The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-06-18
POOR LITTLE
Lima

ne iaener mao gone to the dogs
long ago, and the mother. a red.eved
puiDous-nosed creature, wrapped in
snapeless rags and those queer faded
shawls of which tipsy women seem IN
nave monopoly, now and then haunt.
ed the home.
ne only son of the house, Charles
hlngstord, was just her own age. In
TACT, Lima had fallen in love with him
and now and then her humble inflow
was wet with tears.
Charles Kingsford was not a worth.
less rascal, but he was a very wild
young fellow. He led the life wild
young men lead in great city, and
got into one small scrape after an
other, until at last a mighty trouble
fell upon him.
There was nothing for it but to
ieaVe the city, to leave, home and
friends.
II was a stormy night. Mr.. and
Mrs. kingsford had been to a church
meeting, and a collection had been
taken up. The money-S5OO-was
given In charge of Mr.. Kingsford,
VINO, instantly on his return, locked it
up In the drawer of desk in the
back parlor.
On this occasion Charles also
sought his room at once. and to Lima
was left the task of locking I'D the
mouse and seeing that all the fires
were safe. Mrs. Kingsford awoke with
a start. She distinctly heard the noise
of voices below Women's plainly.
Mrs. Kingsford stole downstairs.
The back parlor door was closed but
1t had keyhole. One cannot see
much through a keyhole, but what she
did see was enough. A bulbous-nosed
woman, in a miserable bonnet" and
shawl, sitting before the fire drinking
a cup of tea-Linas mother.
| Il knew it was a liberty" said Lima
but the other fires were all out, Mrs
Kingsford, and it was so cold. It's
my mother, ma'am."
will you tell your mother that we
are going to lock up for the night?"
Yes, ma'am," said Lima.
Lima, having seen her mother out
into the storm, put out the light and
crouched down by the crate. Poor
Lima!
Then she heard the sound of steps
approaching, and shrank back into the
shadows.
1t was an hour before she went to
bed, and then she crept upstairs shiv
ering and trembling, overcome with
horror. What was 1t she had seen
Whatever 1t was, she told nothing of Il
to any one.
The next morning she was up as
usual, and found Mrs. Kingsford astir
my son is called away ON bust
ness" she said. 1T is something yer,
unexpected"
Two hours later Mrs. Kingsfort
called Lima into the back parlor an(
shut the door. Mr.. Kingsford was
standing before the desk in which HI
had deposited the money he held IL
trust, the night before.
do you see this, Lina?" he asked
showing her tine broken lock.
Il do not think you guilty, Lima,
said Mrs. Kingsford; but you know
your mother is not respectable won
an, and she was here last night"
Madam" cried Lima, my poo
mother is innocent. | tell you that
} swear it. / mean what l say"
Then you know who took It," salt
! Mrs. Kingsford. 81 see that in you
face; confess"
Il tell you my mother is innocent,
said Lima. 1T Is l who am guilty."
And so, with this confession, ant
with an obstinate refusal to say more
: poor Lima sealed her fate. She wa
tried for the theft and sentenced, IL
consequence of her previous good char
acter, to the lightest possible term
Imprisonment.
AS for Charles Kingsford. no on
heard of him for years. Home n
came one day--a brown man with
long beard. whom no one knew at first
He sat by the Preside and was ques
| toned and asked questions. AL las
he said:
and what has become OF poo
+. Lima? Has she married.
And then out came the story OF ID
theft and its punishment.
:, The words were scarcely out OF Mrs
Kinesford's lips when her son--th
great bearded man of whom she wa
SO proud-clasped his hands over III
ewes and burst into tears IKE an
woman. ,,.
my Cod" he cried. Has Lima SUI
fered this for me? Father, she wa
as innocent as an angel! 1t was
who robbed your desk! have pee
the cause of ruin TO one who was a
most an angel"
He spent long months in searchih
for lima and he found her at last.
/, In a wretched home she sat sewlhi
= nv the light of poor tallow candle
. aMaster Charlesp she said;
:. uayor thought should see you again
u know all, Lima Why did you max
: such sacrificed" go, +. oh
1T was either mother or you 81
said go TOOL, her han