Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-16
BENEDICT GORDON.
By REVERE RODGERS.
written for the SUNDAY eLopp.l
CHAPTER XVI


helds. and the babbliug brooks that were
familiar to them in days Of their youth
when this pushing, grasping, struggling
world was not as ugly as II has since been
found to be- All, those days Of early YOUTH
Z brave old days; days that will never, never
come 10 US again on this EARTH Gould the
poor suicide, the angry murderer, the thief,
when oppressed or tempted be transformed
for one moment into the happy, innocent
youth again, as he was when he knelt at
the knee Of his sanity mother; would he
commit the deeds that are committed every
minute in the day? No, I say unto you,
that If the man could be made to feel for
few minutes the same innocent, happy
emotions that we're frequent 70 him in the
days of his youth there would be no sui
aides we would have no further use for
prinons aud work houses, where Gods
images are confined and numbered as If
they we're so many unclean beasts
All, to think Of the promises these unfor-
tunate beings gave in their early youth;
the fond hopes and plans their proud
parents built for them, and the grand career
that these same unfortunate brothers of
ours mapped out for themselves. Ah II is
indeed true, that the saddest sentence In
the English language is, What might have
beenw
When the sweet smell Of spring first per-
vades the dark and gloomy cells and the
grand sun nobly endeavors to pierce through
the hard cold walls do not the erriug but
unfortunate men confined there suffer the
most terrible aud excruciating agouyl Do
not the tir minds dwell upon those happy
days when they we're free to laugh aud
roam the green fields the whole live long
day9 How they must think Of those shady
creeks and rivers, where their happiest
moments were spent; and to remember
once loved playmates who have arisen to
proud positions in the world, and then to
compare their own miserable living death.
Ny God, what suffering must be theirs
judge not harshly of these fallen brothers,
readers, for as Bunyon once said when look
ing at the portrait Of celebrated criminal,
And It's only by the grace Of God that
am not as this man" But fear wander
somewhat from my original purpose when
set out to write this chapter.
Miss Priscilla, accompanied by her niece,
Helen, had determined 70 drive to George
town on this glad sunshiny day, aud the
ancient horse and carriage were in waiting
for her when she came down the steps.
The horse presented ludicrous appear
ance as it stood before the door of the ALI
wine mansion. 1t was one of those weak
kneed, wobly looking beasts that you often
see venerable colored gentlemen driving
attached to rickety wagons, used for haul
ing ashes from the rear yards Of white
folks And yet Miss Priscilla had an idea
that polly" il she were not properly
handled, would become the most fiery and
untamable of steeds indeed this lady
had had a special set Of harness manufac-
tnred of extraordinary strength ia order to
forestall any attempt on 'Dolly's" part of
separating herself from the carriage.
The harness, which would have been
more than suitable for a brewery wagon
horse, was further strengthened by numer-
Gus buckles and extra straps which pretty
nearly concealed the sides of the antiquated
old animal from view. This harness had to
be tested under the personal supervision OF
Miss Priscilla before she would trust her
self in the carriage at all.
Now Dolly, /" in the days of her young
Rirlhood, was always what is termed slow
horse. she was borne into the world a weak
kneed. spawned and wobbly old-young
horse. Once or twice, between the tender
ages of three and 6ve, she had aasayed to
stagger a little faster than usual probably
under the impression that she was hitting
il up quite lively; but she was never guilty
Of any other motion after she had reached
the age Of FIVE years than a sedate old lady
step, that had gradually revOlved into sori
of paralysis movement that gave her legs
the appearance Of being made of wood and
incapable of bending. These legs shs
stifiy thrust forward when in motion, much
like man walking on stills or, crutches
and yet Miss Priscilla firmly believed tha
IL Dolly" so desired she could capture
purses right along on any race track in the
country.
This good lady dilated to her friends o.
the dread she lived in daily lest some fine
day Dolly" should take il into her head L
make a display of the vast speed that Mis-
Priscilla devoutly believed lay dormant il
the bony old carcass that she digni6ed will
the name of horse.
As this antiquated old clothes rack haC
long past the age Of twenty years, Mis-
Priscilla's friends had their own opinion OF
the subject, which they, however, diplo
matically refused to voice in her presence
When Miss Priscilla with the assistance
Of Mike, had carefully tested every one o
the many buckles and straps that composed
the harness, she signihed her intention o
entering the ancient chariot which she ha'
set aside a great many years ago for he
own personal use Miss Prisciila's mod
Of riding was to sit bolt upright in on
corner Of the carriage, neither looking {
the right nor to the left, but with her sharp
bony face pointed directly to the front, ant
her gloved hands crossed sedately in he
stately lap. Her little bonnet, PLENTIFUL
trimmed with artificial aowers, sat wei
back upon her head displaying to viey
numberless little ringlets of gray cuIls tina
covered her forehead and came down par
Of the way on either side Of her face. Whe
excited Miss Priscilla had habit of shakin
her head emphatically which caused he
little curls to toss back and forth violently
Helen accompanied her aunt upon he
excursion into Georgetown on this day
although she dreaded the slow, sedat
journey that was always to be expecte
when Dolly" was in the shafts; but as sh
wished to visit some friends in the tOwr
and having business with Mr.. Larkins, tn
family solicitor, beside, she chose thi
means Of riding rather than 10 call SOME q
the men in from the fields to drive her