Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-10

NN AiAl AANAf anu hlNtN AAuA mNAAr htartA
for the family fireworks.
The night arrived; a cold November
evening with a brisk wind that drove
the dead leaves in waves along the
road, and spoke eloquently Of a frost
hidden somewhere up in the North. l
reached the o.d house first according
to agreement, and my, what a desolate
place it looked In the chill autumn
dusk! Jim had already visited the pa
Wlion as the presence there Of his rain
coat and a package testified, so, as the
light still fingered / turned up the col
lar Of my jacket and sat down to wait
his return.
IL was growing colder, and the dark
ness Of night settled slowly over the
dreary scene about me. Behind, the
long, dead grasses that overgrew the
deserted grounds, shivered and whistled
as the chill wind cut through them,
while before me rose the formidable
prison wall. on whose broad parapet
stalked the one living thing in view,
the prison guard.
| supposed I was nervous over my
approaching elopment, and the eerie
sound Of the whistling wind, broken
only by the monotonous tramp tramp
Of the sentinel, now loud as he passed
near me. now dying away as he con-
tinued to the end Of the long wall, and
turned the corner to the other side,
seemed to get on my nerves, till !
was ready to run home again, and
leave poor Jim to elope by himself
The cold edge of the moon rose slow
ly over a dark cloud, and still / waited
no sign Of Jim. I rose and stood by
the door Idly watching the broad sill
houette of the guard outlined against
the sky. Just as he disappeared from
view around the corner, saw a dark
shadow on top of the wall in front Of
me; which slid over the stone side like
a fash and landed at my feet. Be-
fore 1 could give vent to the scream in
my throat the crouching form rose to
my height. and I saw it was a man,
At the same moment he spied me, and
in an instant was at my side, with his
hand over my mouth so ! could not
cry out.
I struggled desperately, for felt
that ! was i'm the clutch Of a criminal,
and franticaly wrestled to free my
mouth so that I could scream to Den
mis- for help. but the man was powerful
as a giant, and held me I'm a grip like
iron. As we swayed back and forth
in the pavilion, 1 could see the guard
passing within call, yet could not free
myself from that deathly grip, and as
the light from my bicycle lamp flashed
across him, I saw the convict stripes
on the sleeve pressed across my mouth,
and knew that I had to do with a des.
perate character indeed.
Realizing my position, and the tre
mendous power of my assailant, / lost
heart, turned faint. and my head fell
back on the criminals rough shoulder
He bent over me and gasped, For
Gods sake keep still l won't hurt you
I'm only a poor devil making a run for
my life"
As he spoke. the faint rays Of the
moon, coming out from under a cloud,
fell directly on our faces, and showed
me the dark eyes of Jim's friend. At
the same time he recognized me, and
whispered. "Why, it's Jim's friend, the
little singer-thank God, I hope /
haven't hurt you.' he added 81 have
forgive me-you won't betray me, will
you?"
I shook my head, and he quickly re-
leased me, and then as the tread Of
the returning sentry sounded, he said,
Keep still; don't move till he has
passed think what you would do If
Jim were in my place" and he crouch
ed at my side, and drew my skirt
around hmm, as the moon, now rising
rapidly fell on the door Of the pavilion
and showed me plainly to the passing
sentry. The guards were forbidden to
speak when on duty, but as big Dennis
looked down. knowing well who | was,
he waved his hand. At this friendly
gesture I opened my mouth to cry out,
but the convict held my hand in vice
like grip, and whispered, For Jim's
sake-dont" and somehow the
thought of that other woman, who
loved him just as ! did jim. flashed
across my mind, and I kept still, and
waved my hand at Dennis who passed
on, little dreaming Of my predicament.
Close by the door Of the pavilion
stood my wheel, and as the guards
footsteps died away, the man in stripes
straightened up, and said:
Little girl, this is my only chance
1T lies with you whether I 90 to free
dom and the woman ! love, or back
to that living hell Won't vou help me
to escape?-think what you would say
if Jim were in my place."
/ hesitated. and he continued wildly
How can you refuse?-think of the
girl whose heart is breaking for me-
IL you only knew her-how she has
prayed for mellow I love her-Good
God its her life as well as mine that
I'm begging for-won't you help me?-
for her sake?
with a sudden burst OF sympathy
I turned toward him, and stretching
out my hand, which he clasped eagerly,
/ said, YES, I'll help you" just as the
guard approached again, and as the
poor devil drew my skirt around him
once more l heard him say THANK
God, thank God!"
The danger past, he rose and whisp
cred, MAY / take your wheel?"
Eyes, yes" | replied, but you can
never get away in these stripes"
"Im afraid it's all up" he said sadly,
"I had forgotten them, and look Of
agony passed over his face, as he
groaned, ooh, God, must I go back! /