The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-16

CAME THE PEAL OF BELLS.
borrowed for an old man." as the
lender testified. Jones said that he had
been to his place looking for an old
man. neighbor had seen Marys
cold greeting as she started away with
her uncle and had heard Toms threat
of vengeance afterward The police
man had seen Tom entering the house
and had found him bending over the
dead man.
All hope had left Mary's heart when
she heard Tom sentenced to twenty
years Imprisonment. Even the assur-
ance that it would not be over eighteen
years with good conduct on Toms part
failed to brighten her despair. for that
term seemed almost a lifetime. The
thought of the Jail haunted her every
where, and instead of trying to get
back into the store where she had
worked with Dora she found place as
waitress in a restaurant down by the
market, but she was recognized even
there, and when she found that men
came to see her as a curiosity she
would not stay. She no longer dared
to be waitress and for years lived as
diShwaSher in restaurants and cheap
hotels. The pay was scarcely enough
to keep her alive. yet she saved few
cents week by week. never failing in
her hope and her trust for Tom. When
his time was nearly up she was more
feveriShly eager to save for after all
her hardshipS she had but little. scarce
ly 5000. in all these weary years. Then
! she had a long sickness of typhoid
fever that in three months swept all
her precious savings away.
This was her first day out after her
| convalescence. She was still very
weak and without a dollar But what
did it matter? This was Toms day
of delivery. She knew the hour when
he was to be set free.
| She wanted Tom, and the long defer
red hope of a happy home seemed a
| slight thing compared to her great
longing. The great prison which she
| knew so well was almost in sight Al
high wall and looked up the passage
way that led to the entrance She felt
a sudden consciousness of her ragged
clothes. Of the limp calico skirt and
of the holes In her shoes. She would
not disgrace Tom by going inside. but
would wait in the street where no one
could see her.
What was she bringing her lover
after all these years? She had neither
youth nor health nor money nor home.
| She almost dreaded to see him in the
new clothes that she knew the state
would give him. He was coming. She
! heard his footsteps on the walk, bur
she could not bear to put him to the
test yet and tremblingly crouched by
the great wall.
He came to the street and looked
about him. How old and gray he
] seemed. but how handsome still! De
| jectedly he walked away from where
she was hiding. failing at first to rec
| ognize her. Her weakness and her
longing overcame her and, huskily cry
ing TON, Tom" she staggered out
before him.
MARY" he gasped and ran to her
as she was sinking to the pavement.
II worked for you. Tom. but was
sick and lost it all. | have no money
for our home" she said
She was fainting on his shoulder, and
the big tears rolled from his eyes and
his voice choked him as he replied:
"God bless you, Mary! You're too
good for one like me-
And from the churches of the city
came the peal of the bells ringing the
chimes Of Christmas eve.