Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-11-24
GOOD CAUSE FOR THANKS.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

AS a general tnlng nature Is not
bountiful with her smiles these short
and dreary days, when the world Is
shuddering on the threshold of win
ter. But this particular Monday
was full of balm and sunshine the
air was sweet with indescribable
perfume of the colored leaves that
were drifted up along the roadside,
and collected in rustling layers un
der the stone foundation of Exmouth
Jail Overhead the sky was as blue
as sapphire; and here and there
along this woodpath a stray wild
flower lifted its purple eye, the last
lingering relic of the golden Sep
TENDER glow.
Doctor Fitch rode along the lone
ly path, the sound of his horses
boots on the dead leaves reminding
him vaguely of the days, long. long
ago. when he was boy and secured
these very woods in search of nuts,
and hunted squirrels and chipmunks
with delight which moose and red
deer would not give him now
eff one could be boy forever"
said Royal Fitch. Hallol who's
that 2" as his horse SHE'D lightly at
sight of slender figure. sitting on
a fallen log, few feet back of the
road. ''Oh, its you, Mary Trefoil |
You got your discharge this morn
ing"
Mary Trefoil looked up-a dark
eyed. pallid-faced woman of two or
three and twenty. Doctor Fitch
knew her very well She had been
in Exmouth prison three months
for theft, and during two of these
three months she had lain nearly at
the point of death, in the hospital
ward, with low, lingering fever.
Doctor Fitch was rather proud of
the skill which had rescued her from
the jaws Of death He stopped his
horse and looked at her
Eyes, SIR" said Mary spiritlessly.
"I've got my discharge. p"
"And where are you going now :"
81 don't know, sir"
"Where are your friends" he
ccyxoJ - ,,s,l,s,xlJx,
81 have none, sir ~
"But this Won't do,7' said Doctor
Fitch, noting the troubled light in
the girls eyes, the deadly wilderness
of her brow and cheeks. "Look
here you must 90 somewhere. you
know. You can't sit here. Can't
you think of any place where they
would give you food and shelter for
a few days until you get strong"
Mary Trefoil shook her head She
did not seem to be at all interested
in the question. Doctor Fitch s
horse reached up his head and brows-
ed on the still green leaves of wild
grapevine, which the boughs of the
cedar had sheltered from the early
frost. Doctor Fitch himself sat like
a statue. and looked at Mary Ire
foil.
"a social problem" he said, in
wardIy. "And she must be solved,
somehow
"Mary," he said aloud, lean you
walk mile ?'
II suppose so, sir"
''Then walk along by my horses
side. | know good old woman who
wants girl. Perhaps you may suit
her. She need not know who you
are, or whence you came"
81 didn't put myself in Exmouth
Jail" sullenly retorted Mary. "And
I have told one story from the begin
ning-that had nothing to do with
the silver. don'tknow how it ever
came into my trunk l didu't know
it WAS there, until the officer drag
ged II out before my eyes,
1.-THE law thought different said
Doctor Fitch. who, as prison physi-
clan, had heard these protest ations
of innocence from scores of lips be-
fore. However, that is not the
question we are discussing just at
present. Will you try to deserve the
recommendation, if Igive you one ?'
"Heaven helping me, sir, l will /"
said Mary Trefoil, evidently greatly
affected by bis kindness.
She walked beside the horse for
soma littla distance until doxup q,