American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-12-20
FOR ANOTHER.

ADELINE VON X. was sentenced to seven
days Imprisonment. l was notified tC
receive her in prison.
The lady did not interest me, because
was not personally acquainted with her
was also ignorant as to the cause of this
order out of my sight without repeated
perusals, feeling foreboding that some
thing unusual and gloomy would surely
transpire in connection with it.
There was really nothing remarkable
about the seven days. Imprisonment, and
yet it might be that a longer sentence was
obviated by the social position of the lady,
had not the document ordered close con-
finement and no amelioration of the rules
of the place for her.
But other business pressed, and one
week and then another went by, and the
circumstance had almost been forgotten
when the last day of the third week again
recalled it.
1t was getting late; the prisoners had
received their supper, and had retired to
my room to attend to some writing that
my duties during the day had left me
little time for. was SO deeply absorbed
that had not heard the door open, and
was consequently more than startled when
l heard not far from me, a trem bling voice
utter a soft Good evening" Looking up
I saw an elegantly attired young girl, hes
itating at a nearer approach, ana seemin gly
waiting to be addressed.
l had time to make observations. Her
style of dress first attracted my attention.
1t was not such as had been accustomed
to see around me on my visitors to this
establishment. Her face was young, fresh,
and round the regularity of features alone
caused an exclamation in favor of its
beauty, the downcast eyes closed their
mirror from view, but the whole express
sion of face and person indicated q sense
of horror, shame, and fear.
Such conduct is rare in prison, yet the
girl had evidently come to stay, Judging
by the bundle of wearing apparel she
carried.
My sympathy was awakened, and in a
kinder tone than l should have used IN
der ordinary circumstances for this i'll
timed disturbance, l requested her to
approach me.
She did not move; her head remained
bowed, the eyes dropping.
"What is your name?"
1 received no reply. The girl seemed
to struggle for compOsure, her lips quiv-
cred, her mouth vainly trying to form
words.
but, dear child" 1 asked rather impa-
tiently after pause, "you must tell me
what you desire; why are you here?"
:" l am here under arrest"
She said it almost whispering, the
words scarcely passing her lips. looked
at her in establishment.
9" For how long?"
-'Oh. Godl" Zach, GottO
Nothing but this escaped her mouth
She breathed heavily, her bosom palpi-
tating with distressing rapidity. She
tried to conquer herself, but the strength
of her feelings seemed to master her en-
deavors.
Tell me, child, how long must you
remain here?'
"Seven days"
This expression seemed to bring unut-
terable relief. The trembling limbs be-
came quiet, respiration regular, only the
eyes remained downcast still
And your name?'
am called Adeline Won R."
"Ah"
The exclamation escaped me before 1
was aware of it. The girl was startled,
and directly raised her head and gazed me
full in the face, with an unspoken inquiry.
l saw.two eyes, large and wondrous beau
tiful- IAN irresistible power of fascination
within their depths speaking of childlike
innocence, fearful sorrow and fright, vet
expressive of resignation; they were hu-
mid with suppressed tears that told of the
will to be strong and endure.
What should do with Adeline Won r. !:
how should l treat her? Her station in
life demanded proper respect. 1 did not
want her to see that | felt this to be so,
and yet did not wish to repulse her
was yet undecided how to act when she
said:
"Mr- Inspector, you know now why
am here; l cannot ask you to set aside
your duty in my behalf; but oh, l beg
you will not make my position harder to
bear than is called for. May be alone,
left to MYSELF"
"If you desire it."
"And no one will see mee'
None but the prisoners employed on
the premises"
THAT is good Il would like to hide nv
self from all humanity, and from the dear
God too. Under arrest! Oh, the disgrace
1t will cling to me forever Oh, it is hor
rible, and TO bear it through life-terri-
bler" "
In ner excitement Adeline Won r. struck
her hands together, alternately covering
her face with them, as if to shut out pic
ture conjured by the imagination of a
fearful future.
"You go too far" said l, trying to COM
fort her; "the disgrace does not consist
in the arrest, but in the causes, the deed
that requires such penance."
"True, that is true. But do all people
think thus allow often does it occur that
they care to know if the punishment is
just, if one is really guilty. But who
can alter such things? Can those do it
who suffer innocently? Can they make
war with the majority, swim against the
tide and be lost in the stream2 All that
is left them is endurance and oblivion to
hide where none know from whence you
came or where you GO"
81 think" / interrupted her, "that the
judgment of the people is less to be feared
than the reproaches of ones own con
science"
"Oh, hushl hushi sir Do you be-
lieve that l underrate this inner judg-
ment9 / struggled long before became
Teconciled to come here. / was even in
duced-not to. Oh, Godi / dare not
think of it; and you do not know-you
cannot understand. But / do not wish it
otherwise. I must not brighten myself
with reproaches. Others will do that"
As she said this her whole manner
changed; she seemed to cast aside all
fear; her head was proudly erected; her
eyes frightened with determination that
changed the child to an earnest woman.
She picked up the bundle that had fallen
from her arm during her siege for com
posture, and, coming close to me, she
said:
Mr.. Inspector, I am to remain here