Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-13
AS she held the guilty member pris- |

and plead for the offender against her
sterner judgment. 1t was struggle and
u hard one-he might be young in
crime, the victim of temptation. of un-
toward circumstances she would not
give him over to punishment; she would
rather shield him from retribution; but
she must protect her money.
A pale, grayish atmosphere about
them lasts an instant, then out they
flash into the clear, bright day, upon
which the Aggard, wintry sun has Just
poured "a welcome food of light, show
ing clearly TO her own Mortified vision,
and the deeply meditative gaze OF her
companion her little right hand thrust
deep into his coat-pocket, which closely
adjoined her own, and clinched with all
the force of its pretty pinkish fingers
around his quietly imprisoned digits.
There are some things that happen in
every body's life of which the one most
nearly concerned knows nothing. Lily
Courtney never could tell TIL her dying
day how her hand got out of her neigh
boris pocket. She somehow came 10
herself by-and-bye in Il dazed way, her
forehead resting against the window
glass, and a succession of crimson
bushes chasing each other over her
burning cheeks. Covertiy and by slow
degrees she looked around. The seat
was empty. the suspected pickpocket-
OF whom she would never think with
out heartfelt shame-had left her TO her
TuminAtions.
They were not very agreeable ones
She had been taught that we could not
be too suspicious-she was ready hence
forth 70 deny the assertion entirely.
81 wish | had been robbed rather
than have put my hand she could
90 no further even in thought. a hot
blush always interrupted her. 81 hope
| may never. never see that gentleman
again !" she declared, cnergctIcaliy;
yet even as she said 30, she knew she
did not quite mean it. There WAS time
for no further mental connict-thank
goodness, there was the city II WAS
two in the afternoon.
Lily was just in that mood when one
ceases to be confidential even with ones
self She would not acknowledge that
she saw the stranger rs she crossed the
depot; she would not admit that she
was dubious about the direct on she
should take to reach her brother; in
fine, size was voxed and chagrined, un
certain and excited, and could not re-
coRnlze herself as the resolute young
heroine who had left Grecnvi.le that
morning, relying on store of good
counsel, backed by her own sagacity.
At little distance from the station
she hailed n car, after hastily reading its
iettered sides. When she consulted the
conductor, she learned she was being
carried out OF her way, and with
shouted line or two Of die c~tions ringing
after her she descended and took an
other with Il varied but unsatisfactory
result. She wished that she had not
imbibed prejudice against hacks and
their drivers as being the accessories OF
mysterious disappcarances she had read
of in those awful city papers; but, tired
and distracted as she was, after two
hours aimless car.char ging and mis-
taking OF points ofth compass, she still
could not trust herself, with night ap.
preaching To one of those Conyeyanccs.
She resolved rather 70 go on foot, ask
ing her way block 10y block. and she
swallowed back her tears and set out
sturdiiy despite the cold She forgot TO
be hungry, and was at last fairly on her
way.
Then she saw-she could not tell Just
with what feeling nR-directly in advance
Of her the gentleman with the sable COL
Jar going the same way. After time
she ceased TO ask and followed him
blindly. She was half-benumbed now,
and she murmured to herself: Il be-
gan by suspeCting him-now I am trust
ing him in the dsrkw True enough,
night was coming on; they were turn
ing into mean little streets. having come
back in the neigbborhood OF the depot
A handsome carriage-whose driver
seemed to have waited for the stranger
stood at the corner and received ges-
ture of direction from him. All three
he, Lily and the carriage, paused at a
narrow door. II bore the number. and
was in the street Lione. had sent TO
Grecnville. The gentleman knoc Eed
then Stood back for his companion TO
enter; the door opened into n close, dirty
little room, where poor Lionel lay, on
sn untidy settee, in the act Of being
made ready for removal by kind and
genial old gentleman, little hasty in
temper. it seemed. for he called cut at
sight of the young man whose pocket
Lily had explored: "Well. you've got
here at last. have you. Frank Bentley
I've waited long enough. should say.
and this poor boy suffering from frac-
ture and fever in place like this. The
people who picked him up insonsible of
the ice out beyond In the next street.