Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-10
The Argus Daily Story
Penance-By Henry Mellaby.
Copyrighted 1912, by Associated Literary Bureau.

be caught in Marcia's room.
Then Il certain GOODNESS came TO me,
from where l know not. and a resolu-
ton was taken to save Marcia from
stain.
Get into bed" said, and pretend
to sleep"
She obeyed me. and. gathering up
few trinketS on the bureau. a brace
let, two or three rings and some gold
pins, l stuffed them in my pocket, open
ed the bedroom door and went down
stairs. Ten minutes later was caught
with the articles on me and confessed
myself a sneak thief.
was placed in the wagon that had
Just come from the county seat and at
once driven there and lodged in jail.
was Il newcomer in that region, and
none Of the Hosmer family except Mar
cha had ever seen me. Even had |
been seen it would not have mattered.
The local newspaper at the end OF
the week published Il short item as to
the capture OF a thief who had boldly
climbed TO the window of Miss Hos
mer's room, stolen some articles from
! her bureau without awakipg her and,
! retreat being cut off by Mr.. Hosmer,
who OPPORTUNITY arrived in time, tried
| to escape through the house. He
was caught red handed, confessed and
was lodged in Jail. The item added a
warning to farmers against the prac-
tice of employing itinerant farm hands
during the harvest season lest they
harbor crooks. Miss Hosmer." the
article said in closing, ION learning of
the danger she had incurred, became
hysterical and has not yet recovered
from her fright"
For several days Marcia gave me no
news OF herself, and when she did she
came to me. Then l knew that she
had neither the physical strength nor
self control to have come before. But
at last, manifestinC an interest in the
welfare of the man who was supposed
to have robbed her. she declared that
she would see him, and II he were
penitent she would forgive him and do
all she could to save him from the con-
sequences of his theft. She insisted
on coming alone and was permitted to
see me without others being present
She begged me to consent to her con-
Tossing the truth, but forbade her. In
the first place, 1t would wreck her good
name and l would have the sin upon
my conscience. 1 persuaded her to let
the matter proceed as 1T had begun. en-
couraging her to hope that some guar
dian angel would bring ali right in
good time.
was soon tried, and. since had not
only confessed, but had been caught
with stolen articles on my person, l
pleaded guilty, and the court gave me a
comparatively light sentence. And now
| am in stripes at what is called hard
labor. But my heart is not heavy
since what bear has been instrument
tai in saving my love from an obloquy
that would have resulted from my own
recklessness. My suffering is that she
suffers. She comes to see me, some
times with the knowledge Of her par
} ents, but oftener when they know
nothing of her visits. Every time she
comes she begs me to consent to her
making IL confession, and every time
) persuade her TO wait for some other
1 means of giving me my freedom.
d Six years later have done great
: work. For five years | succeeded in
j persuadinC Marcia to refrain from tell
n ing the truth concerning me and by
good behavior reduced my sentence, 50
that u year ago l stepped forth free
= man. A few months before the eX
piration of my term Farmer HosmeI
Il died, his wife having died soon after
L nv incarceration, and Marcia became
II mistress of the fortune she Inherited
$ as sole heir. After her fathers deatf
l. she came openly to the prison to see
u me and gave out that as soon as haC
u served my term she would marry me
II In this she would not yield. saying
II that. since | had become a convict Il
u shield her. 1t was but little for her t.
e have the name of wedding Il convict.
e And so on the day / regained my
e freedom after putting off my stripes
e and putting on good clothes sent me
% hy Marcia | stepped from the prisol
n door into 4 carriage beside my bride
r and was driven to II church, where we
were made one.
~ ] wish that for my wifc's sake
l. could remove the stain resting upor
me without putting u SlAiH upon HfI
" This cannot he, but | feel that Prov
- idence has enabled me to become al
example to other cOnvicts. showing
how one may live. maintain his sci
= respect and prosper in spite OF havini
worn stripes They do not know tina
am innocent Of the crime for whicl
q ! was convicted. 80 my example ha
- its full force. And have ] not sai'
that in attempting 10 steal farne
Hosmers daughter my crime was IA
y greater than in stealing the trinket
e for which | was convicted?
And 80. though she and live unde
cloud. we feel that we are cncouf &C
- ing hosts or others who have fallen &
stand again and push forward. Whei
they hear of us their burden is lighter
,, and they have a better chance to sue
" coed. Why should they look bach
and why should they not look fol-
ward? Many OF them. starting limo
:, cent. were driven by merciless fat
to commit crime so light that 1t 1
l. A a