The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-04


for once? Will you not press your. advan-
tagc too hard? VIII you give him some
chance 10 escape the actual brand or a
felon?"
In giving an outline OF the devoted girls
words. I can convey but a faint impress
sion OF her moving eloquence. il IL very
easy looking back on such a scene to say
Pooh, poohl mercy? the thing Is alb
surd:" but at the moment Il made a sore
tug at my heart could make no prom
ise OF the kind. but I actually did show
mercy IN a way / had little doubt. after
! had got rid or my visitor, that she and
the young lady who had visited Mines
lodging and removed all his rude coming
implements were one person / could have
easily ferreted out the truth. and possi-
bly, have forcefher into the witness-box
against her lover; but | held back the
suspicion as a last resource. A skilled
agent was sent I'm 10 conduct Mines
case, and he battled me hard on the sub
ject OF "a remand. saying that ! had no
evidence whatever against the gentle
man." and stoutly demanding his release.
on bail at least 7. however. assured the
sheriff that ] had the very best OF evil
dence of the guilt OF the accused. but that
Il was not yet presentable, and my word
carried the day / alluded 10 what
thought was trump card-namcly, there
moval of the eliminating implements
from his lodgings; but. as chance had 1t
and as i had fondly trusted. that card
was never needed.
The day after his remand, another OF
the bad half-sovereigns was brought 10
the office by a provision dealer in the
Canongate and this man gave the name
and address OF the people he had got IL
from, at the same time saying that they
were worth looking after.
j went TO the house indicated, and
found i'm IL. I'm possession OF the woman,
ten counterfeit half-sovereigns OF the
same make and date. on questioning the
woman as to where they came from, she
was at first sullen and secretive, but
when ordered her 10 pack up and come
with me. she admitted that her man"
was a platelayer in the Cation tunnel,and
that he had found them An a boot which
he had picked up on the sideway l got
her TO produce the boot, when she at
once turned out a cork sole which was
inside. on the under side of which had
been cut a dozen round holes exactly the
size OF half-a-sovereign-into which, in
deed, the coin fitted tightly and neatly.
leaving not trace OF their presence when
=, sole was inserted In the boot. The
boot as may be expected, on being COM
pared with that of Milne. was found TO
be its fellow-though the cork sole was
sound and intact. The last link in the
bull now swore most positively to Milne
the man who gave him tba two coins
in exchange for his pound, We had clear
case for the jury.
The charge of coming was never gone
into. but that OF "uttering was clearly
established, and the position and educa-
tion of the prisoner far from being help
to him at mis- trial. were heavily against
him. After a severe reprimand from the
presiding Judge. he was sentenced to
seven years penal servitude.
Even then Catherine Spence leant over
the dock and clasped him with both
hands-not weeping, as ! had expected.
but looking as bright and cheering as an
angel from heaven--till ne was drawn from
her and hurried out of sight, when she
dropped like log and was carried out
insensible.
And thus during the whole OF his ncar-
ceration she continued. bright. cheering.
and loving; doing her duty to all around
her; carefully saving every penny of
her salary not actually needed TO clothe
her, and regularly forwarding To MIN at
the proper intervals. not a letter, but a
complete diary OF her thoughts and feel
ings every day of her life. The perusal OF
this reflex Of her life. the governor has
assured me, would have melted heart
OF stone. Mines heart. though depraved
enough. was not exactly stone: and about
the third year. the devotion of this an
gelic woman began to produce some effect
on his mind and life His whole conduct.
demeanor, and thoughts became changed;
the bitter tone vanished like magic FROM
hfs letters: and he now declared that the
greatest blessing Of his life had been his
capture and imprisonment, as they alone
had revealed to him this loving girls
true worth.
j fully expected that all this would
change when he was set free. but / was
mistaken. When nearly six years were
gone he was liberated. Catherine Spence
was at the prison gate 10 receive him, TO
put her arms about his neck and kiss the
stain OF crime from his brow. They were
married, and with her little savings left
the country together. III i told how nobly
he has redeemed his character i'm the new
country, / should only reveal an identity
! am anxious TO conceal. He will never
return to this country. but has long
since been fully reconciled TO his father
and friends; and his whole redemption he
owes to woman's love.
(TIIE END)