Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-03-02
HER ONE ERROR.
OR
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
CHAPTER XXXVIH. CONTINUED.

emerging from street he had just
crossed, beheld Ida in the grasp of q
policeman, who was leading her along
deaf to her tears, and unmoved by her
pale face and trembling limbs, which,
alasi he looked on as but SO many
nicely-acted tricks of trade. They
were followed by pursy, bilious
looking man. whom Tom recognized
In a moment as baker in the neigh
borhood, noted for his handkerchief
ness and severity with all the youth
of the locality.
Her little bonnet pushed back from
her head, her little cape all aWry, one
hand stretched out imploringly to her
friend and ally Tom, with eyes stream
ing with tears through the dishevelled
curls over the pale cheeks, the hapless
little culprit looked the picture Of
despair.
With one bound Tom was at her
side, his heart in his mouth, figurative
ly so to speak-it might have been
literally, SO huarse was his articulation
of the few words he managed to gasp
out as he clutched the little hand with
in one of his own-and putting his
arm around the shoulder of the pant
ing and terrified child, for the moment
arrested their progress.
"What's e-where-what' s it for?"
ooh, ah;" returned the sapient
functionarv. with a look that was
meant to be a forcibe comment on
his words, "what it for? You don't
know nothing, do you?-oh, no, no!
Now you just moveon there, and take
yourself off, or else it'll be what's it
for?' in another quarter"
"No, know him. = said the baker,
who had remarkably good authority
for what he said; II know his mother
a very respectable woman is Mrs.
Greious"
Respectable or no, it aint for him
TO interfere with the course ofjustice, "
retorted it's functionary "NoW then,
young feller!"
"You be hanged" Tom burst out,
impetuously and disrespectfUlly;
cant you tell?'
The policeman made no reply, save
10y fiinging off TOMS arm and again
urging his small prisoner forward.
But the boy still kept hold of Ida's
hand, and continued to move with
them, followed by a group Of juvenile
spectators, who cheered Tom, and
|'ya-ahed" at the "bobby" from a
respectful distance.
It's a case of smashing, then, Mas
ter Grejous, said the bake, y land as
barefaced a one as ever [ see, and I've
trounced pretty many, and trounce
EN- [ will, SO long as I've breath to
say the words"
you'd best keep what you've got
TO say for his Worship" said the po-
iiceman; then, with q significant look
at Tom, he added, ',There'll be more
to say then some bargalned for"
t'It's pack of lies" shouted Tom.
why, | know them well, her and her
another; she'd no more go to smashing
than me-"
That's very likely" growled the
policeman, "Are you a-going to clear
off, now, before make your"
'"I'm doing no harm, nor hindering
of your duty" said Tom, boldly, and
trying to speak with dignity; 'sbut
where you take her I'm going, and
that's all about it. y
The policeman, however, with an in
sistence on the eXactness Of his duty
(which it was we'll if he always followed
aft once perceived his advantage He
took the only available hand of the
little girl in his own, and the other be-
ling, as usual, shrouded in the loose
sleeve, her gallant protector was re-
dueed to the position of an unattach-
ed, but he kept we'll up with them, and
now and again found means to
whisper an encouraging word, or to
touch the shoulder Of the poor, terror
stricken child, who was evidently
much relieved by his vicinity.
A short walk brought them to the
police-court, where the magistrate
was at the time sitting. There was
the usual motley crowd about the
entrances of the court, through which
the policeman, however, made way
without difficulty.
Look ee there, at that young un,"
said one Of the dirty, slatternly wom-
en- of whom the crowd was chiefly com
posed; "what's she been adding on?"
Smashing" said a lad, one OF those
who had made one of the little process
sion from the first.
"Why, she's got but one arm, eX-
claimed another "Poor mite!'
e<Oh, ah! that's just their dodge"
replied a third "of all things they
Hikes to get holt of a cripple. Nothink
,softens the beaks like child; the more
&1eformed or misunderstanding the
better"
The speaker held in her arms sick
By, pulling infant, of some six months
old, which had not improbably done
good service on more than one such
occasion, she being there to plead for
a drunken husband, and being no
doubt experienced in the theory which
she had just set forth.
"Poor child! she doesn't look to
have much harm in her; Tdnever have
taken her tor a bad one, " said young
woman who stood little apart from
the crowd. She was very pretty,
though faded, rather smartly dressed,
and kept a handkerchief to one OF her
eyes.
said, as he stood aside with his prls,.