The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-02-24
LINK THE FIRST.
INNOCENCE AND DUTY.
1.-TWO FALLS IN ONE DAY.

INNOCENCE AND DUTY.
1.-TWO FALLS IN ONE DAY.
One February afternoon, just as the
yellow, dingy thing in London called
light was deeping into absolute darkness
and the gas was beginning to flicker in
streets and shops, passengers in st. Mar
tins Lane, about halfway between st.
Martins Place and the cross-ways, were
startled by a shrek which came from a
window in the third floor of house on
the east side.
shrill, narrowing shrek it was. that
cut and pierced the dismal air. and
seemed to make it quiver as with horror
the shrek, too, of woman. Those
who, hearing il, at once lifted their eyes
to the window whence it came, discerned
for a moment through the dusk a strug-
Cling shadow within the easement, strug-
Cling with some unseen hands, struggling
only for an instant, for the next moment
il sprang through the window, with a
second shrek more keen and terrible
than the first, turned once, struck with
its head almost noiselessly on a project
ing sill of stone, turned over again, and
then dropped head-first with dull thud
on the stone pavement. And there it
lay, a bundle OF clothes and clay.
Within three feet of the fallen heap,
whatever it was, q man who had been
reeling up the street with alternate
lunges toward the curb-stone and the
houses, and had brought up just then
against a door-post, looked down with
bleary eyes upon the object so suddenly
presented to his gaze.
"W-w-why," he said, "d-d-damn you,
w-w-where do you come from, eh2 WV
who's a meaning o shis2 G-gget out O.
the way, will you p
And, reeling forward, he made an at
tempt to strike the heap before him with
his foot, but, missing his blow, he stun
bled over it prone upon his face
Accustomed though it was to London
sights, thrill of horror ran through the
small group that Immediately formed on
The footway. Hands were stretched out
swiftly, and drew the cursing vagabond,
with his bleeding nose and forehead,
lay there dark and motionless, and he was
thrown, with maledictions, on some
stone steps not far away.
Then two or three trembling men laid
hold of a woman's gown and petticoats,
and drew them down decently over a
woman's feet, which glance showed to
be covered with gay shoes and stockings.
And then they turned over what they
knew must be body, for there were
drops spattered about the flags that told
their own tale. All the pavement was
dinted and split; but what terrific ven-
geance it had taken on the tender object
which had so broken it'll
The crowd had now grown large.
Among the men and boys, the women
and girls, who thronged together and
stood there, with shocked faces and
chilled hearts, shuddering at the specta-
Gle dare not describe, was a young wo-
man in her teens, neatly and rather CO
quettishly dressed, carrying a milliner's $
box. A minute before, she had been trip
ping rapidly along the street with a light
step and jaunty air, her face frightened
with q smile as she hummed to herself a
familiar catch. Glued to the spot by a
fatal fascination, she had seen all we
have been describing; and now when the
silent men lifted the dead creature the
sight was too much for the young girl to
bear. Her face grew pallid, and she be
gan to stagger As she was about to fall
a young man saw her, caught her round
the waist with his right arm-a right
strong man-and said:
Hold up, my dear. Don't look at il
any more. Here, I'll lead you out of th'
crowd"
He succeeded in getting her to door
step, and tanning her with his hat, she
soon began to revive.
Thank you" she said, trying to smile
at her benefactor; IL shall be better
presently. Thank you ever so much"
The face she turned up to the young
man was a very sweet one. 1t wa
plump and full the round cheek wal
evidently not often so colorless as it was
then. The delicate aquiline nose, cherry
lips, and bright blue eyes, the fair lonl
hair she left disporting about her shoul
ders. and the dainty little hat upon he
head, altogether formed q striking pic
ture-such picture as in our dull cit.
often makes an honest man turn rounC
and, with kindly wish, say to himself
How pretty she is T. 1t was a modes
face, too. The long lashes immediatel
dropped over the eyes under the younI
mans ardent gaze, and the color begal
to gather in her cheeks as soon as sh
knew he was looking at her intently an
did not me an to 20 away.
you are still seedy." he said. Come
let me give you an arm and help yo
along. / dare not leave you like this"
His voice was rather deep and full
His face, though not a handsome ont
was open and manly. His eyes wer
large and brown. They seemed to spea
frankness. She thought so. though sh
hesitated. London streets were familia
to her She had trodden them unharn
ed, but she knew something OF the
perils.
81 think / can manage" she said, tr.
ing to get up.
But her knees trembled, for the crow
was still there, and the police were tai
ing notes over the body of the dead VI
man. 1t was clear the shock had vi
nerved the girl too much for so rapid
recovery. He held out his arm and sh
took it.
Now" he said, (which way are yo
going p
"To Russell Square" she said. "Ar
there nearly left my parcel T (stoo
ing to pick it up). IL am taking tn
lace to lady at number fifty-two."
All then you work in shop, Ell z
es, Cutter & Chettam's. But thin
l can get on alone now. Please let go
my arm, Sir. Thank you very much I;
don't want to keep you.
. "Oh ronsensel l mean to see you M