Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-10
THE convict.
A Lady Relates a Romantic Story
of Love and Crime.
AIDS No. 67 TO ESCAPE
While Walilng 10 Elopo with the Wardons
SOn--Tho Sequel Of tho Adventure and The
Reward from The Sweetheart Of tho Escaped
Prlsoner-How Jim Won His Bride
A Tale OF Prison Life.


went to the prison.
It was a hot Sunday in July, and
had just been engaged as the soprano
of church choir, that went up to
the penitentiary every Sunday to sing
for the prisoners.
I shuddered as we passed through
hungarily to receive us, as so many
times they had opened to swallow up
some wretched criminal forever.
AS we walked up the broad stone
steps, and into the Office, the warden s
son came to meet us; he was a hand
some fellow, and dressed in a suit Of
light tweeds, he looked a dashing con-
trast to his dismal surroundings.
Hello, jim, old boy, said our organ
ist, Come here and let me introduce
you to our new soprano, Miss Airing
ton"
Tue tall, wellformed chap came over
60 us and taking my hand in his. look
ed down into my eye with a smile and
In that first meeting glance, ] knew
IL was all up with me. No one ever
had such glorious blue eyes as Jim,
and when they flashed down into mine,
my heart gave a queer throb that I
had never felt before, and never felt
again, until-the next time I saw him.
He conducted us to the dreary chapel
where the prison services were held,
and here sat row after row Of sad
faced men, all clad in the degrading
stripes of the prison uniform. IL was
a novel experience for me, and the
scene had a most depressing effect
upon my mind. I could not bear to see
those luckless malefaCtors herded to-
gether like so many animals, and
wondered If in that melancholy gath
ering some were not innocent; and the
horrible thought of such a fate caused
me to look again, with a morbid curl
Osity, at the hundreds Of sombre
shaven faces turned toward me.
One convict in particularly attracted
my attention; a man what sat at the
end of the bench directly in front of
me- His chin rested on a shapely
hand, his dark eyes seemed to burn
under heavy brows, while the regula.
tion prison haircut seemed in his
case to serve only to accentuate the
beauty Of a well-formed head
When / sang "The Holy City" he
sat with those big melancholy eyes
fixed on mine, and I could have sworn
that I saw tears gather in them; and
this. in connection with the thoughts
that must arise in every breas at the
sight of so many unfortunates, shut
away from all that is sunny or good in
life, caused me to become so nervous
that my voice trembled pitifully in the
last hymn, and 1 was heartily glad
when the services were at an end.
We were invited to walk through
the prison, and although I had no de-
sire to penetrate further into the grew
some place, the others wished to do so,
and assented: with the better grace
perhaps when I found that Jim was to
be my escort,
We walked together through those
cheerless halls, little thinking that we
should walk so, side by side for life;
and I'm passing. we saw the poor
wretches at their recreation hour
recreation-good heavensl what a tray
esty on the world those pale-faced men
standing in silent groups, hardly dar-
ing to raise an eye as we walked by
them.
AS we crossed the stone-paved yard,
I noticed the same dark eyed prisoner
that had interested me in the chapel,
and. to my surprise, as we passed him,
1 saw my escort raise his hat while
the convict stood with downcast look,
and only acknowledged the salutation
by raising his hand to his head as in
a military salute.
When we were outside the gate, l ask
ed Jim who he was, and why he was
treated with more respect than his fell
lows.
"Its against the rules to tell the
names of any of the prisoners" said he,
but that chap has no more business in
stripes than / have this minute;
tell you" be continued vehemently,
'our great American law some times
mocks justice in its DEGREES"
saw that he wa seXcited, and some
of his enthusiasm communicated itself
to me, as I entreated him to tell me the
story of the man,
"I really shouldn't do so," replied he,
''but you are such an eloquent pleader
that I am tempted to break the rules
and tell you the poor fellows pitiful
story. He is a millionaire, young, as
you see; and when he first came here,
two years ago, l thought he was the
finest looking chap that / had ever
seen. This life is killing to a man,
especially one used to outdoor life
and exercise as he has been, and
can see how he is failing, and the con-
finement is telling on his magnificent
physique.
"Three months before he came here,
he went to New York from his ranch
out West, where he owns acres OF
fertile land and herds of full-blooded
stock worth fortunes IN themselves.
Well, it was the old story He met a
girl, a lovely bud Of society. and It was
a case Of love at first sight on both
sides, the only trouble being that she
had another admirer, a politician, who
sought to win her hand through the
POLITICAL aspirations Of her father,
The old man loved position and party
power, but when his daughters happi-
ness stood I'm the balance, he relin-
quished every cherished wish OF his
own, to insure the life-happiness Of his
beloved child
"The politician, who had made boasts
Of ultimately winning the girl, grew
insanely Jealous OF the handsome
young athlete that had cut him out,
and sought in every conceivable way