The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-27

IeTeu JUST as Sne Secreteu lne
money, and poor Maud flushed
scarlet as she hurrledly passed him
by. He looked at her intently and
though she ordered the coveted plate
of meat. every mouthful nearly choked
her, for she felt she was detected.
1t was no surprise therefore on her
return to hear that she was wanted
by the manager and bracing herself
ur for the ordeal, she appeared before
him. The interview was curt on both
sides. When taxed with the theft she
admitted it at once, but refused TO
give any reason for the action, as
he phrased 1t so extraordinary and
unladylike."
She was told to go. but warned that
the matter would not end there; that
an example would be made of her for
the sake Of others.
What he meant / don't know" con-
Cluded Maud, who had talked herself
into an excited, defiant mood land.
what is more, ] don't care. I have
done my best not to show how i'll
and miserable have felt. And now [
| am glad it is all out, and need not
try any more"
The situation was painful Mrs. Lat
inner wcpt copiously and refused to be
| Comfortcd, while Maud alternately
sulked and gave way to hysteric long
drawn means Presently Mrs. Latimer
went away for a soothing cup of tea,
and to find dreary sort of comfort in
detailing this last new trouble to Mrs.
Coates in the kitchen. l took advan-
| tage of her absence to persuade the
| agitated girl to lie down in my bed,
and only too soon she was tossing
about in feverish slumber. And what
! agony her revelations revealed! How
| she had fretted for her dead mother,
! though her name had never passesd
her lips: how the terrible end of her
! father had entered into her soul and
| how, night after night. she saw him
as she had found him, dying under the
| trees.
And then, as she tossed her arms
about in the delirium of fever came
ever and again the sad, wild moans-
"Oh, mother. l am so hungry! Can't
l die, and come to you? 1t will drive
me to do something bad. this craving,
craving for real food. Save me, moth
! er-save me against myself"
1t was pitiful to sit and listen in the
| darkeninC twilight to the confession of
| this high bred spirited creature, and
see how the mere want of food had
| lowered her to the level of the street
thief. How were we to save her? At
30 she was to be marked for life While
| such thoughts were passing through
my BRAIN a knock came to the door.
| II was Mrs. Coates, in tears.
| "Oh, please, miss" she said my
| husband declares Miss Melville must
go tonight. He 'arbours no thieves in
| is 'ousc."
send Mr.. Coats to me- replied
quietly: and for PHYS sake do try TO
| keep your tongues quiet"
When she had gone I locked the
door.
Mr.. Coats knew for drunken bull
ly, but he had to be managed some
how, He came and raped.
What do you want?" I inquired.
Miss Melville is to come out of this"
he growled. 'I keep a respectable
| ouse."
You shall take her by brute force
only" I announced cheerfully; land if
you dare to break open my door,
| shall summons you
He used a good deal of bad language,
| but eventually he departed. AS was
to be expected, the fracas had disturb
ed Maud, who, Misunderstanding,
| clunE pteOusly to me, crying out they
We're taking her to prison.
The girl was in a high fever: but
| when | suggested a doctor Mrs. Lati-
mer dissolved again into tears and said
l wanted to publish their disgrace. So
there was nothing for it but to shut the
| ha I,t
her myself
Towards dawn my patient slept but
| with the morning another ordeal
| awaited me. About 10 o'clock Maud's
manager arrived and asked to see her
relative. But Mrs. J.atimer was too
| discOmposed.
So l went downstairs to the man.
| ager.
He was stout and portly, with OBJ
| trusive diamond studs and a massive
gold watch chain. Somehow. his fat
ness and his prosperity angered me
when ! thought of the wretched, hum
| CRY girl upstairs.
| Very bad business. this" he began
| pOmpously.
| THE girl took" l said boldly, "a tri-
| fle because she was so hungry she did
not know what she was doing. She
took enough for one meal and no more.
a criminal would have seized the whole
| pile. She spent the money on that
meal, and that meal only. To me the
crime is shared with those who exact
a mans labor but refuse mans pay."
My earnestness took his breath
away.
| You speak" he said at last. las if
l have no heart and ill-treated my en-
ployes. l assure you, give to many
a beggar in the street"
| "Why?" | demanded Because thew
ask for it-and, thanks to our social
code. lady can't and won't. | am
sure if Miss Melville had gone to YOU
and begged for q shilling, YOU would
not have refused it as charity. If she
had asked for a rise in her salary, you
| would have laughed her to scorn. Yet
| you and / know that fifteen shillings a
week cannot board and feed a healthy
! girl IL she has TO dress like lady"
! 1T is not my place" he replied suIk-
| lily, ITO inquire from those / employ
| whether the wages l offer is their only
means of livelihood. They take it, and
they know their own business"
| Granted" / said, "in general: but
Is it not your place, when case like
this comes to your knowledge, to treat
1t with mercy and not make a public
scandal? II is in your hands to ruin
her whole life"
! What do you want me to do?" he
asked, looking puzzled. II can't take
her back; think of the example, when
the whole office knows"
You can, instead of a months no.
tice, give her a months salary" sug-
gested. with that / will take hel