The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-09-06

ing tnaC common sort OF repentance De-
forehand for the thing she was about
to do, the precise moral value Of which
1t would be interesting to inquire. IL
ought to count for something, for W ~
doesn't hinder the act, It least itsboils
her feet; should she take II? There |
was 1 bigger one further On, and her 1
imp eriOus c0nscien tiousness compelled
her to go ten steps further. into the
enemy's country To get II, for now that
she was committed to the undertake
ing she was bound to do the best she
Icould. .ys.lfi ~
L To stoop, to break the Vine and TO
secure the melon were IN. tnstaDt'S
work; but a. she bent. the high, corn
before her waved violently anEa big
farmer looking man in a SLOUGH hat
and shocking old coat sprang end seized
her by the arm, with grip not pain
full but sickeningly firm, exclaiming
as he did so, ssse yelr,...
+ "Wal, swan ter gosh ifsataint
gal.n ra 4, ~ ''is'
Lima dropped the melon, and. barely
recalling the peculiar circumstances
In time to suppress q scream, made
silent desperate effort to break away. 1
But her ,captor's hold was not even
shaken, and he laughed at the Inn
pOtence of her attempt. In all her
tpefted life she had never been held a.
'Inomentagainst her will, and 1t need
ed not the added considerations that
this man was coarse, unknown boor,
the place retired, the time midnight,
and herselfin the position of, q GRIM
inal, to give. her feeling Of abject
lterrOr SO great as to amount to positive
nausea, as she realized her utter pow
erlessness in his hands. si..S. -
|" SO you have BEEN a-stea1ini nay
melons, bey?" he demanded gruffiy. I
+ Observation-Disclosures with whichthe ques-,
tion was enforced, deprived her of the
last yestige of dignity and self -assertion.
She relapsed into the mental cOEdi-
EtiOn of u Juvenile culprit undergoing,
correction. Now that she was caught
she 20 longer thought OF her ofense as
,venial. The grasp of her captor SEEM
ed to put al end TO all possible hair
.splittfng on that point, and prove that
lit was nothing more nor less than
Ilstealing, and a seases of guilt left her
without any moral support against her
Humiliation and an abject desire to
lbeg off on any terms. @
r SWhat do YOU go rOsnd stealin'.
bfOlk,s melons for, young woman? 2.
ELDon't yer folks bring yer up better'n
that? LISA dodrotted shame to 'em
eff they don't. What did We want with
1.-the melons? Don't they give We
enough to eat ter home, .hey"'
"We were going to have some sup
per, sir,u she replied, in scared,
4 GREATNESS tone, with q little hope OF
propitiating, him by being extremely
civil and explicit in her replies.
"Who was havin' supper to this time
; er.night?p he snorted incredulously.
1--WE girls" was the faint reply,
i "What girls ?" -,
r. Had she got to tell where she came
from and be identified? She couldn't,
/, she wouldn't. But again came that
J dreadful shake, and the words faltered
out: u $40 ..
y "Over at the Seminary, SIR"
"Whew, so yer one er them, are We?
What's Yer name| sy.ol :; f~s.
H. Cold dew stood on the poor girls
!. forehead. She was silent. He might
kill her, but she wouldn't disgrace her
fathers name. b
, 'sWhat's yer name?n he repeated
I with another shake. @
She was still silent, though limp as
rag in his grasp.
, "Wall," said he sharply, after wait
ing awhile TO see If she would answer,
r II guess Yell be more confidin' like to
: the jedge when he inquiries in the
mOrnin. A night in thelock-up makes
folks wonderful civil. 70 Now I'll1j jest
9 trouble We to come along to the police
, office" andhe walked her along by
" the arm toward the house. nt
l | As the horrible degradation to which
. she was exposed flashed upon Lima
/, the last remnant Of her self-control
. gave way, and, hanging back with all
= her might against his hand, she burst
ooh, don't. don't! 1t will kill me
3 I'll tell you my name. It's Lima May,
nard. Ny father Is q rich merchant
i in New York, Broadway, No. TAB. HI
will give YOU anything If you let m,
a 90. Anything you want. Oh, pleas,
# don't! Oh, don't! 1 couldn't!
e In this terror-stricken wild-eyed girl
It her face streaming with tears, ant
9 every lineament convulsed with abjec
i dread, there was little enough to re
mind Arthur Steele of the queenl,
= maiden who had favored him with {
e glance OF negligent curiosity that after
n noon. He stopped marching her aloni
: and said refiectively: 7.i.
:, Lima MAYNARD, hey!- Then ,yo,
l. must be the gal that's down on Am.
h Steele and wouldn't ask her to til
d party tomorrow, Say, amt yer tn
d. one?" hun
=. Lima was too much bewildered b.
:, the sudden change Of tack to do NOR
II than stammer inarticulately. an
d afraid that in her terror she woul'
n have been capable of denying 1T, If sh
had thought that would help her. He
n captor reflected more deeply, scratche
n his head, and finally assuminga di
plomatic attitude by thrusting hi
d hands in his pocket. remarked: z.
II II s'pose ye'd like 1t dummed we
,r eff / was to let you go and say noting
= more about 1t. RELY don't s'pose ~
@ orter do it; but 1t riles me to see Am
10 comm home cryin' every. day, An
= TlI tell We what I'll DO. Ef you'll as
her to your fandangp to-mOrrer, IAN
u be friends with her arterward SO She
re come home happy and cheerful like
l. I'll let we go, and IL We don't III pt
ID We In Jug overnight, sures taxes. Sa
l. yes or no now, quickVV
1T "Yes, yesi' Lima cried with frantl
20 eaQernes ~
/. fhere was scarcely any possible raj
id SOM he could have asked that st
q would not have instantly given. Sh
as dared not credit her ears, and stoo
le gazing at him in intense appealin
" suspense, as If he might be about to r
u vokehis offer. But instead Of that b
N turned down thehuge collar of the oil
,e overcoat, took It off, threw 1t on tt
ut ground, and turning up the SLOUGH
re his rat, stood before her q very goot
ne looking and well-dressed young gel
It. tleman, whom she at once recognize
lg and at length identified In her min
mt as the One, walking With Amy tn
e, afternoon, which now seemed, weel
We Lago.i He bowed very low and sai
r. earnestly enough, though smiling.
- II humbly beg your pardon" ~
ne "Lina stared at him IN dumb amaz
ct ment, and he went on,
to 81 am Arthur Steele. / came hon
he onla vacation to-day and was sittir
|cl n a To watch fathers melon patch 4