The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-05


was trembling under the combined weight
Of myself and burden, and ! made haste
to extrcate myself from the dangerous
position.
Luckily /, with some difficulty, got
out and landed my burden on the dock.
Il feared the poor creature was past all
human aid, but ran to the nearest house
and called for help.
ut seemed an age until the welcome
sound of voices came to my ears.
"During the interval took off my over
coat and wrapped it about the little form
and kept chalng the hands to restore Cir
culation, IL life remained. 1t was too
dark to see the features, but | could see
that there was great cash on the fore
head, where the jagged ice had wounded
her.
~ don't think could have held out
many more minutes when the people
came. lost consciousness as the lamps
flashed in my face and knew nothing
more until l woke up in the hospital.
1.-THE doctor told me that the girl had
not opened her eyes and that he feared
the cold and exposure and the wound
would prove fatal. He said the poor
thing was emaciated, as il starved.
You may believe 1 was sorry for the
bad news boys. Some brandy brought
me round all right but the doctor would
not let me go until morning, when re-
turned to the station and reported my
case of attempted suicide.
"Well, it was three weeks before | was
called on to go down to the police court
and testify against the little girl l had
tried to save.
II tell you 1t was the hardest thing l
ever had to do, for felt that was go
ing to send the poor creature to prison
for at least year.
just failed me. had not until then seen
the features of the little body had taken
from the ice.
"Such mournful eyes, such lovely fea-
lures, had never seen. The poor little
girl sat in a chair in the room, looking so
frightened and every now and then Sob
bing.
"rhe magistrate, big, bluff, kind
hearted gentleman, had very like tear
in his eye for he had disagrecable task
to perform.
"Out of consideration for the girl he
held the examination in his private room.
l was forced to tell the whole story, and
the easiest way could put it made it
black for the girl.
"Thcn the magistrate questioned her.
She was a wee little woman, hardly big
ger than n 14-year-old girl, but she said
she was 10. Her story was sorrowful
one. She had been left an orphan. had
lilo to nd y,-p-ly honp fol cic
and was starving. She denied all knowl-
edge of that dreadful night.
Then she turned her big black eyes so
pleadingly toward me, as if asking me to
interccde for her, that I couldn't help
tears coming into my eyes.
"'Oflicer,' said the magistrate turning
quite tiercely on me. how do you know
this Is the young woman you saw jump
into the river? Did you ever see her
face beforeY
"'No, SIR said |.
"Then you can't swear that this is
the same person?
"'No, sir
"'Ah" said the old gentleman with a
sigh of relief. 1T seems that there is
not sufficient proof to hold this young
woman, and so l shall discharge her.
You have done very well, officer. But
what is to become of her? She is too
old to send to n charitable institution
"'Sir,' said |, I know n nice old lady
who will be glad to give her home un-
til she can do better
"The magistrate looked straight at mo
for a full minute, as If he wanted to
read my heart, and then he shook me
by the hand and said:
"'All right, young man. Bring the
old lady to sec me this afternoon
81 went home and told my old
mother all about it, and the good soul
warmed to the friendless girl, and she
went with me to court and had talk
with the magistrate and brought her
home"
Officer E'itzroy arose, yawncd and
started for the stairs amid a chorus Of
questions.
''F'itzroy, don't leave off that way"
said the sergeant, who had delayed his
departure. what became of the poor
girl?'
The good looking young officer hesi-
tatcd minute; then, with half cm-
barrasscd expression, answered.:
Nothing became of her, only she got
well and is the prettiest girl in the
town."
Yes; but where is she? Who is she?'
"Wcll who she is doesn't matter.
Where is she? She is still with my
mother, and she'll be Mrs. Fitzroy if
she doesn't change her mind. d."-Buffalo
News.