Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-05-04
4 MOTHERS SIN.
BY Lieutenant Murray.

view that lay to the eastward, Tow
erlns above the green and turbid wa
ters OF the Seine the walls of the
Louvre stretched in gray perspective,
Whlle beyond was seen the dome of the
institute, the pointed turrets of that
famous prison the Conciergcrie, the
bulky towers of Notre Dame, the dome
OF the Sorbonne, and the sharp, SER
rated spire of st. Chapelle, each and
all historical Memory was very busy
with the scene and the thoughts which
1T suggested, when suddenly l felt Il
hand in my pocket.
Turning suddenly l grasped the arm
OF lad at my side. He struggled for
moment to escape from me, but
when he found this impossible he stood
silent and sulky.
| l knew not why, but as 1 regarded
the little rogue l did not feel the least
anger at his audacity, but watched him
with not little interest. He wore the
inevitable blouse, coming half down to
his knees, the type of the humble class
OF artisans, with SLOUGH hat much the
worse for wear The fellow might
nave been good-looking, though it was
dltflcult to judge upon this point, so
thick was the coating of dirt upon his
face. AS l looked at his hands, his
wrist being grasped firmly in my right,
observed that they We're small and
wen formed; not those of one accus-
toned to labor, though in the matter
of want of cleanliness they rivaled his
face. He was rather tall, quite slim,
and | should have judged not over sew
enteen or eighteen years of age.
Neither OF us had spoken a word
While l was making these observations.
and l was rather surprised that the fell
low did not show fight or at least
struggle to get away. But he saw that
l was more than match for him. and
L Kept Il firm grip upon his wrist de-
termined not to let him 20.
You are hurting my wrist" he said
at last
Every likely" 1 replied. you put it
where you had no right to just now"
Il didn't take anything"
No; was too quick for YOU"
What are you going to dc with me?'
Hand you over to the police"
Don't do that" said he, drawing
closer to my side. You are not a hard
mani can see that"
| Aou utSeIFc punishment.
"Ah, but you will punish those at
nome; they are not to blame, poor
things!'
was interested at once, and told
the lad that 1 would like to see his
home. If he would show me to it. and
promise not to run away, I would let
go his wrist and not hand him over to
the police. He looked at me with a
searching glance, and thought for a
moment before he answered, then
said:
"Yeu have q right to make terms.
| don't see what good it will do, but
promise, and you can follow me-
l released his wrist and followed
him across the bridge to the other side
Of the Seine. After crossing the boule-
ward St. Michael we struck into laby-
rinth of streets that lie in this part of
the city, the famous st. Giles Of Paris,
and finally stopped before a tumble
down house, into which my guide en-
tered, and I followed him up a mar
row flight of stairs to the garnet. Here,
taking a key from his pocket, he I'M
locked door, and we entered 4 low
room, in the middle of which, upon
the floor, were ii little girl and a boy
at play Witt some toy blocks.
My guide disappeared at once
through side door into what appeared
to be an anteroom, saying he would be
back in one moment, and turned to-
ward the children, both Of whom had
left their play to regard ME with curl
Gus eyes. The oldest could not have
been more than four years Of age, a
bright and pretty-faced boy, while his
sister was perhaps year younger, and
extremely beautiful. They were coarse
" dressed, but were clean and neat
in appearance The apartment, which
contained little or no furniture beyond
a bedstead and two chairs, with Il sort
of a bureau, surmOunted by looking
glass, showed unmistakable evidences
Of poverty, but yet no want Of neat
ness outraged the eye.
l had hardly made these observa-
tons when the door opened again, and
there entered the room Il young woman
scarcely more than twenty years Of
age. She was rather delicate in appear
ance, and quite pretty, not to say
handsome; her dress, like that Of the
children, was course, but neat, and as
she sat down upon one of the chairs,
after placing the other for me, the
two children ran to her knees with
the instinct and affection of offspring
OF LDelr leuuef years. 1 niu looked
at her but a moment before discov-
cred that the pickpocket Of the Pont
des Invalides was a woman!
did you not suspect my sex" she
asked, after moment.
II certainly did not"
1T is my one resort she said, sad
ly, land never adopted until am
driven to it to fill those little mouths!"
Dangerous business-you might have
fallen into very different hands, as you
must be aware"
'True, but I work by instinct 1
saw your face, and said must have
money. He Is not hard man; If de-
tected I may, perhaps, appeal to his
mercy"
why do you not ask for aid in place
of being thus thief?'
THAT is hard word, but it is merit
ed. Do you not know that beggars are
treated in Paris like thieves! The law
furnishes both nearly alike"