Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-31
TO-DAY s INSTALLMENT

L "A
To Jack Remington, waiting in prison
for death with resignation which had IN
il nothing short Of apathy. the news had
not yet come.
In until now he had not heard SO much
as whisper of the agitation which was
being conducted in his favor. In the con-
demned cell there is at least the mercy
of silence The chaplain. who had not
SO long since left him, had said nothing
Of it He had spoken to Remington OF
resignation to the will of God of heart
serene in the storm as in the sunshine
spoken in a manly way that had brought
a rush OF feeling to the prisoner heart
prison chaplain has TO ape the I'M
nartiaIitv OF Fate itself Yet this old man.
as he talked to Rimington speaking as ne
might have spoken had the interview been
conducted in his own study instead OF III
a prison cell had left with him an i'm
preston that he believed him to be what
he. without protestation or asseverations'
had stated himself to bean innocent
man.
Next 10 the Interview with Betty, Rim
hgton thanked God for his impression
Il helped him more than he knew for IT
gave him back that most precious Of gifts
Of which Imprisonment robs man his
self respect
As Remington sat now with an open
hook on his knee facing The wall on
which hung those texts which spoke oi
iustice and mercy-of those Four Last
Things which the world contrives so sue
cessfully to forget Remington was think
ing of the cha plain wondering If II would
be possible to intrust him with some last
message of hope for Betty that would
carry conviction to that broken heart
Words formed themselves in his brain
grouped themselves into phrases For an
instant 1t was almost as though he spoke
face to face with her
The Governor.
Then. with thrill almost Of vexauon,
he heard the clang of the opening Of
the cell door.
No chance now Of a visitor Of any Wis
itor he cared to see He had forbidden
the timid, horror stricken woman at the
Red House to come up. as she had wished
to do. His uncle 1t was probable, would
receive the order of Release before he
himself did David Rimngto on was lN
ing at the point Of death SAKE would
not come again And Betty never again
in his life would he look on Betty That
was not possible for either OF them
ITO go before the governor
That was the curt direction given 10
him Still with rebellion in his mind,
Remington marched between his warders
Couldn't they leave him at peace now?
That condemned cell was home-his last
home on earth He felt an odd reluctance
to leave it
Even now as he went he had no thought
Of what awaited him Had the hour been
earlier he might have thought perha ps
that II was the end The warders, who
probably knew or at least guessed, cast
curious gances at him as they went
Afterwards Rimington remembered lit
tie enough of the interview What hap
pened at It wiped the details from his
mind. He remembered vaguely the gov
ernor and the chaplain and some prison
officials to whom he could not have giver
a name, his own warders and that pre-
vaiIing note of prison life the remem
brance OF which never leaves the mar
who has done time the click and clanl
OF the keys.
He noticed one thing and one thing onl,
the look on the faces of the two men
the governor and chaplain-a new ligh
in the eyes with which they regarded him
which seemed to tell him. or so ht
thought, the news before their lips did
an consequence Of the home
secretary has seen fit to commute
penal serVitude ,"
Vague words buzzng in Jack Rlming
tons ears, that had grown strangely
dulled, and above them all one boomnl
word repeated over and over again Re
proved! Repreved,
And then that word too. was drowned
by the strange buzz and roar that sound
ed in his ears, and great veil OF dark
ness descended on him blOtting out tn,
glomy room and the oddly impassive fac,
OF the governor. the frankly joyful face o
the old chaplain He felt himself falling
falling into an abyss where nothing mat
tered, neither the things OF life nor death
Painted, poor wretch one of the prls
on officials In attendance on the governo
said, as they watched warder kneelinj
by Rimington's side and forcing brand.
between the tightly clenched teeth IF h
only knew, he'd take il quick enough, it,
the last drink he's likely to get for man,
a long day Twenty years it works out al
/ suppose BY George it's hard to say
but I think II the choice were offered l.
me I'd prefer to swing Twenty years
poor beggar,