The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-09-28

CHAPTER l-ICONTINUED.J
"Well, I've no alternative but to COM
nit you for theft" said the magistrate,
with the option of a fine-three weeks,
or a penalty of five shillings. Remove
the prisoner, constable, and call the
next CASE
The hearts of the populace burned
within them at the sentence. but be-
yond low murmur, Immediately
checked by the cry of Silence they
dared give their indignation no vent.
Ruthven's heart burned in unison with
theirs. That delicate, frightened-look-
ing child, who had evidently neither
understood the offense for which she
had been brought there, nor the pun
ishment that had been awarded 1t, to
be sent to prison for three weeks, to
herd with the lowest and vilest of her
sex, and then to be released-for what
end? Ruthven knew what he longed
to do, but false shame and the fear OF
ridicule prevented him for a moment
from carrying it out. But a long wall
of terror, as the cOnStableS were re-
moving the prisoner from the dock, de-
cided him.
ooh, sir! don't take me to prison"
she screamed. Don't take me to pris
on. I'll never do it again, indeed I
won't. But I was so hungry. Let me
off this time, and I'll never do it again
no! not if l blended / won't" She
was appealing frantically to the police
men, as If they had the power to miti-
gate her sentence, as they lifted her,
not unkindly, but decidedly, off the
scene of action.
Remove the prisoner repeated the
magistrate, angrily, as her shrieks
reached his ears; and Ruthven's mind
was made up. He went round and met
the constable at the other entrance.
Il wish to pay this fne," he said,
"and will look after your prisoner for
a few days. 1 suppose it's allowable?"
"Of course it's allowable, sir. So long
as the fine is paid, that's all we have to
do with the matter. So now you'd bet
ter thank the gentleman for your lib
erty, and see you don't get into no more
scrapes. Dye hear?" and with
shake to Miss Peg O'Reilly, and touch
of his helmet to Ruthven in acknowl-
edgment of a douceur over and above
the stipulated fine, the constable went
about his business, and left the liber-
ated captive alone with her benefactor.
Ruthven felt himself to be in an awk-
ward position There were spectators
to the interview, and he did not know
what to do-what was best to be done.
But the little girl was gazing up into
his face with her wistful blue eyes, and
the look of want and starvation upon
her pinched features did more for her
than any amount of elocution could
have effected.
Come here = Peg = what's your
name? Are you very hungry still?"
I'm allays hungry" the child re-
piled, in frightened whisper.
"You can speak out to me. I won't
hurt you. Have you no friends nor
homer"
None, sir. l never did have"
How do you live? Who feeds your"
II picks up things"
Auu where uO you Steep
Under the market arches, and some
times in doorway"
"And aren't you cold at night?"
The girl only shivered for reply. and
crossed her naked, dirty feet one over
the other. AS she did So. Ruthyen
marked they were covered with sores.
Would you like to be respectable.
Peg?"
Whats that, sir?"
ITO be kept clean, and have warm
clothes, and good dinner every day"
Shouldn't I! But no one won't give
them to me-"
I will, if you'll be a good girl in
return. Will you come with me. Peg?'
Along with you! Of course I will
if you'll take me. Why, it's all because
of you l amt in prison. I'd go with Won
to the other end of the world, and he
glad to-
All right. I'll see what 1 can do for
you Here, cab!''
He hailed two cabs at the same mo-
ment, and, placing the child in one
took up his own position in the other.
He felt very benevolently disposed
foolishly so, as he already began to tell
himself; but he could not quite go the
length of driving in the same cab as
Miss O'Reilly. AS the two vehicles took
their way toward Kensington, Ruth
ven experienced some decided qualms
of fear as to how Mrs. Garrett would
receive the new addition to the house.