The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-11

with crimson blinds particularly. l had
seen Il before, occupied by different ten
ants. and occasionally with the blinds
down, and ticketed ITO Let furnlshed'
but upon this occasion II chanced To DE
the only house in whole street Win
lighted windows. and insunctlVeF
paused before IL. wondering little az
finding no wsifs with rouged checks and
sham smiles floating near II. gay
house IL evidently was for there were on
the porch several gentlemen smoking ci-
rars somewhat excitedly, but not nut
ter OF a ribbon or trace Of woman couid
/ see near the place. This is not usual at
ordinary respectable parties. and my re-
solve was 10 note the place and study its
character at a future time. had aoso-
htely no expectation that anything
would come of my curiosity, and mention
the circum stance, not 90 imply any par
ticuIar acuteness on my part but merely
because u Is the beginning OF the case.
night or two after, | passed the house
at a late hour and saw the same peep
uarity-the blinds down. every window
lit and young gentlemen either AZ Aie
porch or passing hastily in, and j began
10 form the opinion that II was she-
been. which would be cunningly protected
from the clutches OF the law by some
grandiloquent name of club or society.
was in the neighborhood one morning
shortly after and turned into the street
TO have a look at the place by day. The
hour was late, about eleven In the fore
noon-yet the blinds were still down.
with a difference At one window, stand
ing between the blind and the cold panes
was a little Girl OF some three years. with
curly yellow hair. leaning her brow on
the glass. and quietly weeping In her
loneliness. To my mind weeping and cry
ing are two very different thngs-the
first being noiseless and the second all
outcry Happily, such grief is not often
put upon childhood. and the very oddly
of the circumstances made me stand ana
stare at the worn face and tear-blinded
eyes OF the child. No one was near her
no one appeared 10 be stirring In the
great house but herself, or TO have struck
her or injured her: yet there she was,
looking wearily out on vacancy and weep
ing without restraint.
"A gay house, with one young heart
uphappy within its walls was my men
tai comment. ~ wonder what IL the his
tory of the occupants"
While / stood looking, confident that
the child though looking straight for
ward, saw nothing OF me--a hand. mas
culine and gentIemanly looking. with
some gold rings on the fingers. came In
on the g0fdsn mend Sharply, tugErd II
ruthlessly in by the hair. and | saw the
child no more. Yet the picture fingered
with me; and I'm the hurry scurry OF other
matters. ! found my mind often running
back 10 the young face, so old In grief
and care, and the taper fingers and irsn
grasp which had so swiftly tugged II
from my sight. But even that was rubbed
out shortly. and I soon ceased TO think Of
either house or occupants
A month or so later. | was one forenoon
introduced AT the Central office To a gen
tlenan who refused TO state his case
fully to any one but the detective to
whose care n was likely to be entrusted.
AS soon as we were alone. he placed an
ordinary diapers Bought Of" bearing
Glasgow address. and the name George
Blake and Company" before me, saying
with curious abruptness and some ex-
citement--
THAT Is my name. and was my address.
and 7 am just out OF prison
''Out OF prison?' I echoed with some
surprise II understand that you wished
10 enter a charge OF robbery"
And jail bird. you think. cannot be
robbed?" he said. with sharp bitterness
and increasing excitement ''The taint is
on me. you suppose. and | can have no
call for your aid. Wait Till you hear my
story. and you viii alter your tone
"You are hasty; but. pray, proceed. |
quietly answered. and might have said
more. but there he hercely took me up.
'.Yes hasty-that Is the word for IT, he
hurriedly interposed. THAT means pas
sionate--soft-gu gulible--a fool. in fact My
wife--curse her. soul and body!--knew
that, and played upon IL. and here ! am
a riined tainted man"
WAS II she who robbed you?" 1 ven
turcd 10 inquire.
"Ay, Il was she: but could have for
given that, had she not done worse" he
answered. with his features twitching
with the effort 20 keep back tears. when
married her four years ago there
wasn't happier or more prosperous man
In Glasgow. She was pretty, came of
good family, and seemed a very angel 20
me, while | had "a good business and a
-eafsitslef about & 2nlu-aaleaF- -es.sh-l+
too good 10 last I found. after n year or
two. that she was vain as peacock
about her looks would have emoticd my
shop with her Unsuitable desire for showy
dresses and hear-goar: and. what was
worse, began TO tipplc syly. under plea
that her health was poor and that the
doctor had ordered her stimulants"
"Ah, J can guess what Il coming now
said, as his hot hreathed words were
clfoked on IN another anguished spasm.
''You can't" he violently answered. "it
f. worse than anything YOU can guess at
for dastardly and cold-hloodcd cruelty J
thought that when she became a mother,
her vanity would sober down n little but
she made as sorry mother as she was
wife. lea Wing the child entirely TO the
care OF servants. and gadding about ev-
erywhere-visiting theatres. attending
parties. and even. ! suspect. going 70
dancings and balls al which ! know
nothing. I reasoned wita her. checked
her. restricted her by refusing to be re-
sponsible for her debts. but all in vain
They say there's an unsound sheep in
every hork-I had hy evil luck picked
The faulty one OF the family one day a
vague whisper reused nc Go action. and
Watched her after she had left the
house 20 me and my little girl saw her
with my own eyes go and meet hand
fome-loolzihg yiiiain--a returned convict
for aught ! know. but certainly a thicG
OF course. went up 20 him and knocked
him down before her eyes. and then took
her by the ear aud kicked her half n
street nearer home"
And 80 got yourself into trouble
suppose
ssNVt thcn The villain had som, shame
fn him. for he skunk on Ike "A wbipied