El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-29
The Life Prisoner
BY Wellington Hope.

1" HE murderer was slIllhg III
dark cell in the deepest cellar
l. of the great prison. Three
times he had attacked the wardens-
For the two first offences he had been
whipped. after the third he was placed
in chains and from that day he grew
more sulIen and desperate than ever
Then the old director of the prison
died and a new man came to take his
! place The news of this spread among
the prisoners and hope and fear took
possession of their minds.
One day footsteps were heard OUT
side the murderer's cell, the door was
opened, the warden remained outside
while another man entered He was
blinded by the darkness and at first
he saw nothing but the murderer saw
him plainly enough. He stood up and
glared at the intruder. a young pale
man with almost transparent features,
His eyes were blue and dreamy, his
fair hair blonde, as was also his curly
beard.
1.-The director" the rough voice of
the warden outside announced. The
murderer Strengthened himself a little
more and the director stepped closer
His eyes had now adjusted themselves
to the darkness and it was easily seen
that the surroundings made an un-
pleasant impression upon him. but his
voice was calm and gentle
You are convict number severn"
Yes sir
You have been whipped twice for
very serious offense''
Yes" the prisoner replied. sullenly.
You have been put in chains?'
The prisoner did not reply, but rat
tied his chains defiantly
he
not consider me your enemy, but rath-
er your teacher"
Teacher the prisoner repeater with
a scornful laugh.
Yes, teacher"
An impatient movement was heard
outside
81 want to treat you with kindness.
if possible. I consider that treatment
more useful that whippings''
Eyes, sir" replied the prisoner me-
chantcally, without understanding the
directors words.
To-day is the first of October I shall
return on New Years day. If you have
behaved we'll during the three months
I will give you something no prisoner
has ever had before. Now try to i'm
prove"
The director placed his small. white
hand on the convicts shoulder and
the unfamiliar touch of kind hand
made the prisoners knees tremble-
The director left, the door was lock-
ed, the sound Of his steps died away in
the hall
The prisoners first thought was
touch of emotion, the second of hatred,
because here was a man he felt would
prove stronger than himself the third
and last was the question: What did
the director mean when he said he
would give me something, no prison
er ever had before"
He tried to find an answer to this
question for days, weeks and months,
he thought of all things not to be
found in a prison. looking glass
He had not seen his own image for
years; but prison life had made him
lose every trace of vanity.
flower? There had been a time
when his highest wish had been to get
a flower in a pot that he might take
care of it and watch it growing-but
now he cared no longer for such a
thing
At last he thought that there was
nothing in particular that ne was long
ing for and he was from now on only
curious to see what the director might
give him.
With his fingernail he scratched a
mark on his bench for every day that
passed, and one day he discovered that
it was New Years day. He had been
as quiet as possible since the first of
October and his mind had been entire
ly occupied with speculations as to |
what he was to get.
He trembled at the thought that J