The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-06-19

ont of him. For years he had heard
but the cold, harsh tones of his ward
ers. For years he had been spoken TO
and treated as IL he We're O dog. And SO
the strange, kindly tones had made
him afraid. He had never heard sucn
tones before-or he did not remember
having hear dthem.
How surprised he had been when the
warder told him that he was to so out
that morning. He could hardly believe
his ears. He had forgotten that his
time was up. He had instinctively be-
gun to get ready for the dull round t
the day. The night before h Warder,
had told him that he was to go Y on
the morrow, but the words made no
impression on him. His mind had be-
come slack and confused. There We're
times in the last few days when the
scenes Of his surroundings left him en-
tirely. He moved in a dull, dark dream.
He went quickly down the road
tall, bent figure Of a man h a seemed
to shrink into itself. His movement
was at once furtive and swift-as II he
were trying to escape observation. And
though he walked swiftly, yet there
was the curious suggestion Of hesi-
fancy in the pose Of his body which
comes. to those who do not know where
they are going-to those that are lost.
Awoman's voice!
Suddenly he heard q woman's voice
as he passed swiftly. Years and years
woman's voice. He almost stopped. A
wuman's voice! 1t sounded so beauti-
full and strange. 1t thrilled him and
had upon him an effect that was magi-
cal. And all at once his mind began
to awaken. The look OF dumb, blank
fear left his eyes. That morning he
had left the prison and was free! He
was as free as the people who were
passing him! He was free to &c Where
he chose-to dc as he chose-to be as
he chose!
The sound of the Womans' voice had
awakened him. He was no longer a
thing of the prison. He was a man!
And a flood of remembrances sud
denly came upon him. The life he had
lived before the life in the prison was
stretched out before him. Again he was
hearing a woman's voice. 1t was COM
ing to him through the past.
II love you," said the voice of the
past. ct love you. I have always loved
you. You are the man Of all men fol
me. I think Of you when you are away
when you are gone I love you"
st rare not" said the voice Of the
past again. "If you have done this
thing. I care not If you are guilty. ]
love you; I will always love YOU. Nc
Il IldlISI E& & AoHpSAA0
this"
The voice Of the past sounded SO clear
to him. He had heard 1t through a long
distance and darkness, but it sounded
as clear and beautiful to him as 1t die
on that night long ago. when he hac
told her Of what was about to befal
him. And then had come disgrace an6
humiliation. His friends had gone the
way that friends go when a man falls
He stood ~alone-alone, but for the WON
an who loved aim. Her faith was proc.
even against the knowledge of his gull
and disgrace. And then had come thu
dock-and then the sentence. She wal
not there when sentence had beer
passed upon him. She could not beal
to hear the cold, terrible words O.
Judgment!
Surely this woma who had loved hin
must be dead. Surely she must have
gone the way that all go. 1t had beer
a long time since he had heard from
her. So long, that he had forgotten her
But, stay! Had he heard from her IL
the last few days? 1t seemed to hin
that-but he could not tell. He had for
gotten her till just a moment ago.. Thu
sound of the woman's voice hae
brought her memory back to him. II
the prison his soul had died. It was onl.
beginning to awaken now in the ligh
Of the warmth of the bright, clear sui
light.
If she were not dead, did she still
think Of him? Did she still remembe.
him? Did she still love him?
He was mad to ask himself such ques
lions. She must have changed towards