News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-10-08

folded arms and did not observe Miss
Parley's preoccupation Of thought.
excuse me-" she said presently. The
chairman and the principal speaker. a
judge, were coming on to the plat
form. The hall rose to its feet and
cheered as though the dearest wish of
its life was at length being gratifed.
Il wish to speak to the police in
spector"
Can l take a message, Jane?' asked
Mr.. Nottingham.
NO" said Miss Farley, with brusque-
ness. "Please stay where you are"
The inspector, seeing Miss Parley's
i attitude of appeal met her half way
on the platform. The hall, amused at
this and having finished it's applause,
called on the inspector to lock her up
She was a well known character,
shouted the hall humorously, and a
perfect terror in the lane. Take her
Off to Bow, begged the hail. and if she
became violent, why, give her the good
old frogs march.
Il wish to ask YOU" said Miss Par
ley in a low voice, unconscious of the
badinage, what is the sentence usu-
ally given for-for"-
'Murder?' prompted the inspector.
'No, no! For whatd you call it,"
"Oh," said the inspector you mean
shoplifting, MADAME
81 mean nothing of the kind!" she
replied, with asperity 81 mean receiv-
ing goods
well knowing the same to be stol-
en-" said the inspector glibly. He
passed his hand over his chin. "Let
me see now, madam. What shall we
say for the average? What do you
say to three yearsY
Miss Farley went blindly back to her
seat as the chairman rose to introduce
the judge to the meeting, a proceeding
that was in some part superfuous
Three years-one two, three! She had
never before thought of three as
large number. There seemed a way
out of the difficulty, and this was for
tunate, but it made one tremble to
think that one should be ever within
sight Of fate so terrible. The Obvi-
GUS exit was never to allude to the in
cident to any one. That dreadful man
would send for it. The bag would thus
disappear. No one need know the part
that she had taken in the affair. The
old judge was getting on with his
speech, with IN occasional joke of
moderate strength that made the hall
roar with ecstatic appreciation, and
Miss Farley nerved herself to put aside
the terrifying thoughts that oppressed
her, with partial success, partial fail
ure. A deplorable old bag sat in the
front row below, interrupting the pro
ceedings now and again by demanding
cheers for herself. The pleasing
thought occurred to Miss Farley that
she might never lead a sedate, COM
Portable later life, but that she might
finish iii the type of the dreadful wom-
an who was just then shouting. Hoo
ray fer Patsy Maguirew Pursuing
this cheerful vein, Miss Farley sue
ceeded, as the old judge resumed his
seat, fearful at his own affecting per-
oration in accepting with fair equa-
nimity a sentence of penal servitude
for life.
would any one In the audience"
asked the chairman, care to give his
l can spare five minutes
before calling upon Mr.. Nottingham"
Nobody rose at first, but when the |
old woman in the front row |
stood up then a dozen others started |
to compete for the honor The old |
woman, called upon by the chair, said |
that she was as good as any other lady |
in Sardinia street and that if anybody |
dared to say word against her public |
or her private character she would
Mrs. Mcguire confessed, |
with tearfulness, but withal something |
of pride, to a life of wrongdoing that |
included crime from birdtaking to
highway robbery. 1t was all the fault |
of the first step, said the old lady. The
first step was fatal. Becoming inter
ested, she declined to regard the chair
mans cali TO order and had eventually |
to be removed from the hall. MOrling
ham in his speech took advantage of
this and spoke severely of mistaken
tolerance. WrongdOers, said Mr.. Nor
Lingham, must be Stunned. Any one
in crime should not be
by decent folk. Wrongdo-
ars must be ostra cized. The other men
on the platform coughed doubtfully at
this, the argument being precisely OPP
posed to the intent of the movement
Mice Do r1nu SiUbp6
"Sure you are not out Of sorts, Jane?
That place was very close"
81 am quite WELL" said Miss Farley
lolefully. She was in the Chiselhurst
train at Charing Cross, anxious for the
train to start, anxious to get away
from nearness to the terrible bag She
would have given something to know
If it had been called for. But II am
lust q little worried"
"Tell me-" said Nottingham, with his
hand to his ear.
81 can't" she answered. Not now,
at any rate"
'If you were a wise woman" he said
nervously, taking out his watch, "you
would marry me-"
81 have often told you that do not
want to marry" she said YEARLY.