ONE HOUR OF LIBERTY.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 14, 18 June 1920, Page 2

ONE HOUR OF LIBERTY.

Gloria Waldron, her beautifnl face flushed with anger, faced her father defiantly. "You have no right to decide whom I arn to marry, especially when you have chosen a man whom I detest and distrust. ' ' Colone! Waldron's jaw tightened, and then he drew nearer to the girl. "You will marry Captain Newton m a month's time," he retorted harshly. "He is in every way a suitable man — rich, handsome, and well-connected, and a fine soldier. You understand, Gloria?" A look of pain appeared on the girl's faee, and she gazH up appealingly into \ her father's face. "Dad dear, I have always submitted to your rule, even when it was against my own judgment. Surely you are not going to ruin my life now by forcing me to marry a ipan I don't love!" Her voice broke. "Oh, dad, I can't do as you ask!" Uolonel Waldron turned towards his desk "To-morrow we leave here, and I take up governorship at Fenmoor Prison." he said coldly. "You will have plenty of timo there to get used to my ideas when once you are away from .your companions in the town." A low sob escaped the girl's lips, and she crossed to her father's side. "Do you mean that — that you will force me to marry a man I loathe?" she asked. Colonel Waldron looked away from the beautiful face. "T'hat's all nonsense, Gloria," he returned sternly. "Newton is a most worthv fellow, and your dislike is merely a foolish girl's whim. A month from to-day you will marry Newton, or you will haeVe to find another roof to shelter you." Gloria Waldron's face flushed with anger. ^ "You mean that you will turn me out of your home?" she said. "Well, if that is your intention, I will save you the trouble by going at once!' Colonel Waldron swung round, and gripping Gloria by the shoulders, peered into her eyes. "You — you wouldn't dare!" he muttered, his face livid with rage. The girl drew herself away from him. 'You may as well know why it is impossible to do as you want," she answered, re turning his gaze unflinchingly. "I was married this morning to a man whom you do not know, and of whom posslbly you would not approve. But I love him, and that is sufficient' for me. I know I shall be happy with him." A low snarl of rage broke from Colonel Waldron's lips, and, crossing to the door, he flung it open. "Go, go, before I forget myself!" But Colonel Waldron made no sign. He stood there, his face set in an expressioi of grim anger. II. A wild thunderstorm broke over the country around Fenmoor Prison. Colonel Waldron, govemor of the prison, was seated in the dining-room of his house, He had just concluded his evening mead, and, in spite of the fact that it was late summer, he shivered slightly as he looked out through the window. The storm was increasing in violence every minute, and great flashes of lightning lighted up the scene at regular intervals, while the thunder roared and reverberated through the heavens. "Great powers, what a terrible night!" ejaculated the governor, leaning back in his chair, and puffing the blue smoke from his cigar. "There 's not much likelihood of any of the convict's making a dash for it on a night iike this. Even a prison cell J is preferable to a night spent in hiding j on the moors in this downpour." He sat there immersed in his own j thoughts, as, from time to time, the lightning zig-zagged its way into the apartment. Colonel Waldron's thoughts were far from happy opes, for his fancy had conjured up, in the shadows of the room, the face of liis daughter Gloria. From the time she had left his home on that memorable night, nearly four years before, he had not seen her. Three times she had written to him, app ealing, womanly notes, bnt Colonel Waldron had steeled his heart against them, and they j had (gone unheeded.

"What a proud old fool I have been!" he muttered, after a while. "Here am I, doomed to spend the evening of my days alone, unloved and heartbroken. My little girl !" A terrific clap of thunder sounded in the heavens, causing the house to vibrate. The governor gazed half-fearfully towards the window. "Heaven grant the world has dealt kindly to my little one," he muttered softly, "for she was unused to the cruelties and struggles of life ! ' ' With an effort the. governor threw off the feeling of depression which threatened to master him, and, rising from his seat, h,e turned to the bookcase, and looked along the shelf to select a hook. As he did so his eyes wandered in the direction of the window, and a. ery of amazement burst from his lips. A pale face was staring in at him. "An escaped convict!" gasped Waldron, his thoughts turning at once to the prisoners. Without pausing to consider the risk he ran, Colonel Waldron dashed across to the window. At the same moment the face disa-ppeared. "I wonder who on earth it could have been?" muttered Waldron. "The face didn't look like that of one of the men. And yet, who else could have been out in such a terrible storm?" As he*spoke he unfastened the long French windows, and flung them open. The rain came swirling in with terrific force, and it was some moments before Colonel Waldron could see before Colonel Waldron could see before him. Then, a few yards before the window, he saw a form swaying dizzily. It was a women, and in her arms she carried a baby. The governor hurried to where she stood and passed one arm around her. "My poor soul," he ejaculated. "You must be drenched to the skin.. Come along inside antil the storm is over." Half supporting the figuie, Colonel Waldron drew her into the room, and, as he did so, the light fell upon the girl's face, With a gasp of astonishment. Waldron recognised the sweet, pale features, "Gloria! My child!" he cried,- clasping the soaked figure tightly in his arms. "My deai — dear little girl!" Assisting the girl to a settee, he forced her down gently upon it. Then, for the first time, he noticed that the baby she carried was a little girl, about three years old. The little one had been well wrapped up in a large shaw], and was certainly none the worse for the weather. Colonel Waldron took the child from her mother, and placed her down on a large tiger-skin rug. At the sight of the large, stuffed head, the mite gurgled happily, and it was apparent that, however the mother had suffered, her baby had been well cared for. A mist swani before the eyes of Colonel Waldron as he crossed over to the French windows and fastened them. Then he turned again to where the girl remained staring before her. "Gloria! My poor little girl!" went on the governor, choking back a sob in his . throat. "But all this is past now, little one. In your sorrow you have returned to me, and we must forget all that is past." Colonel Waldron stopped abruptly, and peered more closely into the expressionless •eyes. i Gloria, what is it, dear?" he cried hoarsely. "Gloria!" j The girl rose to her feet, and then passed her hand to her forehead. "I- don't know you!" she murmured dully. "But — I — 1 — oh, my head — my head !" Her voice died away in a wai!, as her hand still remained clasping her forehead. Then, with a loud cry, she fell prone at her father's feet, unconscious. III. The prison doctor turned from the hed in which Gloria had been placed and addressed Colonel Waldron, who was standing pale-faced near the door of the room. P oor little thing ! ' ' he murmured sym-

pathetically. "She is in a had way, Waldron. Her brain is partially unhinged, and I f ear for her life. She must have suf - fered terribly to get to such a state." "What can we do, doctor?" asked Waldron aimously. "I really don't know, Waldron. During the time I have been watching her she has raved unceasingly for her husband. But where he is Heaven alone knows, for the girl herself is not in a state to tell us. If only he could be fetched, recovei y is al•.most certain." "And without him?" queried the governor. "Then the end is inevitahle, for her brain carinot stand the strain," returned the doctor. "She may last a few days — or less than that even; but all the skill in the universe can do her no good now. I am firmly convinced that the sight of her husband can restore her reason, and then her recovery would naturally follow." "Oh, Heaven, this is too cruel!" cried Waldron brokenly. "But she must not die, doctor, she must not die. She is all I have to live fot now. Something must be done." "That is easy enough to say, but where in the world do you propose to seek the husband?" returned the doctor. \ A brief pause followed, and then Colonel Waldron turned sharply to the doctor. "I had forgotten the child," he exclaimed. "We may be able to learn something from her. Anyhow, there is a chance, and we can't afford to let one go by." The child was with a maidservant who had taken charge of her. The little one was very anxious about her mother, but listened attentively to the doctor. "When did you last see your daddy, little one?" he asked kindly. "Would you remember him again, if you saw him?" "Yes, 'cos I would," returned the mite. "Here's a picture of him." She drew a locket from inside her dress, and held it up. The doctor examined the face closely. T don't seem it reccgnise the face at all. Perhaps you have seen something of him, colonel?" The governor of Fenmoor prison examined the portrait eagerly, and a look of horror appeared on his face as he did so. "Great heavens!" he gasped hoarsely. "This man is a convict — a convict under my charge at the prison ! ' ' A gasp of astonishment broke from the doctor's lips, but he soon recovered his usual complacent expression. "Nothing could be better," .he cried. "Have the man brought here immediately. ' ' "Here!" gasp"ed the governor. "The man is a branded felon, and it is my duty to keep him in safe custody within the prison walls. I — I can't do it!" "Your first duty is to consider the life of your child!" cried the doctor sternly. "Colonel Waldron, I tell you solemnly that the presence of that man here if only for a few seconds, will be all that is required to save her life. If you refuse to do as I ask, your daughter will die, and you will be solely responsible for her death!" Waldron stared into the face of the doctor, his face twitching nervously. In his position as governor at Fenmoor prison, his conduct had been exemplary and he had the reputation of being a Strictly fair and just man. Was it right for him to let the call of love interfere with that of duty? A brief pause followed, then at length he turned to the doctor. "You are right. Convict 83 must be brought here at once. I will telephone instructions immediately . ' ' Twenty minutes later Convict 83 was brought to the governor's house in charge of three warders. "Remain on guard outside the building," commanded the governor to the men in charge, "I will be responsible for the prisoner." Convict 83 was handcuffed, and Colonel Waldron took him to the room where Gloria lay. "Go.-in," ordered Waldron as the man hesitated outside on the threshold. The convict, not knowing what to expect, pushed the door open cautiously. At the sight of the pale face on the pillows, a vvHld cry burst from the man's lips, and, crossing swiftly to the bed, flung himself down on his knees by it. Gloria, my dear one ! Gloria ! ' ' Choked by his sobs the - convict buried his face iri the bed-cloth.es, and as he lay there the girl opened her eyes slowly. The convict's hand closed upon it, anu the next moment he was raining passidnate kisses upon the frail fingers. "She. has recognised him," whispered the doctor to Colonel Waldron as they stood in the doorway. "See, she is eryir>g. Splendid ! I'll go now, colonel, I shan't be wanted any more to-night." The doctor departed, and for over an hour the governor left the convict and his wife together. Then, bracing himself up, the governor returned to the bedroom. The object had been attained, an i the man must return.

Tm sorry, my man/. , not »„tindly. "B«t ,onr *S must go back." e ^ Up; ^ "No, no! You shan't take V cried Gloria frantically. " W ? a*»J! parted so long, and now that K gether again, I can't let him "My dear little gir]>» ® f father, "your husband 'is a he must return to Fenmoor to^' ^ h's punishment. I WouJ(} to make you happy, Gloria, quite beyond my power." Convict 83 drew himself Up ar,j ' appealingly into the governor's "I know you have every causet/j my word, sir," he said hrokenlv , ^ swear by everything I hold mos't 11 1 that I am innocent. . I have nevJj anything to deserve such punishme am an innocent man suffering f0i a3 , crime. Give me a chance— only a?j to get away and prove the truth lu words, and Heaven will surely r°e you. I will risk being shot, if you will let me leave the house with warning tte warders who are m, outside." W A gasp of horror sounded from tbe ernor. "It is impossible — impossible !" "Dad, for my sake, for my habyW my baby who loves her daddy just^| love you, give him a chance?" Gloria. "But my duty!" cried the gov^ weakly. "I have always been etiiftl honourable in all I have done, and cannoi disgrace myself." "It would be no disgrace, dad,"^ on Gloria, "for Heaven will sureij ^ \ the \vrong which Jack has suffered, J then yon will be proud of the parl^ have played." "God help me! Your husband shalll| a chance! muttered the old man. "I| risk my honour and my position to s you my child. And if he get s freei makes good, y.ou will he able to joinS later, and be as happy as you desem Jack Barton," he said, turning to the con vict, you can. leave the house by tiehd entrance. That is the darkest to;, jJ y v i may be. able to, get clear safely. Yq will find an overcoat in the hall, take it,1 "May Heaven bless you, sir," murmtir ed the convict brokenly. "Some dayj hope I shall be able to thank you your goodness." "You had better go quickly, beH cbange my mind," said the goverj sternly. Jack Barton kissed his wife passionaWj and then crossed swiftly to the door. At the same moment a loud rat-tat sounded upon the hall door below. 1 "One moment," said the governor sharply- "That is a messenger from the prison, Yoii had better wait here until be ki gone." Jack Barton retnmed to ihe bedsika tbe governor passed irom the room and: down the stairs to meet the warder wll had just s'tepped into the hall. "Special message from the Home Office,' marked 'Urgent,' sir." "Thank you, Roberts," returned CoIoto Waldron. With trembling fingers the stem old , mar tore open the envelope and irm out the folded sheet of paper. . He read it through quickly, and to ; turned to the man who was waiting. "It's all right, there will he no answer,ho said brief ly; and then hurried bad to the room where He had left the c® vict. "The very best of news, Barton, 1' exclaimed as he entered. "This is } message from the Home Office order»I your immediate release. It appears your solicitor has been working unc®®f | ly on your behalf to prove your innot«» Th-s he has done by producing the ^ party, who has confessed to the 'or8e for which you have suffered. ; "Thank God !" muttered Barton ferv® • "You must, of course, return tfl jjj prison to-night," went on Waldron, , to-morrow you will be free. | But neither Gloria nor her husban ^ heard the governor's last words, °' j girl was sobbing on her husban dci> " , ie.J The governor paused and en ^ to clear his throat, then a soun i h:m caused him to turn round s .j In the doorway stood Gloria s a At the sight of her father s e r j fully towards the hed. jneS| Half ashamed of the tears o ^ ^ J which trickled down his hn 0 . J tae governor left them to t e reunion, (The End.)