The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-27
BY HARRIET A. NASH.

For a moment he thought of giving an
assumed name. Then his real identity
would not be learned in time for pub
hcauon tomorrow, and before another
Gay they would see the mistake and
let him go. John Jones would do as
well as any name. DR.. John Jones
would convey more dignity. But when
few moments later he was called
to give his name his truth-loving ma
ture rebelled against the falsehood, and
in a clear voice he answered, Ezra Ty-
Ter, going on, without further ques-
tioning, to explain that he was pas
tor of the Gimfield Congregational
Church. He heard the charge against
him. and for the first time began to
realize the fact that the bill-that prec-
1ous $40 bill-was valueless. There
could be no doubt of It, they told him,
An officer more kind hearted than
the one who had arrested him explain
ed 1t all and assured him there would
be no trouble if he was really innocent
and could prove where he got the bill.
He had a confused sense of many
people around, most of them looking
miserable and unfortunate. One wom-
an carrying a baby, staggered as she
tried to cross the room. She was ill
beyond question. He wondered WHY
they didn't do something for her, and
felt relieved when a pleasant faced ma
to her arms. How pitifully the thin
little arms contrasted with the rosy
Daby at home. In one corner sat a
ragged man of middle age, from whose
stol1d face crime had banished every
trace OF better nature. Opposite him
was we'll dressed young fellow. his
race buried in his hands. The minis
ter's heart throbbed with pain as he
looked at them and wondered how long
since the one was like the other and
what depths of degradation lay be-
tween. He wished he were near efNSugh
10 lay his hand on the bowed curly
head-not much older than the little
heads at home. His own trouble pass
ed from his mind. What mattered II
SO long as he was innocent? And an
emotion akin to the divine love and
pity moved him as he gazed on these
Fellow prisoners who perhaps were gull
ty Life must have been so hard for
tnem-temptations so strong and wills
so weak.
He found himself after a little con-
Quoted to cell with two others
strangely enough the two on whom his
attention had been fixed The attend
ant-Mr. Tyler had no idea what his
exact title might be-jocosely remark
ed that he hoped they didn't mind
crowdtng, they were unusually full to-
night
To Mr.. Tyler's relief his elder com
panfon dropped upon the floor in a
half-drunken sleep. The bow. as If
anxious to repel all advancers. had re-
tired to the opposite corner and re-
sumed his attitude of deep detection
me minister watched him thoughtfully
Tor a long time. AT last he drew near
er and touched the boys arm gently
haggard, miserable face was raised
TO hfS-oh, so Young
What do you want?" was the i'm
patient answer.
My boy" Mr.. Tyler said gently.
tell me how it happened" The boy
shrank away and ungraciously de-
manded to be left alone. Then, some
gentler impulse Selling him, he NUT
tered half apology, and, as if to
atone for his rudeness, added a few
words of explanation. Then SLOWLY
the longing for sympathy overcame
MN, and he poured forth a story of
over-indulgence, dissipation and debt.
a pressing need for money, and-the
use of funds not his own. Before him
now was certain disgrace, perhaps
years of prison life.
The minister sat silent. In his conn
try parish he had never met a case
like this. He could recall nothing in
his theological training that fitted it.
According to his best knowledge and
belief, he should speak words of con-
demnation and warning. But the pity
swelling in his heart choked them back.
And when he opened his lips at last
there came from them only words of
sympathy. He seemed possessed by
some power beyond himself-that ten
der, all-absorbing love for the guilty
ones of earth, for whom too often he
had felt only contempt He strug-
gled with himself in vain. His brain
told him he should have exhorted the
young man to repentance before it was
too late. His heart would let him
speak only of heavenly Fathers love.
When he ceased speaking the room
was very still. Even the heavy
breathing in the other corner had
ceased.
Presently the boy raised his head
with defiant gesture. See here2 he
said, and slipped little vial intol the
minister's hand. Il didn't mean to go
to prison. If it came to that. there
was stuff enough in that bottle to
have taken care of me. If they'd put
me alone in a cell I should have swal-
lowed 1t before now. L haven't any
friends left. Ny relatives will all re-
fuse to speak to me after this, and /
didn't suppose there was any one in
heaven or on earth that cared But
believe you. / never heard it put
that way before. And I'm going to
stand my trial, and whatever comes
after it because of what you say"
The two clasped hands warmly. And
as they did so the ragged criminal in
the corner staggered to his feet and
stood before them. Had they but known
it, it was years since he had stood
so erect. Squire" he said, "the
youngsters right. II somebody's said
to me twenty years ago what you've
said to him / might have been a man
to-day in place of what l be. oh, go
on. Don't talk any foolishness. It's
too late to work any such racket on
me. Well. pray for me II you want
to; 'twon't do no hurt, maybe, though
l can't tell you 'twon't do no good.
I tell you don't want to be any bet
ter. 1 wouldn't change IL I could.
But in the name of the boy was
twenty years ago want to thank you
for givin' this young Teller lift"
He staggered back to his corner, as
II ashamed of the momentary interest
he had shown, and the brief intelli-
gence died out of the hardened face.
The boy, worn out with deep emo
ton, dropped upon the hard cot and
slept. The minister sat through the
long night wrapped in meditation. II
was not until the first gray streaks Of
dawn stole through the grated door
that he reused TO a remembrance that
he was a prisoner, charged with crime.
Early that morning. in one Of the
sumptuous homes of the city, a wom-
an past middle age was partaking OF a
solitary breakfast. glancing over the
morning paper at the same time. For