The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-06-10
A WDMAN'S FORTUNE.
BIZ A RETIRED LAWYER.

| Lne lDnfr UOOr OF the pl llSOn anu Iut
apartment where my patron was
now confined, | caught sight of the
troubled but handsome face of young
woman, who sat leaning against the
iron bars of one of the little rooms
and | halted for an instant to look al
her.
She shrank away timidly to the real
of the cell. however, and [ had the op
portunity simply to observe hat she
bore, in ner general contour, the ira
ces of poor unfortunate" in the
usual acceptation of that unfortunate
term.
| concluded the interview with my
client in few moments, and just be
fore leaving him, | inquired:
'Who is your neighbor, yonder?'
The young woman?" he asked, in
a whisper.
"Yes next door"
81 don't know hs replied.
How long has she been heree' l
asked
''Since yesterday only" he added
] What is she here for?"
| Il do not know that, either l only
observe that she weeps and sobs al
most necessarily, and has in vain ap
Piled to the deputy. who passes mp
and down this corridor, to learn why
she is confined here"
"The old storv," | suggested. "A
repentant too late.'
Perhaps so," rejoined my client. :"
''Or it may be case of oppression
hardship, injustice"
"She certainly is very pretty add
ed land really looks too poorly tidy to
| be a criminal"
II have not seen her" he added
"Why don't you speak with her. as
yon go out2" be inquired, suggestive.
ly.
'She shuns observation" | said.
''and does not seem desirous to com
mun'cate with stranger, / Judge"
Naturally enough" responded my
may not be so bad as her present po-
sition here might lead one to suspect,
perhaps"
Good night" ! replied. Il will
stop as l pass OUT
And turning away from the young
mans cell, | again halted before the
door of the girls apartment, and ac
costed her.
Good evening, Miss" | ventured,
in friendly tone.
She was sitting upon the side of her
little low bed. away from the barred
grating, and for an instant she did not
answer. Then, rising and coming ii
morously towards me, she asked, in
gentle way. 'Who is it?"
Il am a stranger to you, Miss" |
answered. II had occasion to call
upon your next door neighbor profes
sionally to night. / am his legal at
torney. | saw you as l passed, and
though it is not my habit to do sol
could not resist the impulse to ask
You If | could be of service to you.
Have you any counsel engaged"
mo, sir-no," she replied, with a
sigh
viii you permit me, then, to in
quire what brings you here?'
Poverty, and misfortune, sir"
Not crime"
''Oh no, sir! On my honor. no." she
exclaimed, with singular earnest
ness and candor. And then her tears
flowed copiously, as she briefly re-
counted the circumstances of her
hard case, and present peril.
Il do not know she continued,
''precisely, why | am in this place
Is it not prison, sir?" she inquired,
artlessly.
"Yes, Miss"
But | have not been accused. |
have had no trial. | have never been
in court even, at all"
when did you come here?"
Yesterday
What are the allegations made
| against you?'
THAT !! cannot explain. | do not
know. sir. am very poor, and en-
tireiy friendless. l am seamstress
| have been compelled for several
years to toll very hard, sir, to support
myself and an invalid younger broth
e., with my needle; and the scanty
pay we women can command for such
labor, rs you may kno W, if but mis-
erable pittance at the best"
YES" said ], Il am aware of this"
We occnpied an attic ROOM" she
continued. in a remote part of the
city, and l had struggled along, and
kept soul and body together, as well
as providing for the needs of my poor
brother, until up to week ago when,
yesterday morning, l overheard con
fused talk in the story below us, which
was occupied by some rude people
for persons in our humble position
cannot choose the location where we
may stay. you know, strand l soon
learned that some goods had been
purloined by certain parties suspected
there, and the premises were being
searched by officers.
A portion of the missing goods was
found and four or five persons arrest
ed, as heing concerned in the affair
| was simply a passing locker on al
the moment of the trouble, and was
astounded, when the others we're call
ed upon to accompany the officials
to find that they insisted upon taking
me with them!
/ demonstrated in vain. My poo
little invalid brother must starve, i
they do not care for him, sir. And al
| have been able 70 learn in my ex
tremity, is, that must give bail
WHAT'S to give bail, sir, if you please
Security for your appearance a
court, Miss replied.
But how? In what way?"
''Some friend must recognize to th
authorities In a required sum, to for
felt, should you disappear, or attemp
to evade trial or examination" in
formed her.
For whats What haveI done, sir
THAT is precisely what l would hk
now to learn, Miss" l said. But
you are accused even, you must Civ
4 L 1 l. I