Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-22

sat by the stove weaving the dark sto
ry of her unloved life.
Suddenly there were sounds Of oaths
fierce voices and womans cries. Will
u gr.at racket the door was thrown
open, and Two men struggled in with ,
brawny, muscular wretch, from who's,
repuIsive hco tho bright blood was
trickling, and whose offensive oath,
sckened the atmosphere already full Of
their odor. Next 10 him came stagger-
ing almost youth. His face, though
young, was stamped with villainly ol
maturer years. After him coarse
fat woman, her clothes, face, and hands
ensanguincd, her broken hoops and
tattered garments hanging horribly
limp, her mouth running over with the
fowlest execrations, and then came a
slight, girlish figure, with long. limp
curls moistened against her face, u
hounced dress of gay materals-hoops
fiishionably expansive, and n bonnet
small and crushed, hanging by the ex-
trcme end of the strings far down her
back.
A shrek went up that might have
walked the dead. 1t came from the lone
widow who had watched the new com
ers in dismay. She stood up, her face
changed Co the paIlor of a corpse, and
never sounded despair like that cry :
"Ellen--my God Ellcn you here r
The child-she was scarcely more
looked round in alright, her pretty
face almost distorted with the emotions
produced ut the sound of that voice.
Then TO see her shrek and cower-oh !
there was guilt confessed.
"ElIcn Ellen oh, what did you do
it for? Oh how could you leave your
mothers hcarthstone2-how can you
kill me Can she he saved sir--sir
in pity, in mercy--did you bring her
here from any bad place Has she
done wrongg Is my poor girl ruined
Remember she is fathcrlcss-lm IN n
widow-pcrhaps she was deceived, oh I!
oh -
Took her from dance cellar" said
the watchman, as he proceeded to dis
pose of the others.
"Don't, dos't lock henup; let her go
home with mc?' She was oil her knees,
hot tears running along the channels
in her cheeks, her eyes starting forth
with her great agony. Don't let her
be disgraced tomorrow She Il
yoang, thing-only fourteen; she'll new
er do SO again, I'll pledge you that
See, shes cryiag; oh, she's sorry, she S
rcpenting, ain't you, Ellc,i Sec her
shake with the sobs, hear tlat-and
that oh, the chiId's hearts breaking
of shame and sorrow My poor Ellen
my little Ellen ! Her father called
her his lamb, before he died; oh, little
he kr ew-Iitile hc could forsee this
Mercy for her, sir, if you've got any
children, DC mcrcitul =
She had crept on her knees up to the
captain of the watch, and now had hold
Of his hands Tears were in his eyes,
his stern lips quivered, but directing
his eye and voice towards the guilty
girl, he said, in tone OF assumed
harshness-
.Why do YOU care for her?. She dis
graccs you--she iorgcts your suffering,
your care, your love, and goes among
devils, where she was found tonight.
She cares nothing for you, let hor be
punished-lct her go"
20, sir you see how she fccls-don' t
talk so; YOU don't know q mothers
love, sir. Id take her to my arms to-
night; I'D take my poor child. my
stray lamb, in my bosom. | bore her,
she's the only thing I've got to love,
and God only knows how love her.
I'd die-yes, this minute, Id die at
your feet just % save her from shame.
Ellen, oh, tell the gentleman you are
sorry-you repent. Oh, Ellen you
know-you know what / would do TO
save you"
"And if You take her." said the cap
tain, striving to steady his voice, 'she II
go back again to that hell. She doesu t
deserve your kindness-such as she
doesn't your love. I'll find you many a
poor girl who would work hard for you,
II you gave 'cm kind word aud II
smile now and then; but she
"Oh, 81 don't talk so hard Of her:
she's my child, and l can't bear it, 1T
you won't be mercifuI-don't talk like
that. See the poor thing. Ellen, dar
ling, don't take on so; Ill stand by you;
not but what you've been wicked and
broke my heart and my spirit entirely.
Oh Ellen, how could you-how could
your
1t was the most touching sight that
was ever witnessed between such walls.
The girl was absolutely crushed with
neutrality-suspicious. sorrow-and grow
elled to the very floor, sobbing convul-
sively. Her mother crying too-hel
voice husky and faltering, was bending
above her, striving to lift her up, alter
nately bestowing the most pathetic la.
mentations that she had abandoned her
IL can't stand it," SAID the captain o
the watch, throwing his head aside and
dashing the tears away. Then going
towards the wrctched couple, he said
"Look here, young girl, you deserv,
the Penitentiary ior deserving such ;
mother as that
"Don't be too hard, captain 1t was
the mothers imploring voice.
Eyes, say you deserve it, and if yo,
20 on as you've begun, I'll promise it'll
send you there, as sure as fate. Nov
YOU have seen what the beginning o
this course has led you to-. It's mer
cy you were caught tonight as yol
were; it may save you. 1T let you g
home with your mother this time, vii
YOU be sure never TO be seen in such