The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-07-15
WHERE |
FOUND HER
BY WILLIAM r. KING
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association
BY WILLIAM r. KING

What tragedies. what joys. are con-
stantly being enacted in great city.
And the ups and downs there are!
Walk along an important thoroughfare
and suddenly you come upon wed
ding party just entering or just coming
out of church. Proceed Il little far
Their and you see crowd gathered
about an auto. A child has been run
over and killed. Still farther you meet
a starving mother with u sickly babe
in her arms. A nurse trundling 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 a bridge. The scene was
pleasing, and paused and leaned over
the rail to enjoy it. How fine 1t is.
l remarked to myself. Ito live in
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 l heard splash. A moment
later human figure came to the sur
face and went down again. A boat
shot under an arch. and a man in 1t
Owed and brought up woman, and the
two were hauled into the boat. A po-
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.
II wanted to die. Why didn't you
let me aloneT'
whats the matter"'
mo home. nothing to do to earn a
living, tired and heartsick."
well, you'll have to come along
with me to answer to a charge of sui
eide"
Policeman" said. Twill you let me
| provide a carriagew
II can call the patrol wagon
An empty carriage was passing. l
hailed 1t. and the policeman. the girl
| and got in and were driven to the
police station.
must pause here in my story 70 tell
| what afterward learned of the girls
history. Some twenty years before
one passing up one Of the fashionable
streets of the city on a certain day and
| hour would have seen n 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 u 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 l have
referred to, that she might be baptized.
Then in a handsome stone residence
there was a christening feast. with a
millionaire for godfather.
That was the year before the great
| panic Of '73, when one morning 1t was
announced that 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
wanted her. Then one night she stood
on the bridge. The waters below said.
Come. l 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 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
It had married. had not destroyed her
comeliness. There was evidence of an
Inherited refinement both in person
and bearing.
Suddenly a member Of the police
court arose and said that there was a
young man present who would marry
the girl If she were willing. He was
produced. The girl looked at him. then
languidly gave her consent. What
could she do?
Judge" 1 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.