Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-20
THE NIGHT EDITORS STORY.

THE NIGHT EDITORS STORY.
II was $3.50 a. m and the last page had
gone to the stereotypers. The night editor
was weary clearing away the debris Of the
nights news run from his desk, while the
old telegraph editor sucked his pipe in seri-
Gus contemplation of nothing at all.
christmas doesn't mean much to you or
me-" said the telegraph editor, as the night
editor leaned back with grunt of relief
from the task he had just ended. Now, If
we were Christians we might look forward
to the day with some sort OF expectancy. As
it is we will be here usual, and the
worlds story will glide through our fingers
In the same old way; its joys and sorrows,
triumphs and disappontments, holidays and
work days are too much the same thing to
u.s." and again the smoke rolled up in
cloud, to which the night editor added his
share.
"Well, Hobart" said the night editor, "ii
we don't have the holidays, we have some
satisfaction in knowing that we escape much
of the misery they occasion, While we are
out of the world, so to speak. we know more
of 1t than many dream, ana we can see bet
ter than any the sorrow that is hidden be-
meath n holiday face. | used to miss much
the mingling with the people of the world
that is now denied me- but l am coming to
be convinced that my isolation is something
OF a blessing in disguise, after all. II there
is any life that Will make an lshmaelite OF
1t Is the newspaper life 1t is enough
to destroy the faith of the most trusting in
humanity"
What's the matter now, Latta?' asked
Hobart, IL thought you had been setting
some store by the coming holiday-lookins
for some sort OF miracle to give you hold
on your belief that mankind was not wholly
bad. | am afraid you will yet come to my
way of thinking, that the doctrine of total
depravity Is founded on fact"
well, Hobart, | have almost. I'll tell you
how it came about If you care to listen
And while Hobart silently smoked John
Latta told this tale:
Twenty five years ago ! kicked the dew
OFF the grass as the sun rose, trudging bare
footed along the overgrown path that led
along the edge of the timber to a field where
l with some half dozen other youngsters
were engaged in picking berries. 1t was
fruit farm, and the employment, although
for but brief time, paid much better than
IL does now. | was one OF the 'ewiftS,' and
was made a sort OF overseSr for the work in
the immediate vicinity. Here | met a giri
whose nimbe fingers filed boxes faster than
oven mine. and by the dispensation OF the
berry boss we were given the same row to
work on, and during the whole season were
chums. She was about my age, pretty as
you wish, and bright and vivacous as any
girl | ever knew. Mary Haney was her
name. Well, she and l were soon fast
friends. and our friendship didn't end there.
Through the next winter we were Chums az
school, and during the next three or four
years | saw much of her, | went away. and
for about four years was gone from the town
OF my boyhood. On returning an old boy
hood friend told me the fate of pretty Mary
Haney. II was the old story: she loved, was
betrayed and deserted and the rest is easy
l was shocked. but | didn't know the world
so we'll then as now. Where she was none
knew. She had gone from her home and
had not been heard from.
II found employment on a daily paper
printed in one of the pretty cities on the
upper Mississippi, and was soon making a
wide circle of acquaintances in the place
One night was invited to attend one of the
local society affairs. You may guess
IL L was astonlshed at being in
troduced to Miss Mary Haney, one
of the bellies Of the evening. She
received me as a stranger. l hardly knew
what to do. | was between denouncing hel~-
and Withdrawing, when she came with
fne-looking young fellow on her arm, and
introduced me to him, saying she did she
hoped would find 1t convenient to call,
giving me her address and look so implor-
ing that | assented saying l would call
and did go the next day. She broke down
when we were alone, saying she had guessed
l knew from home her story; but she told
me all. She had fled from her shame, and
had gone far down the broad highway, bur
her mother had searched her out. She was
now llklng Win nef mOtnerS DrOtnef, ana
none knew her past She had tried to live ii
down. and she wanted a chance / could not
escape giving the promise she asked, but
soon left the place. How she secured my ad-
dress do not know but about year after
l received card announcing the wedding at
her uncle's house OF Miss Mary Haney and
tho young man she had introduced me to at
the party the night | met her, His home
was in an eastern state and once after
that when she had almost passed from my
memory | again got card announcing the
birth of n son to the couple. I heard in an
indirect way that they were happy together,
and ! made up my mind that the world
wasn't all bad | thought of that poor glrls
experience, and believed that her wandering
feet had at last found the road TO peace, and
that her sin had been forgiven her"
And the night editor heayed a reminiscent
sigh and lighted his pipe again.
"Well?" querled Hobart.
Latta finally looked up through the cloud
OF smoke he had blown and resumed: You
remember that woman who wandered In here
one night last winter, bringing the notice OF
the death OF fallen sister,"
Irish Nary" answered Hobart. II
should say l did Say, she's pretty good
illustration of total deprayity, isn't she?"
Yes" assented Latta She's about as
far down the scale OF womanhood as any
being can get and retain any sembance TO
feminine humanity. Well, that's Mary Ha-
ney. or what is left OF her. | recognized her
that night, and she did me, although she
gave no sign OF 1t then, thought over the
matter for a long time. and finally went to
see her. | wanted her story. You know,
she is running one OF the toughest joints in
the Third ward and | was a little curious
TO hear from her own lips why she had for
saken her eastern home for her Omaha mis-
cry. | felt satisfied she would tell me the
truth as nearly as she could and / couldn't
bring myself TO believe that she had sought
the life she had once forsaken without she
had some strong reason. She told me. and
believed her. From the day her betrayer