Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-01
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name on the list as if you'd told me to do it,
just to keep you in lovin' remembrance for
Marms sake an your own. The givin don't
pinch me, seems how I've been all alone, till
now"
Anthony put his head down on the table and
sobbed aloud, the great, tearing sobs that a
strong man utters sometimes in his career ana
which seem to from the very groundwork
of his being. Steven stared in dismay, his thin'
anxous-lined face working TREMENDOUSLY
Don't boy" he said. soothingy, its all right
now-you've come back"
! Yes, I've come back, like thief in the night,
skulklng through the woods lest anyone should
see me- What would they say, those neighbors
who think well of me, if they knew / was just
out Of prison? That's where come from, that's
where I've been for the past four years, where
would have stayed another year but that my
good behavior discharge. My good be-
havior! Don't laugh, Steve"
The older man put his hand gently on the
others twitchlng ''Tm not laughing, Tony,
God knows. Stop laughing yourself; you'll hurt
yourself. Come let me give you something to
warm you up bit, an then you can get to bed
An we'll put the past away; there's no need to
talk it over. / don't want to know of it. You're
home at last, that's enough for me"
"But you shall know. The reason you didn't
find me was because | changed my name on leav-
ing prison, and went out West At first | tried
hard to do the right thing, but the wrong was
easier, and always liked the easy way best AS
the years slipped by grew worse, | sank lower.
What does it matter if part of me fought against
this life | led? The other part conquered. When
l imprisoned this last time I was bitterer
and more reckless than before. | chafed
against the confinement, and was continually pun
ished for insubordination. What did care? To
me the rules existed only to be broken, authority
to be defed. I gained the name of the widest
and most dangerous of all the prisoners; but in
November of that first year there came change
over me- God! how / sneered when | filed with
the rest of the men into the room where the
Thanksgiving services were to be held. My heart
was black with the most horrible thoughts, but on
sudden they rolled away the clouds do before
brisk wind. 1t wasn't the prayer the speak
ing that did it, it just womans voice.
don't remember what went before, Or what came
after l only know that she got up to sing and
stood there with the light from the window
streaming full on her face. 1t was the face of
saint. Not one of those smooth, soft faces that
look as if life was all roses, but face that
showed passion and striving and peace. If she
hadn't uttered note, | should have been bet
ter man just seeing her. How / tell you
about her voice? 1t was like the eye of God; it
searched the blackest depths of my heart. As
she sang hymn after hymn, I forgot the prison,
and saw the meeting house yonder plain
day. There were the girls in the choir smiling
over at me, there was Molly Pitman, with her
eyes cast down and the red creeping into her
cheeks where the dimples were showing Glenn
ency Wilson sat next. And there mother
and you in the pew and old Gardner across the
aisle, with his head in his hands if he were
praying. though we all knew he was asleep. 1t
was all clear to me- clear as you are this min
ute, and hadn't thought of it for years. sat
motionless listening to that wonderful voice that
painted those old pictures one by one upon my
Sustained heart.
"When she had finished singing and turned to
60, something seemed to prompt her, for she
stepped back and asked if there was any particu-
lar song or hymn we cared to hear. One OF the
men near me said softly, Home, Sweet Home
1t was the merest whisper, but she heard and
looked our way. Her eyes met mine in glance
that full of the most beautiful pity and en-
couragement; she thought I had made the re
quest 'Oh' she said, with little gasp of pain,
T don't The next moment she began to sing.
Before she got through the first verse the room
was full of sobs; most of the men were crying
like children. She sang on to the end, though
the tears were streaming down her face; then
she went away.
CATER that, all those rebellious feelings slipped
from me- in their place great longing sprang
ND in my heart for mother and the sweet, simple
life I'd left so far behind. ] used to dream of
home every night and throughout the day it was
always in my mind. | thought of you constantly,
old fellow; somehow, through all my shame and
misery, I felt that you'd stand by me and
wanted you'll wanted you
"When I was free they found me employment,
and worked at it until I earned enough money
to bring me home I couldn't stay any longer.
All to-day I loitered in the woods. 1 thought
my story might have leaked out here, and I'd
wait till dark before ! entered the village | was
afraid the people would turn from me; and in
stead-instead-- You've done what I haven't
been man enough to do for mysef-you've kept
nv name clean I didn't know what it was that
beckoned me home strongly and made the
dream of new life possible for even me, but |
know now" He put out his hand and touched
Stevens work-roughened fingers humbly.
"Your great heart" he said, with choke in
his voice.