ould be
despoiled of his liberty any longer? And when it was replied that the
man had been convicted, and that the wheels of justice could not be
stopped or turned back by the letter of a romantic artist or the ravings
of a madman, there was a mighty outcry against the farce of justice that
had been played out in this man's case.
The trial was reviewed; the evidence again brought up and examined. The
dignity of the State was threatened. At this time the State did the one
thing necessary to save its tottering reputation. It would not
surrender, but it capitulated, and Berry Hamilton was pardoned.
Berry heard the news with surprise and a half-bitter joy. He had long
ago lost hope that justice would ever be done to him. He marvelled at
the word that was brought to him now, and he could not understand the
strange cordiality of the young white man who met him at the warden's
office. Five years of prison life had made a different man of him. He no
longer looked to receive kindness from his fellows, and he blinked at it
as he blinked at the unwonted brightness of the sun. The lines about his
mouth where the smiles used to gather had changed and grown stern with
the hopelessness of years. His lips drooped pathetically, and hard
treatment had given his eyes a lowering look. His hair, that had hardly
shown a white streak, was as white as Maurice Oakley's own. His
erstwhile quick wits were dulled and imbruted. He had lived like an ox,
working without inspiration or reward, and he came forth like an ox
from his stall. All the higher part of him he had left behind, dropping
it off day after day through the wearisome years. He had put behind him
the Berry Hamilton that laughed and joked and sang and believed, for
even his faith had become only a numbed fancy.
"This is a very happy occasion, Mr. Hamilton," said Skaggs, shaking his
hand heartily.
Berry did not answer. What had this slim, glib young man to do with him?
What had any white man to do with him after what he had suffered at
their hands?
"You know you are to go New York with me?"
"To New Yawk? What fu'?"
Skaggs did not tell him that, now that the _Universe_ had done its work,
it demanded the right to crow to its heart's satisfaction. He said only,
"You want to see your wife, of course?"
Berry had forgotten Fannie, and for the first time his heart thrilled
within him at the thought of seeing her again.
"I ain't hyeahed f'om my people fu' a long time. I did
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