the twin hells(两个地狱)-第33节
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in slumber。 Before doing so I had made the final decision； I had crossed
the Rubicon； I had looked the ground over； and had my plans well matured。
The next morning； after the day's work had commenced； and the warden
had come down to his office； I asked permission of my officer to see
Captain Smith。 The officer wanted to know what my business was with the
warden。 My reply was； 〃Official and strictly private。〃 My request was
granted。 I was soon standing in the presence of the big…hearted Warden
Smith； and being asked as to what I wanted； I said； 〃Captain； I thought I
would come in and get your opinion as to whether I was crazy or not； and
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if you think I am not beside myself I would like to make a statement to
you and ask your advice。〃 A few days before this I had had several
interviews with him as to my pardon； and other business matters； and I
suppose he thought he was going to get something more along the same
line。 〃Go ahead； John；〃 he said； 〃and let me know what it is。〃 I then told
him of my intentions and plans。 He made no reply until I had gone over
the whole subject。 Then he said。 〃You are certainly on the safe side； for
you can lose nothing。 I always thought；〃 continued he； 〃that it was
practical to engage in any enterprise where all was gain and nothing to
lose。 And； furthermore； knowing your standing at home； it would not
surprise me very much if you would receive more votes than your
competitors。〃
This was encouraging。 I then asked permission to write letters to a
number of my friends； and also to receive letters from them。 He informed
me he could not do this； as it would be a violation of the rules of the prison；
but if any of my friends should come down I could send out anything by
them I wished。 I then wired a personal friend； A。 S。 Hall； Esq。； of Atchison；
who called at the prison； to whom I gave my letter of announcement； and
several letters I had written to political friends。
The news spread rapidly； and in a few days I was squarely before the
people as an independent candidate。 Shortly after this announcement I
wrote an article for the papers； stating my reasons for making the
senatorial race。 When writing this communication I forgot I was a prisoner；
and said some things that reflected seriously upon some of the warden's
personal friends。 Here； I made a mistake。 The warden； on reading this
article； became enraged； and took away my writing material。 At this
juncture the senatorial outlook was rather discouraging。 My friends
championed my cause。 Being an independent candidate； and my name not
printed on any ticket； I received no accidental votes。 An elector voting for
me had to erase the name of my competitor and insert mine。 There were
four candidates in the field。 While I was not elected； I was far from
coming in last in the race。 I received twice as many votes as one of my
competitors。 He is one of the best men in the senatorial district； one of the
old settlers； and a gentleman highly esteemed。 To receive twice as many
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votes as this man was highly complimentary to me； I certainly felt
flattered。 When the vote was made known I received an official copy of
the returns； and forwarded it to President Cleveland。 My term was then
almost ended； and I felt confident that because of the splendid vote I had
received； and consequent endorsement of the people who were personally
acquainted with me； Mr。 Cleveland would certainly grant a pardon。 He did
not so much as answer my communication。
No one can imagine the anxiety I felt during that campaign。 Had I
received but a small vote it would have required more nerve than I possess
to have induced me to return to my old home。 But when the vote was
counted； and I received the returns； I must write it down as one of the
happiest hours of my life。 I had many true friends； and they demonstrated
that fact by voting for me。 Although in the garb of a felon； was not the
vote I received a grand vindication？ Any person of sense must answer in
the affirmative。
Looking over the past； I can now see that I made no mistake in
carrying into effect the scheme to which my mind gave birth on that
Sunday afternoon as I sat in my little…cell。
I will close this chapter by tendering my friends who voted and
worked for me at the time when I so much stood in need of their aid； my
heartfelt gratitude。
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CHAPTER XII
A DARK HOUR
It was a bright Sabbath morning。 I had been detailed to assist the
prison choir in their preparation for the religious services of the day。 While
engaged in this duty； the deputy warden sent for me。 Meeting this official；
he said to me； 〃John； I have sad news for you。 Governor Martin has just
telephoned from Atchison that your wife is dead； and that it was his wish
to have you sent home at once。〃 This was a great surprise to me。 I had
heard from my wife only two days before this。 At that time she was quite
sick； but was thought to be improving。 With a heart filled with sadness I
now prepared for my journey home。 The warden was absent； and the
deputy warden said； 〃There was no precedent for permitting a prisoner to
go home on a visit； as such a thing had never occurred before in the
history of the State； but；〃 continued he； 〃if you will give me your word
that you will return to the prison I will let you go。〃 I told him to set the
time for my return and I would be back。 Mr。 Morgan； the turnkey of the
prison； was my guard。 My journey from the prison was the saddest of my
life。 It was a bright May morning。 Everything around seemed joyful and
happy； but to me the world was gloomy。 I imagined my wife lying at home
a corpse； surrounded by my weeping； motherless little ones。 She had
passed away without my being at her bedside to go with her to the brink of
the dark river。 Mr。 Morgan； my attendant； had lost his mother but a short
time before this； and he could sympathize with me in a manner that aided
me in bearing my burdens。
After riding for a couple of hours we arrived at Atchison。 The train on
reaching the city passes on some two blocks beyond the depot； then backs
down。 As I thus passed by the depot I saw numerous friends who had
heard of my coming； and were there waiting to welcome me to my home。
They saluted me as I sat in the car at the window and passed on by the
depot。 I thought they exhibited too much joy in receiving a friend who was
coming back to see his dead wife。 I wondered at it。 When the train stopped
to back down to the depot； I got off and took the nearest cut to my
residence。 Walking some four blocks I reached my home。 When nearing
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the gate； one of my little daughters came bounding across the street； full of
joy and gladness； welcoming me home。 I thought she acted rather strange
for her mother to be lying in the house a corpse。 Without saying anything I
stepped to the door； it was standing ajar。 Looking in； I saw my wife lying
in the adjoining roomnot dead！ Thank God！ It seemed as if I had stepped
into another world。 My wife was very sick； but still conscious。 Oh！ what
joy I felt at once more being able to see my wife and to talk with her。 All
the way from the prison to the door of my residence I was laboring under a
false impression。 I drank the cup to its very dregs。 I could have suffered no
more on that journey home if she had been dead。 In fact I supposed she
was。 Governor Martin had made a mistake in transmitting the message； or
had been wrongly informed。
I do not know how it came that I was permi
