The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-10-14


nit you for theft" said the magistrate.
with the option of fine-three weeks.
or penalty of five shillngs. Remove
the prisoner, constable, and call the
next case
The hearts of the populace burned
within them at the sentence. but be-
You'd 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 Thought there. nor the pun
ishment that had been awarded it, 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 il out But long wall
of terror, as the constables were re-
moving the prisoner from the dock, de-
cided him.
oh, sir! don't take me to prison,
she screamed. Don't take me to pris-
on. I'll never do it again, indeed |
won't. But | was so hungry Let me
off this time, and I'll never do it again
no! not If | die-indeed won't" She
was appealing frantically to the police
men, as II 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 wehr round and met
the constable at the other entrance
Il wish to pay this fine" he said
and will look after your prisoner for
a rev days. / 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 a
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 ne 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. Hare you no friends nor
home?''
None, sir. ] never did have"
How do you live? Who feeds you?"
: Il picks up things"
And where do you sleep?'
Under the market arches, and some
tiueS III 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?"
What's that, sir?"
ITO be kept clean, and have warm
clothes. and a good dinner every day."
Shouldn't |! But no one won't give
them to me-"
Il will, if you'll be a good girl in
return. Will you come with me. Peg?y
Along with you, OF course I will.
IL you'll take me. Why, it's all because
OF you amt in prison. I'd go with you
TO the other end of the world, and be
glad to-"
"All right. I'll see what / can do for
you. Here. cabn'
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 K.nsington, Ruth
Ven experienced some decided qualms
OF fear as to how Mrs. Garrett would
receive the new addition to the house.