Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-16

Copyrighted 1SUls D
A man paced the narrow confines of a
cell and thought of a woman. His face
was pale, his eyes deep sunken, and des-
pair was his company
He had seen written In a bold hand on
the criminal docket the words James
Garland forgery and had said: mo,
your honor. that is not my name; but let
II go at that, If you please. for, your
honor, III have a mother" And he bowed
Guilty, your honor"
AS he paced the floor of his room, he
started at every sound in the corridors,
turning an anxious, expectant face toward
the door. But the woman Of whom he
thought the footsteps for which he lis
tened came not.
AS the hours passed a look of agonized
despair, OF desperate loneliness, settled
upon his face. and when the first shadows
of twilight crept in at the barred window
he threw himself upon his cot and dug
his fingers into his hard pillow.
Beatrice" he sobbed. "Beatrice!'
Then he started up, dashed the tears
from his eyes and listened. And as he
listened a gleam almost of happiness, IL
Tuned his features. Along the corridors
came the footsteps of man and woman.
He heard them turn In at the little side
hall that led to his cell, and he rose and
FASTENED to the grated door, only to stare.
blankly, disappointedly, at the jailor and
woman whom he did not know. t
The woman's clothes were of the coar4
est Her hair was dark and carelessly
combed. Around her eyes were the circles
of dissipation and sin showed IN every line
of her features. But tears cleaned in her
cold, gray eyes, and she held out hand
glistening with cheap jewelry.
II am so sorry" she said. IL would
like to help you IL I could"
Your" the prisoner asked, surprised.
yes" she answered. you do not know
me, but l remember you. Years ago,
down on the 1evee' a drunken man struck
me. You were passing and you knocked
him down. Then you took me by the hand
and led me away and talked kindly to me.
have not forgotten"
''Oh, yes" said the other, ct remember"
Il have not forgotten" the woman re-
sumed, land would like-perhaps I can
help you now" g,fr
The tenderness, the sympathy, in her
voice awakened a yearning in the mans
heart. But she was only woman Of the
alleys-a woman without wisdom, with
out means, without influence. OF what
assistance could she be to him?
But she, schooled in the ways Of the
world, saw the battle in his heart and
looked at him pleadingly.
Tell me-" she said, tell me what mis-
fortune brought you here"
He hesitated. Then he spoke.
'The love Of a woman-the love of
heartless woman. God knows 1 loved her
-madly But the circle in which she
moved was a swift one. At every turn
were the glitter Of diamonds. the sheen OF
gold, the perfume of Marechal Niels. Fool
that was, tried to keep up the pace.
To do so borrowed from my friends and
assumed obligations 4 could not meet.
The mad whirlpool bore me under at last
-
cell, here / am, the perpetrator Of one
crime. deserted by my friends, forgotten
even by the woman for whom 1 sinned."
He lapsed into silence while the woman
watched him with dimming eyes.
II am sorry" she repeated, $50 sorry.
Can nothing be done? Can / not help
your
mo" he replied. resignedly, "I am
afraid not. The man whose name l
forged will drop the case If refund the
money, but cannot do So It is a small
amount-only a hundred dollars-but I
cannot raise it without appealing to my
parents and, my God I'll go to prison
rather than let mother know"
The woman laughed lightly and smile
fingered in her eyes.
"Oh," she replied, rcarelessly, 1--WE wo-
men Of the shadows have friends" and
the woman of the alleys put her hand
through the bars and stroked her hair.
my friend she said, Il am so glad
can aid YOU"
The man looked up suddenly, with wide
open eyes
''Youg' he said. 'rHow?''
For your mothers Rake," she said, .I
will help you--for your mothers sake and
for your own. had a mother once, but
she died" stt tes
But how can you assist me?" he said.
Any one of whom you know-friends who
dare not refuse us. Tell me the man; he
shall have the money"
A moment later the prisoner in the cell
was alone, leaning heavily against the