Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-11-21
JIM'S MEG.

Once when l was young man my
days iOurneying lay between a certain
quiet lodging, situated where the
Edgware Road nergeS into the coun-
try, and a certain Court of Justice,
where 1t was my duty to report cases
for a newspaper.
One evening, Just as my omnibus
was starting on the familiar road home,
a girl got in and sat In the corner by
the door. She might be fifteen or
more; she looked at her fellow-passen-
gers detantiy, for there was a distinct
i've movement away from her. She was
aEg: :essIvely dirty; surely there was q
weeks dirt on those rounded checks,
Though which the rosy tinges OF youth
and health shone family. Her short
po,ticoats showed stradly feet in coun-
try bCO,s, and on her dirty childish
finger was wedding ring.
How came she by that ring? Surely
the solemn ciIclet was rare enough In
the court where was her home. Had
some fair-faced curate, ardent In a
crusade agalnt vice, persuaded her to
go to the church" with her boy hus-
band, perhaps, out of his poverty for
giving her the fee?
1t was idle wondering. The girl sat
that she should possess so large SUN
the two pence for her fare, and her
fellow passengers scanned her.
An old gentleman sat opposite to her ,
and fondling for his money, he dropped
a coin. She saw it shining in the straw,
and leaning eagerly forward, pointed a
small straight finger where 1t lay.
There 1t islr she cried in a childish
voice. ana was going 10 stoop and pick
it up for the owner, when some in
stiuct drew her back. Her neck and
cheeks ana brow flushed crimson
through their DIRT, and she sat upright
In her place.
What made her blush? Had she
noted our furtiye movement away from
her, and fancied that we should doubt
her honest motive in touching the
money.
But there WAS a modest dignity in
her simple 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 mar
row street opened from the chief thor
oughfare, she stopped the omnibus,
gathered her bundle in her arms, still
holding 1t mysteriously under her cloak,
and disappeared into darkness
Two months afIerward 1 was in court
as usual, and We were trying prisoner.
Ii was a common crime, robbery with
violence.
His name was James Bond.
He could neither read nor write; be
knew no trade but that of garroter, and
it appeared he had been engaged as a
specialist In that line by the men who
had lett him to face the police alone
vixen disturbed at their work.
All went rs usual; he was convicted
and sentenced as usual.
1 had let my thoughts wander a lit
tie, and was aSki. z a man near me the
term of the sentence, when L was
startled by loud childish voice shout
ing across the court
Never mind. jim; III look for yep
I raised my hand and met the round
eyes of the girl had seen IN the omni-
BUS.
She had evidently addressed the
prisoner, for he looked sullenly at her
face for a moment as he WAS led away
and muttered something which might
have been either q curse or blessing,
II was so far removed from any human
language l know.
OF course she was taken out of court,
and this time followed her. She saw
me and approached with a half conh.
deuce which reminded me OF a timid
venture OF a frightened animal whom
hunger or terror has urged to An unu'
sual shelter.
"How much did lie get?" she asked.
I told her the number OF months James
Bond was to be in prison.
Her round eyes were full OF fear, but
not of tears / remembered that sucn
as he was, James Bond was probably
her only protection
.What Is your namef" ventured &c
ask.
aThey call me Jim's Meg"
| .You are his wile?" L said, remem'
beripg her wedding ring
"Ay, I'm all that" Meg answered
and her face flushed with something
that looked like happiness.
Are You going homer"
She shook her head vigorously
.Jim swapped our corner Just before
\ he was took (" she exclaimed. Ihel
let me sleep there last night, but
won't again. Old Bet was drunk. anc
NV boots aren't heavy like Jim's 10
throw at her. No, III sleep there
somewhere with Dick"
,.Who Is Dickp" 1 asked.
"J1m's dog" And following hel
glance, L saw, shivering with his baci
sgainst a lamp-post just outside the
court. a white bull-terrior. We wer'