Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-26


 / tice where it my duty to report eases for a newspaper.
 One evening, just as my omnibus was start. ing on the familiar road home, a girl got in and sat in the corner by the door. She might be fifteen not more; she looked at her fellow passengers defantly, for there was q dstinc- tive movement away from her. She was aG- excessively dirty: surely there was a weeks dirt on those rounded cheeks, through which the rosy tinge of youth ard health shone f;.intly! Her chestnut hair was gathered into d tangled knot, on which was set the usual black hat with flowers of the English lowest classes. She wore q grey waterproof cloak huttoned over bundle, perhaps of things re- deemed from pawn, perhaps of work taken home from some slop-shop. Her short petti- coats showed sturdy feet in country boots, and on her dirty childish finger was wed- ding ring!
 How came she by that wedding-ring Surely the solemn circlet was rare enough ill tue court where was her home. Had some iair-faced curate, ardent ill a crusade against vice, pnrsuaded her to Ego to Church" with her boy husband, perhaps, out of his poverty, forgiving her the fec?
 It was idle wondering. The girl sat there, paid for her seat,-I marvelled that she should possess so largo sum as the two pence for her fare-and her fellow passengers scanned her curiously, and edged away from her,
 An old gentleman sat opposite to her. and, fumbling for his money, he dropped coin. She saw it shining in the straw, and leaning eagerly forward, pointed small straight fln- ger where it lay,
 "There it is l" she cried in childish voice, and was going to stoop and spick it up for the owner, when some instinct drew her back. 
 son through their dirt, and she sat upright in her place.
 What made her blush? Had she noted our furtive movement away from her, and fanced that we should doubt her honest motive in touching the money.
 But there was a modest dignity in her sim pie action, an innocence in the sudden hot flush on her face, which carried rebuke with it, and stirred ones heart in sympathy. Just where a narrow street opened from the chief thoroughfare, she stopped the omnibus, gath cred her bundle in her arms, still holding it mysteriousy under her cloak, and disap- peared into darkness.
 Two months afterwards was in court as usual, and we were trying prisoner. It was IL common crime robbery with violence. Rob- bery, in the person of two clever rogues, had made off with the booty; violence had been taken, ard was in the dock.
 His name James Bond.
 He could neither read nor write; he knew no trade but that of garrotter, and it appeared ho had been engaged as a specialist in that l;ne by tho men who had left him to face the police alone when disturbed at their work. All went as usual he was convicted and sem teuccd.
 had let my thoughts wander little, and was asking man near me tho term of the sentence, when I was startled by a loud child ish voice shouting across the court: ssNever mind Jim: I'll look for yep I raised my head and met the round eyes of the ,Il had seen in the omnibus. She had evidently addressed the prisoner, | for he looked sullenly at her face for a mo- | tncllt as he was led away, and muttered some- | Ing which might have been either q curse ru blessing. it was so far removed from any | ii,Irlnn language knew.
 | ;Hs course she was taken out of court and | this time followed her, She saw me and ap- | :o;:ccd me with half confidence which re- | ..iltir;, nc of the timid venture Of B fright l .:el ;:. ;u,ai whom hunger crterrOr has urged l .. ilI ur.,.;ral shelter.
 l ;iu,, much did he Set?' she asked. told | ,.cr ;.:c i:u,lber of months James Bond was tC | .Hin l,.'ja0n.
 Der round eyes were full of fear, but not o 1 ..: is remembered that, such as he was
 ..:,l,., i;ond w;ss probably her only protector l Lat t; your iis,lnn?'' I vcnturod to ask, ''.ry cali me Jim $ Meg: l 'sT.,u ar, his Wife?' said, remembering hel
 :, ,!,;:HSr;ng.
 ...Av. 'ln all that Meg answered, and hel
 ., aus!,ed with something that looked lik'
 .t,!,:;its;ss.
 1 .:-lrs you going home?"
 1 st; shook ilcr head vigorously. | '.s:.2 s4tn.,ied our corner just before h.
 ., ;; t.,os, ,... "xrlained. They let mo sleep
 :, st n.;!.tt, but I won't again, Old Be vas, ;,la.i!: and my boots aren't heavy lik
 :; tc throw at her. No. I'll sleep some With Dick
 '.Fho is Dics?,' I asked.
 1 '-.;ini $ dog Ard following her glance
 ..W, e.lveriug with his back against lamp
 1.>t outside tssa court, a white bull-ter
 " .... were near tic doap isy this time an
 -@ ,rst tc:s.ther The dog looked at Mee , 1 .. ...;l iiot move.
 lies; waiting for Jim,' she said, with muc .,tna, "f;,, sets ;J lot on him. He's wo . ,i.;:ry !: G::i,t. You see he's only half bull , e..i.e, Ts pc. a.siinst him when they SC Vi frs. but he's placiy, aud he holds Q
 gn.., lle Il,ars Jim's voice, and pots a lot"
 "NnrI s;i,d, s'and he will take care of you i, must take eape of him." Meg answered : anxious loo,s coming into her eyes. "Jil
 y,,ud never look it me if l lost Dick" :',,,i, Meg! This WAS the beginning of ou continuance: but learned to know her sin ,, l..irt pretty well ill the months of Jim .;,-.4:ea got her q lodging with a decer
 r,,lii. where she could sleep in peace, witt
 ,u. havn3;, boot ready to throw: but thu
 ,i,s ali el;. would let mo do for her. She WE
 very pe.efvea apa I beard more about he i rom her iand';ldy tiaaa fpGn herself alway
 I... L1- rent, aud left her to feed and cloth
 ,rs.::f, which she seemed to do easily-fof he
 .iiis, especially as regards clothing, wei
 raw. s.ile became a trifle cleaner, not much.
 Once, on ono of our rare meetings, for Me
 ,l,d an independence of lifc which respecte
 II vcntured to speak of James Bond, an ] sv.,: @ urge her leaving him. had mac A 'r..uis;es os the police, to whom Bonds care' su..-,ed pretty well known, The present W.
 n.s third term of imprisanment He was
 pad iot, selfish, cruel, brutish; not the kind 1 marry the Inspector assured me.