The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-09-20
THE STORY OF A WAIf.
A Houinntic Episode In tic History OF "
New York Asylum for ChlldrrH.

A Homnntic Episode In tic History OF IL
New York Asylum for ChlldrrH.
These rows OF little chairs in Mrs.
Webb's nursery, says New York corre-
spondent writing OF the famous "Scot-
land Yard" in that city, have to me n
fascinating interest. Hard, common
little chairs they are; but | know that,
had they speech and intelligence. they
would have many story to tell, many n
romance OF real life, begun in this room,
ut least equal in interest to the wonder
full romances OF fiction. What stories
could be told OF the waits who, one time
or another, have sat in these little chairs;
or, who, one time or another, have slept
in the snowy little beds We catch n
glimpse Of through the half.open door
Of the dormitory! OF the newly-born
infant, fresh burden to tho starving
parents-picked up by the passing po.
iicemen, half frozen in tho snow, wrap.
ped in newspaper and nothing moro
now grown mp to bo Il strong man or
woman! OF the sweet babe, born i'll
sin, heartlessly deserted by its fashiona'
bic mother, adopted and cared for by
some poor, questionable, big.henrted
mother who has learned to love it rs her
ownl or such n child, perhaps, in after
years reclaimed by its Legitimate mother,
impelled by remorse, and, let rls hope,
her better naturel Perhaps, OF such II
child not reclaimed, but now grown up
to maidenhood, passing her days in n
public institution Of charity, while the
mother lives in wealth and luxury, indif-
ferent rs to the existence of the child,
except inasmuch rs the existence Of tho
child may lead to her own exposure! 1t
being my purpose to close the present
sketch with some fair example OF tho ro.
nance that is to be found in our New
York "Scotland Yard," and this last
case offering some OF the best material
for that purpose, do not know that l
can do better tllan to select it for my
illustration.
The ehcroine-nowa comely, dark.cyed,
olive.complexioncd, graceful girl OF If.
teen-when baby, WIS given by n vsilcd
lady to New York policeman, who re-
ceivcd with the child n lnrge sum Of
money. The Indy, who is tho daughter
OF u wealthy Staten Islander, had secret.
ly married Spaniard, n worthless fol
low-her music teacher, I believe. By
the advice Of her parents, who refused
to have anything to do with him, or with
her rs long as she lived with him, she
bribed her husband to leave her and go
to Europe, where he died little while
afterwards. During his absence the
child was born, but tho fact was kept MS
secret as the marriage Of tho mother,
and, outside OF the immediate family,
80 remains to this tlny--tllc policeman
alone, it il said, knowing her name.
The lady il married again, and has sew
eral children.
The policeman, OH receiving the babe
and the money, resigned his position on
the force and went to Utica, where he
bought cottage, and brought up the
child rs his own. Tho girl soon showed
her disposition to be self-willed, wild
and impetuous. When but nine years
old, she became n reader Of romances
that gave her n longing for adventure,
and n suspicion that she was not the po.
liceman's child having entered her head,
she rlnsacked his desk in which he kept
his private papers, and found enough
there to satisfy her tlat she was right.
She demanded the name OF her mother,
and it being refused, she threatened to
go in search OF her. The ex-policeman
tried to pacify her by promising to tell
Ler all one day, when she should be old
enough and discreet enough to know
now to act in the matter; but the girl
was full of romantic ideas. and, putting
her threat into effect, mn away from the
cottage. She came to New York, and
applied, without success, for an engage
ment on the stage. md to Mr.. Barnum
for position rs rider in his circus.
Then, being found destitute i'll the
streets, she was brought by M officer to
the police central Office and given into
Mrs. Wcbb's care. Her reputed father
WIS telegrnphed for by Superintendent
(then Inspector) Walling, and came on
to take her home, but she refused to go
with him, and upbraided him bitterly
for withholding from her the name Of
her mother. Mrs. Webb took charge OF
her for several days, trying, with but
little SUCCESS, to induce her to be rea,
sonable. After while the girl seemed
to have been won by the matron's kind.
ness but it turned ont that she wasonly
trying to get the matron TO relax her
watchfulneSs. One day Mrs. Webb took
her over tho building, showing her,
among other things, the prison cells, in
one OF which WIS confined, at the time,
one OF the Westchester masked burglars.
Tho foolish child, attracted by the rather
handsome face Of the rObbcr, began Il
secret correspondence with him, hiding
in the sugar-bowl, tlat was sent him on
his breakfaSt-trly from the mItron'G
room, little notes planning their flight
together from the police central office,
which he duly answered through the
same medium. But Mrs. Webb, instead
of the young lady, happening to empty
the sugar-bowl one morning, found 4
note from the burglar to the girl, tho
discovery of which, OF course, upset al
the plans Of these strangely paired cou
fedcrates.
The burglar was convicted, and is
now serving out term OF years III Sing
Sing. The young la,ly is M inmate o.
the juvenile asylum near High Bridge,
where, by submission and good bella
vior, she is trying to win over the ex
policeman to the fulfillment of his con
ditional promise 10 tell her tho secret Of
her birth.
Al Work,