The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-05-13
WHERE |
FOUND HER
BY WILLIAM r. KING
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


about an auto. A child has been rur
over and killed. Still farther you NEE
starving mother with a sickly babe
in her arms. A nurse trundling a child
dressed In embroidered and lace gar
ments turns the perambulator for fear
her charge will be contaminated.
One bright moonlight night l was
walking over bridge. The scene was
pleasing, and l paused and leaned over
the rail to enjoy it. How fine 1t is
remarked to myself, ito live in a
city! By day there is the excitement
Of people and vehicles passing and re-
passing, the hum of business and pleas
ure; by night myriads of lights, with
occasionally the one great night lamp
Of heaven to illumine the whole"
Suddenly to my left down on the
water heard splash. A moment
later human figure came to the sur
face and went down again. A boat
shot under an arch, and man in 1t
dived and brought up woman, and the
two were hauled into the boat. A pc.
liceman ordered the boatman to pull
ashore. While they were doing so |
went to where he was standing.
What were you doing?" asked the
policeman Of the girl, who by this time
showed signs of life.
Il wanted to die. Why didn't you
let me alone?"
whats the matterT"
mo home, nothing to do to earn a
living, tired and heartsick."
well, you'll have to come along
with me to answer TO charge of sui
eide"
policeman" l said, will you let me
provide carriage?"
II can call the patrol wagon"
An empty carriage was passing. |
hailed 1t, and the policeman, the girl
and | got in and were driven to the
police station.
l must pause here in my story to tell
what I afterward learned of the girls
history. Some twenty years before
streets of the city on a certain day and
hour would have seen a party emery
ing from church. A young bride and
groom were starting in life with every
prospect of happiness. The groom's
father was head Of large business,
and the son had been made a junior
partner on the day Of his marriage.
A little girl was born to the couple,
and she was taken to church bundled
In embroidered and lace garments, like
the child In the perambulator | have
referred to, that she might be baptized
Then in a handsome stone residence
there was christening feast, with a
millionaire for godfather.
That was the year before the great
panic of '73, when one morning 1t was
announced that a great business house
had failed and down went the other
concerns like card houses. The father
and son Of this story fell with the rest,
the father dying of disappointment and
wounded pride. The clothing of the
baby girl from that moment began to
grow plain, then dingy. Her father
died, and her mother lived In want.
The child grew to womanhood with no
remembrance Of her baby clothes.
When her sun arose the sun of her
family set. Then her mother died.
The girl went from place TO place
begging for situation. but nobody
wanted her. Then one night she stood
on the bridge. The waters below said.
Come, will give you rest"
The morning after the attempted
suicide l went to the courtroom where
the good and the bad. the unfortune
and the unregenerate, were brought up
before a magistrate. In her turn the
girl was led in and placed In the dock
She had no defense. She simply said
that she had got discouraged, and,
passing over the bridge on her way to
her dingy room which she had been
notified she must leave on the morrow.
she had looked out on the brilliant
scene, then down on the water, and
she could not resist the call to oblivion
The downward slide in life. though
1t had married, had not destroyed her
There was evidence of an
inherited refinement both in person
and bearing.
SuddeAly a member of the police
court arose and said that there was
young man present who would marry
the girl If she were willing. He was
produced. The girl looked at him, then
gave her consent. What
could she do?
Judge" l said. rising. IF you will
send the girl to some home where she
will be protected | will interest myself
in her."
The judge asked the girl which plan
she would prefer and she chose my
plan. She was sent to home for in.
digent girls, and soon afterward
called upon the matron and got her
charges story as have given it here.
looked up a few of those who had
known her parents, but found there
was no one to take an Interest In her
Some were dead, some were very poor,
and the children of those who had kept
In touch with the upper stratum had no
use for the children of those who had
gone down. What was to be done for
her I must do myself I followed the
example Of the young man who had
offered to marry her. l could do moth
Ing for her In any other way. She
consented. not languidly, as she had
done with the other, but gladly.
Trying Work.