The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-16
A Refonner
By SARAH BRIcE VAUGHAN
Copyright 1910. by American Press
Association.

"Ticket for Buffalo said young
lady, opening her satchel and hunting
/ for her portemonnaie. Then suddenly
she exclaimed: "oh, heavens! I've
been robbedr'
1.-Two tickets to Buffalo," said a
young man next In line.
The tickets were handed out, paid
for and one of them slipped into the
girls hand before she had time to re-
cover from the effect of her loss.
The young man caught up suit
case the girl had set down beside her
and hurried her OF to the train. Hay-
ing found her a seat and racked her
suit case, he was about to leave her
when she made room for him beside
her
"Please let me know who you are
and the price Of the ticket" she said,
that I may send you the amount"
The young man took an old envelope
from his pocket, wrote on 1t John
SparklIne, with his address, and gave
It to her. Then they fell to talking OF
how the thief could have got the peck.
etbook.
There was but one moment" she
said, that 1t was out OF my posses
sion. I was sitting in the waiting
room and candy boy came along. l
had small coins inside my glove, and
| laid my bag down on the seat beside
me while paid for some candy"
"A candy boy is the most dangerous
thing girl can meet" said Mr.. Spark
line dryly. The girl looked up at him,
but as his face was perfectly serious
she continued;
"A man sat In the seat next the one
in which | had the satchel."
"What did he look likef'
~ haven't an idea"
Complimentary"
"What do you mean"
"You evidently weren't attracted by
the mans appearance"
Again she looked at him.
Are you sure you wouldn't recog.
niz1 him again.
'No, l wouldn't"
The couple talked for three hours,
which seemed but one, and when they
were within a short distance Of their
destination the young man turned to
the girl aud said impressiyely:
ibid you ever take the first step in
erimeg
No. she replied in establishment.
81 have"
''Oh, heayensi Are you criminal?'
II stole your pocketbook.'
''You stole my pockethookg
"Alas, / must confess It."
"But you have loaned me half as
much as 1t contained"
THAT came from remorse."
"But II seems TO me the remorse
came very quickly"
81 couldn't bear to see you troubled"
She looked at him sidewise.
81 don't believe word you say.
He took the portemonnaie from his
pocket and handed 1t TO her.
please don't have me arrested" he
pleaded. Il am the child Of poor but
dishonest parents, who taught me To
steal when | was little boy"
II thought you said something about /
first crime
"Did i? They taught me TO lie too"
Poor childr'
when | saw you lay your bag on
the seat between you and me could /
not resist the temptation. oh, why did /
you leave It there?"
I'm so sorry. didn't know / was
tempting any one. Why don't you re-
form?a
II haven't any one to reform me.
"But is 1t necessary that you should
have some one for that? Can't you
do it yourself?'
mo; I'm too far gone"
'what do you want any one to do
to help your"
"Why, l think that if could see
you once a week and you would en-
courage me | might pull through to q
permanent reformation"
She thought awhile, then said:
IF you really think can help you
l shall be very glad to have you come
every Saturday to tell me that you
haven't picked any ones pocket dur
ing the week"
"Oh, how / thank you! know you
can save me and make an honest man
of me-"
''The only thing that troubles me-"
she said thoughtfrlly, SIS that ! must
tell father, and I'm afraid he'll OBJ
ject."
"Tell him to go to Mr.. William
Evans, Locust street He Is in.
terested In me and knows something
to my advantage"
When they reached the station the
penitent handed the girl out to car
riage, and she drove away, giving him
IN encouraging smile and promising