The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-01-11
Behind Grim
Prison Walls
By EDWARD LEVINE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
o. 1922. Western Newspaper Union)

Henry Lewis was free. Thos'
months in the penitentiary seemed
dreamlike to him when he passed I'm
accompanied through the great gates
1t was all a dreadful dream, from the
moment when he was arrested on the
charge of having murdered his wife
to the time when he was unexpectedly
set at liberty.
He was freeI He had now to com
pletely disprove the allegations which
had broken down after the verdict
against him. He had to regain his
position as a respected member Of the
community. He made his way home
to the village. He entered his house,
closed since the tragedy.
For several days he lived the life
of a hermit there, trying to gain cour-
age to face the world. At last, on a
bright morning he sauntered down
the village street.
His lawyer, old Perkins, who had
defended him with such zeal, was
coming toward him with his Junior
partner, Emery. Lewis could hear
the loud tones of the old man.
Guilty as HI! 1 always knew
=" he was saying. eff ever a man
deserved to go to the chair Henry
Lewis did"
Their eyes met. There was not the
faintest recognition in old Perkins.
He passed by, leaving Lewis gaping
in dismay.
So the village had decided to send
him to Coventry! And that proved
to be the fact. His old cronles and
acquaintance cut him dead, passing
with a shrug of the shoulders.
But there was Mrs. Baynes-Emma
Baynes, the woman he had loved so
deeply. She had written to him In
the penitentiary assuring him that she
believed he had been unjustly convict
ed, that she would wait for him when
he was set free, as he must be. He
gathered his courage to go to her
house. The front door was open. He
walked in, as he had done so often.
She was sitting in her parlor, a
woman friend with her, woman
Lewis had always hated. AS he
paused at the door moment, he
heard her say:
"My dear Emma, your loyalty is
splendid, but that man killed her cold
bloodedly for her insurance money
there's not the slightest doubt of 1t.
You must put him out Of your mind"
Emma was weeping. cts so hard
to believe it," she said.
Henry Lewis walked in and con-
fronted them. Mrs. jerks, the friend,
drew herself up rigidly and turned
away.
II am innocent; and have been set
free in proof Of It," Lewis said to the
other. "Tell me you believe In me"
II believe you are right, my DEAR"
said Emma Baynes to her friend.
She would not even deign to speak |
to him. Despair seized him. He |
turned and made his way back to his
lonely house.
He would pack, go to California.
People were more lenient in their
judgments there. Surely the fact that
he had been set free should be enough
TO make them believe in him.
He looked up, uttered cry. Hilda
stood before him-the wife whom he
lad poisoned, they said, angry, con-
fronting him with an implacable ex-
preston. And at the sight Of her his
crumbled into the dust.
He flung himself at her feet "For-
,ive!" he stammered.
She turned her face away. He
.aught at her hands, but they dis
olved into thinnest air.
'Is there no forgiveness for mel"
"Why did you kill me?" He heard
he words clairaudiently all was very
till In the room.
ITO get the insurance, to marry
emma Baynes. What can do to OBJ
ain forgiveness? Shall give myself
p to the police, confess?"
"That won't help you"
"What, then"
Devote eternity to helping others. {
10 through the world using your infiu- {
nee to prevent wrong-doing, to re- S
train those about to commit the same
ct you committed. Open the eyes :
f the blind, speak to the deaf" =
II will. AS long as I live"
For the first time he saw compass
lon in Hilda's eyes.
''Then you will forgive? You'll wait
or me when pass over?"
She leaned toward him, laying one
" hand upon his forehead. "Don't
OH understand yet, Henry?" she
sked gently. "Look !"
He screamed. He fell upon his @
nees. In the darkening room men, a.
" portrayed, as if it were a picture, CT
10 soono In tho oxonntion roorn tho q