The Portland daily press., 1869-07-03
Selected story.
A Work Woman's Fortune.
BY A RETIRED LAWYER

was now confined, caught sight of the troub
led but handsome lace of young woman
who sat leaning against the iron bars of one
of the llttle rooms, and 4 halted for an in
slant to look at her.
She shrank away timidly to the rear of the
cell, however, and had the opportunity sim
ply 10 observe that she BORE in her genera
contour, the traces of poor unfortunate" in
the usual deception of that unfortunate term.
concluded the Interview with my client
IN fewmoments, and just before leaving him
inquired: e
''Who is your neighbor, yonder?n --
The young woman ~ he asked, in a whis-
per. S3fNt
@Yes-next door,"
VI do not know, he replied.
"a 'tHowl long has she been here ?' l asked.
'sSince yesterday only" be added.
"What is she here for?n Ifzl
81 don't know that, either. 1 only observe
that she weeps and sobs almost necessarily,
and has in vain applied to the Deputy, who
passes up and down this corridor. to learn
why she is confined here"
The old story" | suggested. A repentant
to late"
q Perhaps so,vrejoined my client. cor it
may be a case OF oppression, hardship, injust-
"She certinly is very pretty,na / added,
inal."
81 have not seen her," he added. "Why
don't you speak with her, as you go out ?" he
I. inquired, suggestively. A32Ess
''She shuns observation said, and does
NOT seem desirous to communicate with a
stranger, Judge" s
Naturally enough" responded nv client.
And this indicates that she may not be so
bad as her present position here might lead
one to suspect, perhaps" n
"Good night" replied. 81 will stop as /
pass OUT
And turning away from the young mans
cell, halted again before the door of the
slrl apartment, and accosted her.
"Good evening, Miss" l ventured, in
friendly tone - :"
She was sitting upon the side of a little
low bed, away from the barred grating, and
for an instant she did not answer. Then.
rising and coming timorously towards me-
she asked, in gentle way, "Who is it?"
u am a stranger to you, Miss" answered.
Il had occasion to call upon your next door
neighbor professionally tonight. l am his le-.
gal attorney. saw you as L passed. and
though it is not my habit to do SOL could
not resist the impulse to ask you il could be
OF service to you. Have you any counsel en-
gaged?" aa
No, sir-no," she replied, with sigh
WIN you permit me, then, to inquire what
brings you here?"
Poverty, and misfortune, sir,
'sNot crime?' a aits i.'ls.ss II. ssea
"Oh no, sir! On my honor, no. she exclai-
med, with singular earnest1iess and candor
And then the tears flowed copiously, as she
Drlelly recounted the circumstances of her
hard case, and present peril.
u 90 not Know" she continued, "precisely.
why am in this place. Is it not a prison.
sir. she inquired, artlessy.
s'Yes, Miss"
but have not been accused. / have had
at ALP S'sn'
when did you come hereq" s's.
Yesterday"
your" - ''' 4'',
That cannot explain. L do not know.
SIR. am very poor, and entirely fiiendless.
am seamstress. / have been compeled
Tor several years to toll very hard, sir, to sup
port myself and an invalid younger brother,
Win my needle; aud the scanty pay we wo-
men can command for such labor, as you may
An nW u pul miserable pttance at the best"
YES" said. Il am aware ofthis.n
we occupied an attic room . she continued
IN remote part of the city, and had s.ruo-
sieu aiohs, ana kept soul and body together
as wen as providing for the needs of nv moor
Drother, until up to week ago; when yester-
uay morning, Overheard confused talk in the
story below us, which was occupied by some
rude people persons in my humble position
cannot choose the location where we NAV
stay you know, sir, and I soon learned
that some goods had been purloined bv GER
tam parties suspected there, and the premi-
ses were being searched by officers.
g "A portion OF the missing goods was found
Inere, ana iour or'1ve persons were arrested.
as being concsrned in the affair. / was simn,
~ passing loQkfr-on at the moment Of fife
trouble, and wW astounded, when the Others
were calledupon to accompany the officials. ~
ma That trey insisted upon taking me- villa
Il demonstrated in vain. MY poor little in
yaiia brother must starve, if they do not care
learn, IN my extremity, is, that / must so;ye
please?" ~ 0"h' sir' IL you 4
Security for your appearance at court,
Miss" replied.
"But h0lo ? In what way ?v
Some friend must recognize to the author
ties In a required sum, to forfeit, should Won
disappear, or attempt to eYade trial or exam,-
nation" informed her. M
For what? What have done. sirpn
THAT is precisely what would ike now IN |
learn, Miss said. MBut If YOU are accnseJ
even, you must give the bail, or be detained.n |
( Her handsome counfenance fell at this re- |
marx, ana sne sad, alter "a moments hesita-
ton, II have no friend on earth TO do this.
sir. No friend to call upon; none whatever p
IL as late,s l said, land night of rest
Will do you no harm AOw, Miss BE Of good |
cneer' VIII examine into yourfcase before
sleep and at an early hour in the morning |
you shall see me again. Goodnight. Miss:
and rest quietly with the assurance that i |
' VIII 40 w1at = in my power for you, and |
She stared upon me With her great FLASHING
eyes, evidently not clearly comprehending nv
good intentions; and departed with the i'm /
preston, II she auere guilty person, that she /
certainly was the most Innocent look;nos one |
had Tor long time seen. On my way out /
inquired at the ;ail-ofice who she was.
~, what number 7" inquired the grouty Den |
uty, roughly. W
Number thirteen, south wing,n / said.
"a woman ?" he added, briefly.
+ ades; she came in yesterday
on-ah-yes. One OF gang o. shoplift- i
ers. FIVE ON 'em in all. Number thrteen;s
Mary Bowel. The rest give baiLn
and are all the Others released ?y asked |
IN course tney air. She'd Pa gone too,
on sne couldn't give no security, you see."
leit The prison with an unusually heavy
heart IN further inquiry outside, / ascer.
tanned that the invalid boy had been taken
care OF temporarily and subsequently, learn
ed the following particulars of this curious.
put not very uncommon case OF hardship and
wrong. ''--N
IN hau HFeu, twenty years be- |
lore IN line house in fashionable Quarter
OF the city, in affluent circumstances. The
nre OF 20 begeared hundreds of men of for
Der. nun
He had two Children daughter and
crippled son. The mother died, and then the
lather. The. children were lett 10 the cold
charity OF relatives, who threw them off their
hands at the earliest convenient opportunity
and the girl found herself at sixteen. alone
IN the world, with the encumbrance of her
sick brother on her hands, whom She never
forsook or neglected
After trying various experiments. She OBJ
famed needle-work, and eontriyed 10 keen
hersen ana brother alive, in the attic room of
a poor mouse In an obscure part of the town
ana the wolf had been kept from the door
u. until n she was suddenly torn from her garrett
e ey .ne ofncers, who arrested all thew could
nnd at hand, and was charged with heinz ac-
cessory to the robbery mentioned.
She had never associated with these mar
sons IN any manner whatever. nor did sbe
know anything of their character. She sun
posed them to be poor, like herself and She
liaa nad no occasion to inquire as to any,
Dodys reputation. She had little leisure.
heaven help herl to look into the affairs of
others. But the police seized her and she
was prisoner.
rose at an earlier hour than usual the |