Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-02-05


pying a seat in front of me. The lady
was neatly dressed and looked so
bright and happy and so lovingly
amused her pretty children that dis
carded a rather dull book and gave my
self wholly up to watching my neigh
bors.
After time something in her face
struck me as being strangely familiar,
but where had seen it, and under what
circumstances, had not the slightest
idea.
Backward over the years went my
thoughts, knocking at every dusty
chamber of my brain, yet of no avail.
Suddenly an attitude unconsciously as
sumed by the younger of the chill.
dren, girl, furnished the key that un-
locked long disused chamber and
remembered distinctly. / had seen her
before, but under such different cir
cumstances that it was wonder that
ever recalled the greatly changed face
A fair face with streaming eyes was
vividly impressed on my mind by what
was nearly tragedy, and to think that
this happy, smiling face was the same,
seemed incredible, yet so it was,
Although my interest in her, twenty
years ago, was very great could not
be so heartless as to break the spell
and rudely plunge her into that past,
which was now so clearly forgotten.
Happily, she was so engrossed with the
children that ! was unnoticed, Silent
ly ! watched her and thought that sell
dom had it been my lot to see such q
happy woman. When the brakeman
called the town of L. she gathered
up her belongings, but before she could
leave the car stalwart fellow rushed
in and, with an embrace that seemed
TO include all three, was so outspoken
in his joy at seeing her, as he helped
them to the depot platform, that every
looker-on smiled.
1t is strange how memory can bridge
chasms and although many years had
passed since l had seen that woman,
yet it seemed as yesterday | was then
police reporter on metropolitan pa
with crime and misfortune of all kinds,
it was a dull routine, seldom varied by
romance.
One morning woman was brought
insensible to the police station. She
was well dressed and quite young
She had some money, but for some rea
son had tried to drown herself 1t wa.
simple story that the colored mar
who rescued her told He had seer
her get off from an incoming train a.
it stopped at the depot and, almost reel
ing start toward the river. Suspectine
evil he followed her and arrived il
time to rescue her from suicide
death.
To reporter the story was disap
pointingly devoid of sensation, auC
the articles found in her possession
clearly identified her, but told no story
The girl was good-looking Swede
and that there was story she coulc
tell II she would made her an obiec
of interest to all the police reporters o
the city papers,
Someway we all took fancy to thi
unfortunate girl, and frequently Wis
tied her ut the hospital, where sh,
was slowly recovering strength. Whel
reason was recovered she could no
speak to us, but to an interpreter sh
fatly refused to make any explana
tions. Despite her protests we knew
there was a story behind the attempted
suicide and resolutely set about to in
gratiate ourselves into her go Cd graces
that the story might be told.
Aside from the intense competition
for scoop we all were irresistibl,
drawn to this sad young girl VIII
could only look at us with mournfu
blue eyes and could not speak wor,
of our language. The tell-tale eye
told plainly of the effort to conceal
but what it was we were unable to i'm
agine.
Two days before she was to resum
her journey was promised her story
She was to write il and give it TO M
on the evening of her departure.
At the appointed tim, was at the
hospital door, only to he handed tn,
promised letter and to be told that sh,
had gone on the morning train wa,
deeply disappointed, for had grown t,
like this incomprehensible girl
The only scoop that | got out of j
was the announcement Of her depar
tre, tor ! did not tell the boys anything