Page 27 - Contrast1957Springv1n1

A square patch of sunlight fell on the smooth concrete floor. The
light from the opening made the recesses of the cell dark in contrast.

Two men were in the confinement. One was a minister; the other
a man about to die. One was wearing grey prison clothes and was
sitting on a hard bed with his back against the concrete wall. The
other was wearing a black suit with a white collar and was standing
in front of the condemned man. Slowly he turned his hat in his hands.

"And Mary?" Slaughter asked.
"She was very brave when I left your house," the minister assured.
"You know how I feel about your wife. She's a wonderful woman and
has always been able to face hardships-ever since I've known you."
"Did you see Linda?" Slaughter questioned. "Did she say

anything-?"
"Linda is too young to understand," the minister said. "It is

best that way, too-if she does remember you in the future she will
remember a kind, devoted father."

"Thank you," Slaughter said.
A prison guard outside the cell told the minister he had five more

minutes.
"Is there anything I might be able to do?" the minister asked.
Slaughter laughed softly. "You've done more than enough already,

Reverend-more than I could ask of anyone. You've believed in me.
You prepared me for this day long before you or I ever knew that it

would happen."
The minister walked over to the window and looked past the

bars into the sky.
"Do you know what you can do for me, Reverend? Push back the

hands of time until you reach the day before this started. Then have
the person who put the child's blood-soaked clothes into my car say
to himself, 'This man doesn't deserve to suffer for my crime: Let him
throw them into the river or sewer."

Slaughter thought for a moment.
"Better yet, have him say, 'This child before me has committed

no wrong-lay down this knife: "
"I'm afraid that's one of the many things which I have no control

over," the minister said. Slaughter smiled.

The guard said, "You'll have to leave, sir."
Slaughter rose from the bed. The minister put his hand on
Slaughter's shoulder. He bowed his head and prayed. When he fin-
ished he walked from the cell without a word, and the sound of his

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