Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-19

A"o"sh hut Rfseen Years Old. She Has
Drained the Cup OF sorr0w aud Misery.
An Opportunity TO Reform.

Though But sf,sen years old. She Has
Drained the Cup OF sorrow aud Misery
An Opportunity 20 Reform.
ST Louis. Mo-, August 1s.-Effe
smith, a fiteen-year-old girl, with
traces OF former beauty, was Que Of the
OnIortunates brought before Judge
Morris to-day. She was arrested az
Fifteenth and Chestnut streets last
night for freQuenting saloons and
creating disturbance on the streets.
"Efie smith, the clerk called.
The court habitues were surprised TO
see tail, well formed girl, bareheaded,
With short raven black hair reaching TO
her shoulders and regal carriage, step
from the cage. Her large, dark eyes
swept the court room az a glance as she
came forward unabashed 20 the railing.
She were dark skirt, which struck
her half way between the ankles and
knees, displaying q shapely limb, en-
cased In q pair of flaming redstOckings.
On her feet were lOw-Quarter shoes.
About her shoulders hung q cheap
cloak.
The Judge heard the testimony
against her as she sat In the prisoners
chair smiling. AS her reputation was
not altogether bad, 1t was thought best
TO lei her 60.
The girl smiled, bowed, and sauntered
from the courtroom with the air Of q
queen.
Ia the story Of the life Of Ellie Smith
there is a tinge OF peculiar sadness.
Ten years ago her father died in Wichi-
"a, Kas. She was then FIVE years Old
Her mother gave her an education con-
mensurate with her limited means
When Efie had turned 10 she left school
and obtained a position In dry goods
store. Shortly afterwards, under prom
ises Of money and jewels, her employer
accomplished her ruin. The girl was
not old enough 10 realize the enOrmity
OF her error. The new existence was
not distasteful, and she plunged into
the chasm wish the reckIessness Of
youth.
But Ehle's story was not different
from a thousand others. The man who
ruined her soon tired OF his new love
and cast her of. The girl, almost
heartbrOken at his action and expect
Ing to become q mother, continued her
Wayward life. Through all this her
widowed mother remained In blissful
ignorance Of her daughters shame.
Efhe thought best 20 20 20 a large
city, where her identity would be
lost, and where she could bear
her child In secret. So one night
she packed a few articles 10 vailse
and lowering 10 from q window went
hastily to THE depot and took train
for Kansas City. In a few hours her
destination was reached, but her hopes
received a serious set back when she
was refused admittance to resorts where
sought admittance because Of her youth
and condition. So after her baby
was born Fife Smith became a child
Of the streets. Money and home!
She had neither. Like q plucked flower
she fell by the waySide. She ate food
where and when she could get IL, and
her bed was often under doorsteps,
stairWays and IN lumber wards. Her
companions were street arabs, news
boys and tOughs.
After several months OF such life Eiiie
made the acquaintance OF q girl as I'M
fortunate as herself. The tie OF misior-
tune bound the two In friendship. They
rented a meagerly furnished room to-
gerhev. This life consumed GEAR Of
Enfe'5 youthful existence. Matters
VENT on unchanged for several more
months. Then the abI-winged angel
OF death took away /EGe's faithful
1879 -Eas-is-aelss 80 all that was
10 erring one was laid 60 the
pOttea .eid. E6ie was the only m0urner
az thc4uneral.
Hsartsick at the loss OF her friend,
and. falling in with Q railroad maD,
Ellie Smith soon found herself on the
way TO ST. Louis. She arrived four
weeks ago aad, By her experience in
Kansas City, managed TO elude the
vigilaut eyes OF the police until arrested
last night.
The attention OF Mrs. Harris, the pO-
lice riatron, was attracted TO the girl
rs she was confined in the holdover and
SIC expressed s. willingness TO reform.
'"Oh, I am so tlred-tired Of drink and
aud everything, and II / could only
QUIT them al and De q good girl I would
do It, But l could not quit drinking as
long as 1 am going around, but IL
mas locked up in some home until for
rot the taste know / would quit and
aever return 20 this life again. Can't
you send me somewhere"
"Weli, suppose you are sent to the
House Of the Good Shepherd?'
sThat's the place / want 20 go" aud
q look Of ineffable peace beamed over
the girls face ard through her eyes.
When the Judge discharged her she
walked straight up TO the Office of the
matron. When Mrs. Harris arrived
Efie was taken before Chief Harrigan
and committed to the House of the Good
Shepherd.