The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-12-27
Who Was the GuiItIest!
ONE OF LIES TRUE STORIES.


Not many minutes walk from the
churches, where upon any pleasant Sun
duy may be seen the fashion and elite
who there congregate, to bemoan their
weekly shortcomings and confess them
selves miserable Sinners" there has ter
minated within few months one of those
solemn tragedies which we sometimes call
life; and which might possibly find its
counterpart even in our own goodly city.
| must touch lightly the tragic events,
and give but passing glance for it will
not do to introduce to eyes and ears po.
lite, the darkest shades of the gleat lin
ner, sin.
Christian fathers, and heightened broth.
ers, must preserve their wives, daughters
and sisters, from even a suspicion Of the
frailty and crime which has engulfed SO
many of the sisterhood. Let them them
devoutly thank God that these same cher
ished ones have not from poverty and the
rude contacts which it brings, been placed
at the mercy of men who have like pas
sions with themselves who might not be
any more noble or generous than they
have been to others. Am moralizing
too long? Will you skip this part, eager
for the story?
1t was bright, glad summer morning
the air clear and sweet, and every one in
meeting friend or acquaintance, said in.
stinctively "Isn't this fine day ~
Men and women saunter nlong lcisurely
as though to prolong the enjoyment Of
the hour but there comes one who in
her haste rather rudely jostles against the
fairer and better dressed women of the
streets.
Her story Of sin and shame is written
indellibly upon her face, and you would
naturally shrink from so much as her
tawdry fnery brushing against your gar.
ments. She hurries on regardless Of the
many who turn to stare at her, never once
looking at the blue sky which bends sc
cloudless over all. Suddenly she stops
glances up at house, opens the gate, as
ccnds the steps and rings the bell; all
with such defiant manner, one wonders
what her errand can be. She asks fol
Mrs. Maynard and says her business is
urgent.
There comes in answer one vino il
somewhat accustomed to strange calls a
unreasonable hours, and from her nobl,
countenance one could pronounce her a
once as a large.hearted, Christian wo
man. The is greeted with, 81 came t,
you because | was told you would no
be afraid to go with me and pray with ,
dying girl. She moaned all night fo
some one, and this is the fifth place Nv,
been to, and all have had some excus,
and sent me to another. | might 90 10
u minister, but somehow | thought wo
man would understand better. | CUES
one of them would have gone, but whel
she came to know who | am, she locke,
frightened and said at wouldn't do 70
her to 60, her husband would be displeas
ed" I'm called Clara Guin, and m,
house is on-street, No.. 1t i
notorious, you may have heard of it,
'Tis bad place enough but you can G
there and see nobody but the poor girl
she's got to die to-day or tomorrow II
the furtherest ; though she thinks she vii
live a week or more"
There was no hesitancy about Mrs
Maynard she simply said IL will g
with you Immediately"
The sin-covered woman passed on, an
with rapid steps she put quite n distanc
between herself and the one whom in he
heart she thought almost saint, At
crossing or turn she paused that she nigh
be in sight, and some fifteen minutes wal
took them to their destination. She en-
tered with her latch-key, passed in an
up stairs without any pause; opened
door aad beconed to her companion t
enter.
On low couch, with but little to max
her comfortable, there was a young cir
wasted by sickness, her large black ey,
preternaturally bright, and fixed loo
, Of grief and sorrow upon her death.strch
on face that you felt at once no earthl
comfort could remove.
81 have brought some one who wi
pray with you" said the woman who ha
called herself Clara. "Do you feel an
easier now ?"
As Mrs. Maynard advanced tothe be,
: side she placed her hand upon the bro
} SO broad and white, and thought, surel
sometime it must have been baptised wit
u mothers love and kisses. She said
: "Pocr child, | have come to help you
! you will let me-" Such a wistful, agt
2 nized look as met the motherly gaze. I'll
: girl said, 81 am called Kate Ray, it's NJ
/ my real name no one here knows tina
} for twas buried long ago. viii you hol
my hands, do you mind !? have bee