Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-12-13
Led IE,TITG DEATH TRUE STORY


By NRe. sAHAn KNOWLES BOLTON.
The house WAS plain on the exterior,
but handscme within. The carpets
we're delicnitly colcred Brussels, the
chairs handsomely upholstered, aHd the
walnut and rosewood furniture Of the ad-
Joining sleeping apartments costly and
tasteful. Two girls sat or the sOia ln
neat wrappers, idle and apparently not in
perfect health. One had quiet lady-like
face, that told of life of sorrows along
with this eyching life she was living.
The other had IL bright, eheery face, with
Rfun-loviug heart, that cuu'd be cloudcd
easily, but as ea.lly taken on sunshine
again, she was about medium size, fair,
smooth complexion, dark hair aud large
dark eyes. see toemed almost a child,
she was so young, but the time seemed
long to her, she said for she had learned
50 much Of sin and sorrow.
Don't you want 10 tell me, Alice,
what brought you here I" l said, 81 am
friend TO you, and 10 oil my sex who
have made a mistake at the very thres-
hold Of life. You know l'll do anything
can for you l'
eyes. About the samo cause brings
us all here. Love Bnd deception ere at
the root Of Il. Women scOin US, and we
hate them, while their own husbands aud
brothers are often among our guests.
"My parents were comfortably oil. able
10 give us children common education
and decent clothing with which 10 begin
life for ourselves, / wanted 10 support
myself, l looked Tor employment, and
found situation In millinery establish.
ment. The remuneration WAS small, but
so II kept soul aud body iogether l did
not expect to dress like the rich. / was
a stranger. The ladies who made pur-
chases at the store, day BY day, never
chose 10 ask lno OF my home or boarding
place Nobody cared for me save my
mother, and she was far away.
When the days seemed long and
wearlsomo, If there was a minutes time
for rest, would 70 to the window, hop
ing against hope 10 see familiar face.
On the other aide OF the street was a
cheerful locking house, where row ard
tatn I sas q IlgasaLt Guuhttuauce at tie
winduF. / came 10 know the faces as
looked there day by day, and the etran.
rers seemed almCst frieuds 10 nc. One
day gentleman stood al, the window,
sad locked ever az rue. lie waved his
handkerchief, and waved mine IN return,
had fceu uch g.rlf DO il, and supposed
there Sas no harm Ia IT,. When / lcfi
the shop he met me on the street, ara
asked me over 10 the llpGRant house.
yas grai.hed. No lady had ever asked
ne home Ihs young ladies met MT
kindly and the young man went with mt
70 NY boarding house. ] used to watch
for hls face each day, ard for his coming
when the store closed, Tor Il seemed g,
precious TO have scmr one befrlend nc in
hat large city. Tho days seemed shorter
sad tho wcrR lighter. By Rnd-by | wa
% leave IL, and live with him. trustee
hin az young girl trusts when one mar
makes the whole of life TO her lie was
not ashamed to be seen with girl who
worked for her daily bread. Finel,
dressed ladies spoke to him as they passeJ
rs on the street, and | fauCied they frl
piXued RS they saw his devotion to me
His habits seemed excellent. lnevcr saw
him drink nor heard him utter a pro
fame word. He came often and stayeC
late. ! had given my heart, my conf
dence, my virtue.
zone night he said, ''Wouldn't yol
like to board at the house across th
street, and not go to the shopany more'
eyes +" for | was tired and lOnged 70
a pleasant rest with him. | left my work
went there, and soon found TO what KIM
Of place nc had brought me. He hal
tired Of me, and nov expected me 10 esrl
my living like tho rest. Did | rgcul
from tn Y,sl Was l frantic wa
crushed, and yet what more was thrre il
life Tor me, than To waiB Ia The Way in'
which my love aud his passion had lel
me. Wien repfoached lin bitterly, h
said, why, chLd, men are all slike q
aud 20 1 soon came TO believe. llstenel
to the sad stories Of tho other girls. W
were despised alike, and so We elun
together.
~ saw little q my flsnd now. gre'
more ioud OF dress, because IL won N
admiration. began to drink wine a
the rest dad; was restless aud uusatishsd
and came to this city where you lnd me.
'Must other girls, Alice learn the sam
experience In the same sad way, aud 8
these houses.be kept full ? What woul
have saved you Z"
1.-TWO things perhaps. II my mothe
had told me about temptation, shOul
not have fallen so easily and II / ha
known his real character-that he wa
shbertiueI II be had been shunntd II
stead Of COnrted by the wealthy an
reslecthble iadie- II should have feare
lmi ard been Gu my guard. Nobod
seems to care what men do, and mothel
let their daughters marry mtn whom the
know associate with u -
"Would you leave this place, my deI
girl, and be In comfortable home D
you know that those who lead your III
live on an average, only about two years
lou VIII lose happiness h re, and, al
afraid happiness hereafter ~
Che looked at me very sadly a minute
u know u all, but there is no ohan'
for US. Wherever / go somebody know
ine, and he does not hesitate to warn
lady friends against the Ioor girl wi
would contaminate them, but not hin
Ny mother las sent for me TO con
home, but all know my lift, and thoug
she would be Kind and iorgivinR, q
Fest would pass BY on the other side. /
rather live, and die where any huns
being Is good TO me though they are 8
outcasts, than be shuuned aud eXilea
those who call themselves pure al
Christlike. There Is no open door for
back to purity. 4 man reforms, aud u
world furgetsi a woman, and tie wor
may forgive, but never iorgeis. Nobol
wauts US in their homes, because tn
teen to be afraid 10 trust their husban
and sons. Nobody wants us In The
stores, because virtuous women wou
not come there Would that they We
As afraid Of bad men 20
q will send you books to read, al
come and sec you, may :"
She held my hand closely. 81 shi
net DC here long, hut | shall rememh
that one woman out OF all the world
ried 10 lift me out of sin aud misery.
would step out il there were any wa
hut there isn't. 1 never pray, but y
may tell the Lord whom you love, abe
Inc. Good bge I"
Went out from that house very ca
FAD that one part Of humanity shot
suher and be spurntd, while the oti
walked apparently untarnilhed and U
harmed. SO Il must always be, as 10
as women choose to marry even bad mt
tathor than support themselves.