Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-10-12
massive door of the main entrance.

you might?" said Mr.. Palmer, as he
pulled the bell, whose canger broke
harshly upon the strange silence that
reigned around.
Before Walter could reply the heavy
door swung back, and they were ush-
cred into the warden's office. He was
a heavily bearded man, with stern,
almost forbidding, countenance; but
he shook hands with Mr.. Palmer,
whom he had met before, bestowing
on Walter pleasant word and smile,
the latter giving mis- face quite an
other aspect.
81 came to inquire about John Jack
son, the forger," said Mr. Palmer, after
few preliminary words. "He Is an
old schoolmate of mine. I remember
him as high,spirited boy, rather
headstrong, and fonder of play than
study, but with many genial and pleas
ant traits of character How is he
getting along?"
VERY we'll. Had he been compe-
tent I should have given him a place
as bookkeeper, made vacant by con-
vict whose time was up. AS it was,
| had to put him in the shoe-shop.
He is quiet, but ne takes it pretty
hard, as such chaps are apt to who
have always had plenty of money and
nothing to do. 1t is not in strict &C.
cordance with the rules, but if you
would like to see him, IL have him
sent out"
Mr.. Palmer assented, and in a few
minutes grave, quiet man entered,
whose closely-cut hair and peculiar
dress gave him very strange look
to Walter, who had never seen any
thing like it before.
He seemed glad to see Mr.. Palmer,
though there was a visible constraint
in his manner which showed that he
felt keenly his changed position and
surroundings.
OF the two, Mr.. Palmer seemed the
most affected. His voice broke little
as he said:
II am glad to see you Mr.. Jackson;
but sorry, very sorry, to find you
here"
"You can't be- more sorry than
am to find myself here" said the man
with forced smile. Then, as if anx-
ious to change the subject, he turned
to Walter 81 need not ask whose
boy this is?"
1T is my Oldest son, Walter. He is
just about the same age that we were
when We used to go to school together
in dear old Bridgevjlle. Have you
forgotten all about those days, john? ?"
Whether it. was these words, or the
sight of that fresh, innocent face, that
caused it, could not be told, but for a
few moments Jackson struggled silent
ly with the tender and subduing rec.
objections that rushed over him; then
breaking down utterly he covered his
face with his hands.
Walter had never seen man weep
before, and his means were some
thing he never forgot.
II wish could" said the wretched
man, lifting up his pale, tearstained
face 81 wish I could forget what I
once was, and what I am! some
times think that it is horrible
dreams; that l shall some day awake
and find it SOL"
"How did it happen?" inquired Mr..
Palmer, as soon as his companion was
calmer. when 1 last saw you, your
prospects were bright-apparently
brighter than mine"
1T can be summed up in two
words" was the gloomy response:
"Idleness and bad company. If nay
father hal trained me to habits of
industry and self-reliance, I had not
come to this. But he loved me; and
glad am I that the grave has hid
from him all knowledge of the shame
and misery of the son, whom his i'll
Judged, skort-sighted kindness ruined.
AS you know, I would not study;
thought there was no need for me
rich mans son-to do that. | can
remember howl despised the dull,
plodding fellows, who are honored
men to-day. My fathers death put
me into the possession of wealth, of
which I never earned dollar and
Of whose use and worth / knew moth
ing. How it went | hardly knew; but
I awoke one morning to find myself
poorer than the lowest clerk in the
establishment that my father built up
with SO much care and labor, but
which had now passed into the hands
of strangers. My fair-weather friends,
who had helped spend my money, urg-
ing me to every conceivable folly and
extravaganza, left as soon as they
found that there was no more to
spend. l knew nothing about getting
money by honest work, but money l
must have; SO l turned my attention
to the various ways of getting money
without work. The rest needs no tell
ing"
Here the warden entered; and with
his heart somewhat cheered and
strengthened by Mr.. Palmer's whis-
pered words of encouragement and
sympathy, Jackson returned to his