The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-06-19

out Of him. For years he had heard
but h cold, harsh tones Of his ward
ers. For he had been spoken to
and treated as If he were a dog. And so
h strange, kindly tones had made
him afraid. He had lever heard such
tones before-or he did not remember
having hear dthem.
How surprised he had been when the
warder told him that he was to go out
that morning, He could hardly believe
his ears. Ne had forgotten that his
time was up. He had instinctiyely be-
gun 10 get ready for the dull round of
the day. The night before the warder
the morrow. but the words made no
impression on him. His mind had be-
come slack and confused. There were
times In the last few days when the
Genes 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 ma that seemed
to shrink into itself. Els movement
was at once furtive and swtft-as II he
were trying to escape observation And
though he walked swiftly, yet there
was the curious suggestion of hest
fancy In the pose of his body which
comes to those who do not know where
they are gofng-to those that are lost.
A womanss voice!
ne ntaru Wo1k1auS VOICE
as he passed swiftly. Years and years
had one and gone since he heard a
woman's voice. He almost stopped. A
wdunan's voice! It sounded so .beauti-
full and strange. It thrilled him and
had upon him an effect that was magi-
cal. And all at nee 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 go where
he chose-to do as he chose-to be as
he chosei
The sound Of the womans' voice had
awakened him He was no longer a
thing OF the pr;son. He was a man!
And a food OF remembrances sud-
denly came upon him. h life he had
lived before the life In the prison was
stretched out before him. Again he was
hearing a woman's voice. It was COM
ing to him through the past.
II love you." said the voice Of the
past. Fl love you. I have always loved
you, You are the man Of all men for
me. I think Of you when you + away
when you are gone I love you"
past again. III you have done this
thing. I are not II you are guilty. /
love you; I Will always love you. No
matter what happens, remember
this"
The voice Of the past sounded SO clear
to him. He had heard it through a long
distance and darkness, but it sounded
as clear and beautiful to him as 1t did
on that night long ago, when he had
told her Of what was about to befa1l
| him. And then had come disgrace and
humiliation. His friends had gone the
way that friends go when a nah falls.
He stood a1one-a1one, but for the won
an who loved him. Her faith was proof
even against the knowledge Of his guilt
and disgrace. And then had come the
dock-ano then the sentence. She was
not there when sentence had been
passed upon him. She could not bea1
to hear the cold. terrible words OF
judgment!
Surely this woman who had loved him
must be dead. Surely she must have
gone the way that all go. It 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? It seemed to hin
that-but he could not tell. He had for.
gotten e till Just a moment ago. The
sound Of the woman's voice hat
brought her memory back to him. II
the prison his soul had died. It was only
beginning to awaken now in the ligh
of the warmth Of the bright, clear sun
light.
II she were not dead, did she still
think Of him? DID she still remembel
him? Did she still love him?
He was mad to ask himself sue ques
tons. She must have changed toward!