Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15

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He had thought that with years
Imprisonment he could pay the penalty
Of his wrong-dOing. 1t was a relief
to him when his trial was finished,
and, with the verdict Of guilty, came
his sentence to a years Imprisonment.
1t meant absolute release from strug-
gle and responsibility for twelve
manthS. He was tired Of the struggle.
1t was only because of his wife's be-
lief in his innocence that he had made
q pretenSe of defense. He knew he
was guilty, and he knew that others
who were vitality interested, were in
possession of the same knowledge, but
for the sake of his wife, whose faith
he would not disturb by confession
Of the truth, he made the most of his
slight chance to evade punishment.
His resistance against the inevitable
brought nothing save a wearying de-
lay, and an expense which his wife's
relatives were obliged TO meet. He
had nothing. 1t was his need of more
money than he had which made him
q criminal. 1t had always been his
weakness to want more than he had
the means to pay for, and when he at
last faced difficulties which he fancied
were desperate, in his panic and alarm
he tried to right one wrong by COM
hitting another. Not being yersed I'm
the science of criminology, he follow
ed so crude method Of appropriating
funds not his own that his detection
and arrest were almost immediate.
He was glad when his trial was end
ed; when the painful parting from his
wife was over, and he was within pris-
on walls. He seemed to have entered
oblivion, and this was what he most de-
sired.
The true perception of his sin was
only forced upon his realization when
he saw it reflected in others faces. The
crime Of which he had been guilty had
less weight with him than his fall from
grace in public opinion. 1t was not
likely that he would have suffered much
If he had not been detected, but to
feel that he was an object Of scorn
tortured his pride, and above all else,
he wanted to be hidden.
The year did not seem long In pass
ing. He was an expert accountant and
was given congenial occupation soon
after ne entered the prison. so the I'M
eyentful days came and went rapidly.
There was no thosght of revolt In his
mind. He dislil1ed the coarse food he
had to eat, and the rough, uncouth gar
ments that covered his body. He had
never been rich, but he was accustomed
TO the smooth OF life, still, the knowl-
edge that the dlStasteful conditions
were only temporary helped him to
bear his discomfort. At the end Of the
year he would have paid the price Of
his folly. He had been given a hard
lesson to learn, but he could begin again
and profit by its teachings. 1t was thus
he counseled himself to his own salts
faction.
When he was released he went to the
far West with money he received from
his wife. They did not see each other
before his departure. The matter of
expense must be considered, and for
him to 60 to her, or for her to come to
him could not be afforded. Then. too,
he did not wish her to see him while
he bore the faint of the prison.
He felt lighthearted when he wSs
on the train that carried him west,
ward. He was leaving his dIscredit-
able past behind. He had expatiated
his sin within prison walls, and the
future surely held a place for him
where he should find new opportuni-
ties He was going where he was not
known; where there would be no one
to tell his story. He would be able to
send for his wife within a short time,
he was certain, and he might again be-
come a citizen In good standing.
He went to a town where "a boom
was on" and, though a stranger, he
soon succeeded In getting employment.
There was, for the time, employment
for many, and no questions were asked
OF men who chose to be silent regarding
their history. He went his way undis-
turbed, for several months, becoming
more strongly confirmed In the belief
that his debt was settled and paid by
his year Of life In prison. During these
months he had not seen anyone he had