The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-28
HEPOLICEMAN'S STORY
BY w. H.

This Is a dreadful night, Mary" SAID
| to my wife, as drew my chair nearer
| the fire.
"Terrible, Tom. Hear how the wind
whistles. i hardly think Harry will come
tonight; do you, my dear?"
81 do not know but he is always punct-
ual," ] replied.
Harry Gongrel had been a chum OF mine
in my young days. When I married and
settled down he joined the police OF New
York city. Some years sfterward he mar
ried Southern lady, but she died, leav-
ing him to watch over a bright-eyed
little girl the counterpart of her mother.
Harry still followed the calling of po-
liceman, but often paid US visit. had
received letter from him saying he
would be in at our house Oh Friday night,
and that night found US seated at the fire
awaiting the down train, which we hoped
would bring with it Harry Gongrel.
AS the wind gave fearful shrek Mary
started, and exclaimed:
atom, heard the cars"
There was lull in the tempest and the
rumbling of the approaching down train
reached our ears.
81 wish Harry were here" said my wife,
as she placed a chair by the fire for the
expected guest.
The next moment there were heavy raps
on the front door. ran to open it, and
Harry stepped in.
How are you Tom and Mary?" he
cried, as he grasped our extended hands.
We led him to the fire and he seated
himself in the chair which my wife had
placed there for him. / noticed that he
had been weeping, but did not question
him about it. We talked for a long time
until referred to the bad weather, when
Harry remarked:
"Yes, Tom, this is a dreadful night,
and reminds me of one during my life"
"Of one, Harry? Why, thought that
you had seen many such nights as this"
81 have, Tom; but one in particular. II
caused me Joy and SORROW" said he.
"Please tell us about it-won't you,
Harry?" said my wife.
81 will gladly do so, Mary; so listen:
"You both know that for many years !
have been policeman. Well, one night
was stationed at the wharf. II was just
such a night as this. The rain fell in tor
rents, and the cold wind made me draw
my cloak closer around me. The gas lamp
lit up short space, but now and then
fash OF lurid lightning enabled me to see
some distance.
GAS a bright fash lit up the darkness
/ saw a woman standing on the edge of
the wharf gazing into the dark waters.
Her dress, rich one, hung close around
her form, and her dishevelled hair hung
down on her shoulders.
81 noiselessly crawled upon her. She
was not aware OF my presence and
crouched within a few feet of her. As l
listened heard her exclaim:
n~I 4, ,t~ ..l- l.
my only resort. The world is nothing to
me now, for / am alone among strangers.
Farewell father, mother, all, for you will
never see your dear Emma again.
"She raised her hands above her head
and sprang forward; but my arms en-
circled her waist and she was saved. She
turned to me and said, mournfully;
Wwhy have you done this,'
"'To save you from a suicides grave
replied.
"'Oh, why did you not let me die!
Death is welcome now
"You should not take away the life
that God has given you. He alone should
take it,
"'Yop are right. thank you.'
WCome with me; i will take you to q
place of safety said i, taking her by the
hand and leading her away. She looked
at me and said:
"Are you policeman?
"' Yes. Come with me-
"' Come where? To the station house?
Ny God! has il come to this?' she cried, as
she pressed her hands TO her forehead to
calm the throbbings of her brain.
"'Not to the station house, but to a
place where you will be among friends /
answered; and she went willingly.
81 took her to the house of my friend,
George Black, and left her in charge OF
his wife, and returned TO my beat.
boarded at Georges, and in the morning
| met the lady had saved at the breakfast
table. She gave her name as Emma
North, and said she resided in Georgia.
Tom, have seen many fair woman, but
Emma North was the fairest. She arose
and graspod me by the hand, and drank
in every word sho uttered.
"I know not how to thank you for
saving me last night, for i was about to
take my own life; but hcnccforth live
only for revenge. My father resides in
Georgia and is man Of great influence.
] am his only child. About q year ago a
young man came to our plantation, with
the intention, a. he said, Of spending q
few days in hunting and fishing. Ito was
welcomed, and time passed pleasantly.
He represented himself a. being from this
city. soon began 10 love him, and my
parents looked forward with Joy TO the
time W hen would be his wife.
Tho day for our wedding was settled
and Arnold Chalmers came North 10 pur-
clrase the wedding garments. The morn
ing after he left father went 90 HIS safe
for some money, when TO his astonish-
ment he found that he had been robbed.
Notes amounting to the sum of hundred
thousand dollars had been tsksp; and