The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-03-21
Romance off,. Convict Girl.
THE Pretty PicKrookEr WHO MIGHT
HAVE BEEN A FASHIONABLE BELLE.

HAVE Been 4 f ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Ten years ago this month srefin cd
and pretty young girl was sent to Black
woll's Island for picking the pocket Of
lady On Broadway. Day before yes.
terday the samo girl, now lovely wo.
man Of twenty -four, was convicted of
the theft and sentenced to four years
hard labor in the State prison. The
story of this unfortunate woman is a
most interesting one. Born in Lexing-
ton avenue ofwsalthy and respectable
parents, she nevertheless inherited that
unfortunate temperament known as the
hysterical or emotional. When tho
youuy girl was convicted the first time
the mother pleaded hard for the mis-
guided daughter, but it was hoped that
the discipline of two years would be of
advantage to her, and 30 the sentence
was carried into execution. Thought.
less and gay as q child she dounsd the
convict's dress.n She utterly refused to
work, and considerable liberty was
given her. Everybody liked her, for
she was pretty and uinning-moro like
spoiled child than dangerous woman
To tho aon Of the warden, tall youth
OF eighteen, Sho seemed areritabls angel,
With her soft hands, deep blue eyes, and
her yolatile ways. It took him about
three months to arrive at the conelusio
that she was the most admirable Icing
that this earth contained, and six
mon.hp moro to decide that it was
wrong for such refined little lady to
be kept in such place He was serv-
ing an apprenticeship az gaa.ftter in
New York. He began to neglect his
work on plea of lllnsss, and to stay upon
the iDlnud instead of going sver to the
city. 1t was astonishing what an inter.
est he took in all that related to the
Affairs of the prison.
Never was so grand a chance offered
for gallant hero to strike grand
blow to captivato his lady. If Pauline
Deachoppellcs had been convict instead
Of "a merchant princess, Claude Melnottc
would not havo had to resort to tho
subterfuge Of personifying prince. "If
l get you cut, will you marry me P"
said tho Claude of Blaehuoll's Island
and his Pauline responded eyes, You
or anybody else; only be quick about
it," In broken words, caught through
gratings or, behind iron doors, the fusi-
tive lovers planned it. She should g.t
away and leave theleland alone, remain
in New York three weeks aud then be
would join her.
A proper opportunity was long in
presenting itself, but it came Mt last
The warden had lett for time hia SON
on guard alone. The sister Of the young
msn was in her room above che was
called down on some pretext aud sent to
. noighboring building. Quick as
fash the pretty Jail Dird dashed up
stairs, tore off the conviots garb, and
donncd tho sisters best suit. She did
not forget the veil aud parasol with
which to shield her features, and she
had the wit 20 sober down hor usual airy
gait to the moro staid motion of tho one
into whose shoes she had stepped. Our
Claude was waiting "Here, I want you
to row my sister over to New York." he
eaid to the men, and they did so.
1t is not known how ho fixed matt or.
with the family, but certain it is that
three weeks later he promised to cherish
and protect for life that liberia tod Jail.
bird and she to lovo him, to honor and
to obey.
A couple aged respectively fourteen
aud eighteen wero rather young to be-
gin housekeeping, 60 they lived in a
hotel. His love for her was real pas.
eion; she was his angel no matter what
uho did, aud he worked hard ell day
and every day to osupport her. AS for
her, she certainly respected her hus.
band, she was grateful to him, she had
kept her promise, but the stained, dark
hands of the gas filter were always
horror to her; it WAS towards the light
fingered gentry that she gravi' atod
gracefully and naturally.
Having the whole day to he rself, in
the midst of the great metropolis, the