The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-05
BOOK ".
Chapter III.
PRISON

- FRfSON. ~.
Never again was there In beleaguered Bos-
ton the gay confidence that had existed be-
fore the 17th Of June. Hesitation clouded
4he oounsels Of the generals, and memory
brought doubt to those OF lesser rank. Never
again fell boasts easily from tory lips, and
forecasts were always made with back
ward mental look upon Charlestown hillside
and its dead. Now that new gravestones had
arisen In Boston churchyards, and great gaps
In the regiments had to be filled, while daily
the wounded were dying in hospitals, there
could no longer be ease and ltghtheartedness.
Alice, silent locker saw many things.
She learned that Gage was completely
checked with, his crippled army there was
no further hope Of taking Dorchester. She
saw the sadness, the dismay. In every circle,
where, from the highest to the lowest, all
were counting their losses. The light OF the
town was snuffed out, and for many days all
were In gloom.
The word from England did not tighten 1t.
Iondon's reception Of the news of Concord
night was scarcely heartening. His majesty
was determined. at whatever cost, to crush
the rebellion. But O. part of that cost had
been counted out in Charestown, and the
new saying of the Yankees, whispered among
the wings, gave estimate Of the remain
der I'VE will sell them another hill at the
Of hills surrounded the town.
The rebels were fortfying rapidly, and the
Boston wings were preparing for a long siege.
Alice, in her walks, saw flower gardens dug
up and planted with vegetables against a
winter OF scarcity OF food which Just then
IN June-seemed impossibly far away. Even
the Savages' garden was destroyed; Alice
had seen Barbara ordering the death Of the
great lilac bush.
But the most portentovs sign rTas the de-
fection OF Dickie Eilery. All had known and
loved him. The knowledge that he was in
prison, willingly suffering for liberty, heart
ened The wings and brought doubt to his
former comrades. - =
Tebs came frequently to the cottage. ''Ie
tells Christine said Alice to her brother,
That his master is still In bed
Yes answered Tudor. ut is very hard
70 Be SO confined"
IL is harder Tor Dickie," she returned.
George, will you secure me permission to
visit him?"
He demurred. Il am SO busy, I don't know
; when could go with you. And the new
.5ailer, Brush, is coarse and rough"
Anthony will go with me-" she returned.
And this was the scene Alice Tudor saw as,
attended by Anthony Paddock, she entered
the prison gate: The guard had saluted and
let her pass, and Frank Ellery came to meet
her, with a bloated man at his side, shaking
great fists and bedraggied woman holding
Franks arm. An uproarious rabble-women
Of the camp, soldiers Jailed for petty offenses
crowded behind. while cabbage stalks and
rotten fruit were flying thtckly. With suoh
faces before her. such dirt and such noise,
Alice paused, astonished and disnnayed.
''Let you SEQ your brother' the jailer was
roaring. II think 50! Yes, you whig, you
proud Elsry, you rebel! Ah-h---''
He and the group behind him paused In full
tongue as they saw Alice. Fit subject for
a. ~ xI. Y
der OF Slough, purity confronting vleness,
The men gazed open -mouthed, but the women
as they saw her wide eyes, turned away,
They read il her face not purity alone, but
also pity, and long forgotten shame oppressed
them.
Brush knew her. and fawneds ''Gistres.
Tudor, can l serve your
she had seen, aye, and lived dor days In, d
worse place than this: that wyandot camp
She understood the man that cringed before
her, but she did not fear him.
''There Is my permit she said, extending
it. II come to see Mr.. Ellery.",
She saw Frank flush with gratitude
.Alfce," he said, this is no place for you. u
Not even that place could smirch her, and
as she turned and answered Frank felt it
II must see Diekie.' she replied.
Frank said No more, but turned to Brush
laying q hand on his wrist. "If learn" hi
said In low voice. THAT you are not per.
9ectly respectful to this lady you shall b.
punished.
Brush snatched his hand away. mot yor
will touch mel" he cried.
There are those who wiil,'' returned
Frank. Then he turned to Alice.
with your PERMISSION will wait out
side" he said, 'for news OF Dickie.''
He passed out Of the yard, and Alice wen
with Brush into the Jail. Anthony, with diff
hculty assuming enough dignity for the oc
sAA io;1 A~E
had vanity left: he knew that the women
who had reassen1bled, were rnooking him
and the regulars were laughing at the volun
,teer. It was long half-hour before Alic,
appeared
But FRANKS baif-hour was longer as h,
waited, almost savagely, for her return. Th'
beauty, Of her face and form, her sinplicit!
and sweetness, were more to him now thar
ever. Had she resented his interference
Was she angry that he had spoken to her
She had been gracious; but SO she would b,
to any one+eYen to Sotheran. This life wa
torture to hin sometimes He ground hi
teeth. 1t was torture now. She was long ii
coming.
But she came, pure and unrufasd. HI
stepped to her. You will let me speak Il
you q moment, Alice7"
He did not know that her experience hat
left her weak.
'frhs Jailer was polite to your he asked
lin his fashion," she replied. "He though
would enjoy hearfng-Who are those Bos
ton prisoners she asked, whom he boast
5 Of 6pprsssins?" - .- !
gentlemen Of the whig party he an
swefed -:
"Of what are they conyictsdff >~+.s..
'They have not been convicted. or svel
tried" ~ ..sL.H, y
.tNor' she asked in surprise. 'srhsn Q
what are they aceused?''
"rJo one KNOWS Frank answered -
III is inoonceivabie!' she cried Ut
"it "a nevertheless true hs replied. H
saw Sfat she was indignant, but the subjec
was orohtIess, and he turned It. .
''T5ut Dtckis7' he asked. sIs he wells
ne eheerfuI7' 80
.'fIe Is growing thin, bus no ia,'--she pause
for the woTd--''re resigned.
IFS he we'll treated?"s
'tIIfs room Is small and close"
She Saw, as we'll ca he, how short thei
sentences were, and how formal was ethei
talk. frank was looking In her face; sh
5. met His eyes as best che could In his vcfc
she heard the echo OF her ctwn constrainl
and she tried to speak ia friendly fashion.
''But II ID on the hafbor side OF the jail
and he sometimes gets the bresse. Dicki
was very glad to see me; 'w'as bis FRS
visitor
..Ee others" put id anthony in se1f-de
ferse, "have not been permitted to see him.
Ffaak turned to him. 'tAnd when is til
trtaif''
I'm two days." said Anthony.
''T am deeply obliged to you, said Frank
abruptly. He bowed to ANTHONY, : then
Alice, and went away. She did not look afte
him. but his picture was in her mind. II