessie Shannon cher lovers 5
| assumed name).