Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-13
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Mu5tIdtioNS CD Rhodes
copYRIcHT 1914 81 DODR MEAD q COMPANY

separation between us were that Of
the grave | had merited and so weakly
Stunned.
But | was not yet satisfied. How
could | insure for myself the extreme
punishment which my peace demand.
ed, without bringing down upon me
the full consequences | refused to
accept.
You have seer how / ultimate
ly answered this question. A ~convict's
bed! a convict's isolation!
But after some weeks of this, fresh
fears arose. An accident was possible.
For all Bela's precautions, someone
might gain access to this room. This
would mean the discovery of my Sc
cret. And this fence was built.
This should have been enough. But
guilt has terrors unknown to inno-
| cence. One day | caught a small boy
peering through an infinitesimal crack
in the fence, and, remembering the
window grilled with iron with which
Bella had replaced the cheerful case
ment in my den Of punishment, | real
lied how easily an opening might be
made between the boards for the con
venience of a curious eye anxious to
penetrate the mystery of my s~eclusion.
And so it came about that the inner
fence was put up. This settled my pc.
sition in the town. No more visits
All social life was over. 1t was meet,
| was satisfied at last. l could now
! give my whole mind to my one remain.
ing duty. | lived only while on the
bench.
March 5, 1898.
There is a dream which comes tc
me often-a vision which I often see
1t is that of two broken and irregu
lar walls standing apart against q
background of roseate sky. Between
these walls the figures of a woman
and child, turning about to go.
The bridge | never see, nor the face
of the man who died for my sin; bui
this | see always-the gaunt ruins o.
Spencer's Folly and the figure of {
woman leading away a little child.
That woman lives. | know now who
she is. Her testimony was uttered be
fore me in court and was not one tt
rouse my apprehensions. My crime
was unwitnessed by her, and for year!
she has been a stranger to this town
But | have a superstitious horror o
seeing her again, while believing tina
the day will come when | shall do SO
, When this occurs-when | look up ant
find her in my path, | shall know tina
/ my sin has found me out and that tn,
end is near.
} 1909
o shade of Algernon Etheridge, ur
: forgetting and ~unforgiving! The won
an has appeared! She stood in thi
room today. Verify, years are nott
r ing with God.
Added later.
: thought | knew what awaited m
if my hour ever came. But who ca
i, understand the ways of Providence o
r where the finger of r%etributive justic
, will point. 1t is divers name and no
t mine which has become the sport G
3 calumny. divers! Could the iron
of life go further! divers!
: There is nothing against him, an
l such folly must soon die out; but
see doubt in Mrs. Scoville's eyes !
horrible in itself and to eliminate
\ | may have to show her divers al
count of that long-forgotten night {
crime in Spencer's Folly. 1t is navel
e written and reveals a clean, If reticen
y nature; but that its effect may /
unquestionable l will insert a fe
lines to lover any possible misinte
g probation Of his and conduc
n There is an open space, and our han
writings were always strangely alik
Only our els differed. and will |
IT careful with the els.
Her confidence must be restored
l. all hazards.
My last foolish attempt has undol
me. Nothing remains now but tn
sacrifice of self which should ha'
ID been made twelve years ago.