the twin hells(两个地狱)-第34节
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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 permitted to return home。 I was a
United States' prisoner。 As such； Governor Martin had no control over me。
No one had authority to send me home on such a furlough except
President Cleveland。 But I care nothing about this。 I did not stop to inquire
about the authority； when the prison doors came open I left for home。 I
was furnished a citizen's suit of clothes。 I remained at home for nearly a
week。 Many friends came to see me。 This to me was one of the best weeks
of my life。
A little occurrence took place； during this short stay at home； which I
will mention here。 I have a legal friend at Atchison by the name of Hon。 D。
C。 Arnold。 This man； when tested； proves himself true to those who have
gained his good will。 He conceived the idea that sending me out of the
penitentiary； IN CITIZEN'S CLOTHING； was without WARRANT IN
LAW OR PRECEDENT IN FACT； and that； by releasing me in that way；
they had lost control of me。 Unknown to me he had prepared an
application in 〃habeas corpus。〃 The judge of the District Court； Hon。 W。 D。
Gilbert； who was on the bench at the time； was a personal friend of his and
mine also； as I had something to do in his election； and had the application
been presented to him； the judge would have inclined to turn me loose；
and I would have been a free man。 When Mr。 Arnold informed me as to
what he was doing； I told him that I had given my word of honor that I
would return to the prison； and that I would keep it。
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At the expiration of a week I returned to my prison cell。 A petition；
signed by nearly five thousand people； had been forwarded to President
Cleveland for my pardon。 I had some hopes of securing relief。 I bade my
wife good…by。 I thought sure I would be sent home in a few days。 My wife
hopefully entertained the same opinion。 We were both deceived。 When I
reached the prison； the deputy warden； Mr。 Higgins； when he was
informed by the officer； Mr。 Morgan； who attended me home； how I
refused my chances of liberty by means of the proceedings in 〃habeas
corpus；〃 contemplated by my friends； choosing imprisonment rather than
breaking my word； called me into his office； and said that there was not
one man in ten placed in my circumstances that would have done as I did。
He then said to me： 〃Reynolds； I will see that you have no more hard work
to do while you are in the penitentiary； I would give you your liberty if I
could； but that is beyond my power。 I will make it as agreeable for you as
possible in the prison。〃 He got another man to take my place in the mines；
and I was given an easy task from that on。 I was detailed to make out
reports for the prison officials； and was kept busy； and was； as I was
informed； a very valuable man in that capacity。 This kind of work was in
keeping with my labors when on the outside； and was not hard on me like
digging coal。 I was given the liberty of the prison； was allowed to
converse with the prisoners； and because of these favors shown me； I was
able to secure the material for this book。
The month following my return to the prison was the darkest； the most
desolate； and the most sorrowful portion of my earthly pilgrimage yet
experienced。 My wife was at home dying！ I was behind the prison walls！
During that month I was entirely unfit for any kind of work。 The prison
officials； knowing my sorrows； took pity on me and did not insist upon my
performing any kind of labor。 I was left alone with my grief。 None but
God and the angels knew what I suffered。 During the day I could think of
nothing but my dying wife； in the night…time； when the angel Sleep closes
the eyelids down to rest； none came to me； in my dreams the pale face of
my dear one at home in the agonies of death was before me。 I would but
drop sometimes into a dull slumber when I fancied that I could hear her
calling for me； and thus aroused； it seemed to me that I must burst the
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prison bars and go to her。 Knowing how much deeper and stronger； purer
and sweeter the affections and sympathies of woman are than those of man；
what must my poor； dead wife have borne！ For thirty days and nights I
endured these torments。 At last the hour came when her sufferings ceased。
Reader； doubtless you have lost a loved one。 If so； you were permitted to
go down to the very brink of the River of Death； you were permitted to sit
at the bedside and administer words of comfort and cheer。 Not so with me。
My loved one passed away； her husband kept from her side by prison bolts
and bars。 And； reader； when you buried your loved one； kind friends
condoled with you； and in some degree assuaged your grief。 Not so with
me。 When the news came that my wife was dead I sat down in my solitary
cell and shed my tears alone。 The cup that was placed to my lips was
indeed a bitter one； and I drank to the dregs。 My wife was one of earth's
purest and best。 We lived together as husband and wife the fifth of a
century。 During those twenty years of married life my wife never uttered a
cross word to her husband。 What greater eulogy could be pronounced！ In
the sunshine； and as certainly amid the storms of life； she was constant and
true。 Because of her goodness of heart my home was cloudless。 Many
times during life have the storms and waves swept against my trembling
barque； but in that little harbor called home no storms ever came。 Oh； how
much a man loses when a good wife dies！ So great was my distress that；
had it not been for the strength imparted by a pitying God； I never could
have passed through that long night of suffering。 Gone； never to return。
When my prison days were over； I returned to my old home in
Atchison； but how changed it was。 My wife in her grave； my motherless
children among strangers； my home desolate。 As I pen these lines；
surrounded by the fogs and mists of time； the question comes to me ever
and anon； when the hour shall come for me to close my eyes to the scenes
of earth； will I be permitted to greet my sainted wife in the beautiful city
above？ Yes。 I have the faith that the loving Galileanthe man of sorrows；
who was acquainted with griefwill in that hour open the gates of pearl；
and let me in。 Until that happy houruntil we meet in the land where none
of life's storms ever reach； my darling wife； farewell！
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CHAPTER XIII
FREEDOM
To all things earthly there comes an end。 Sixteen long； dreary months
of imprisonment finally passed away。 The dark clouds of sadness and
gloom that for so long hung above me now parted； and folding themselves
together rolled away in the distance。 The large iron doors swung upon
their hinges； and once more I breathed the air of freedom。 Drowsy Nature
was just being aroused from her wintry slumber by the gentle touch of
Spring； as I began life anew。 On that； to me； eventful morning the sky
appeared brighter than I had ever beheld it before。 O liberty！ No one can
ever appreciate thy blessings save him upon whose limbs have pressed the
cruel fetters of slavery。 The sunlight of freedom falls with its greatest
refulgence upon him who has been surrounded for months and years by
the baleful mists and darkness of abject bondage。 The air of liberty comes
doubly surcharged with the fragrance of the rarest flowers to him who has
inhaled the feted breath of serfdom。 Grateful to God that my life had been
spared； retaining all the ambition of former years； possessed of my
manhood； conscious of no guilt； I felt that； under the guiding hand of
Providence； there was for me a bright future。 With a determin
