Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-16
Pelk Girls Than of Poison
HER FATE IS A FLAMING WARMING SAYS VICTIMS PASTOR

ab!A alu not RNO" lldl III the Ndlley Ol
the shadow she had been transformed
from a simple little country girl, with
more dimples than mind, to teacher
of some great and awful truths.
But no one can read those last words,
Il never want to lay my eyes on Tan
CIeghorn again; he has wrecked my
life and I want him TO reap his just
reward" without the thought that per
haps the price she has paid, terrible
as It is. may serve a purpose like that
which has come down through the ages
from Mount Calvary.
The Belle Of Amboy was probably
just an ordinary country lass, endowed,
II is likely with more artractiveness
than brains, with the same thoughts,
the same impulses. the same passions
Of the rest Of the maids Of her type.
Her temptations were probably no more
alluriug than those that beset the COM
mon run Of rural maid anG the mis-
cry that followed was just the misery
that is suffered by hundreds of poor,
weak women each year.
But there was a difference. Death
came and called attention to her case
The scores Of others similarly betrayed
have to live through thousand deaths
Death is a wonderful thing 1t is as
wonderful as it is unknown. 1t has
powers unpossessed by any human en-
crgy in its silent entity. Not until the
very shadow Of the electric chair cast
its awful reflection in the cell of the
doomed Henry Clay Beattie did he re-
'4,t. IN.
lie, protesting his innocence, on his lips.
Not until all hope had glimmered away
did the murderous preacher, Richeson.
once more see his God and confess his
crime
And not until the fingers Of the Grim
Reaper had pressed in clammy contact
around her heart did this little Georgia
girl find courage to denounce the man
who had ruined her, and by so doing
rerounce his love.
City and Country periis.
1t was an old, old story, except for
the tragic denorement Of the suspicion
Of poison. The poisoning has little or
nothing 10 do with 1t, save that If it's
trace is found it may allow the law to
avenge the girl and punish the man
whose crime is already black.
She had loved him. She loved him
probably until the very moment when
she at last realized that earthly hope
was gone and She would have to an
s"er TO a Creator Who, She had been
taught before she had known of mortal
love, was all love- all forgiving.
It's rather Il shock to some that this
condition came to pass in the country.
It's hardly IN keeping with the words
of moralists, who have for years
dwelled on the iniqulties Of the city as
against the snow white purity Of the
rural districts.
But to my mind / think our city girls
! are far more safe from fate like that
| which the Amboy Belle met than her
| sister OF the country. In the first place.
! as carefully as we can guard our girls
! of the city. they know more of the dan
gers that turk for maiden with pretty
| face and attractive form than the ru-
! raj lass, She is less likely to pay Sc
rious attentions to the Establishments
of men She is far better able to pro-
test herself
And. then, her life where there are
varied amusements win naturally pre-
went her from centering her entire be-
ing on this one man. A city girl can
love just as Well but is likely to love
more wisely than the sweetheart Of the
meadows
How tails little Amboy Bellies being
must have been devoted 10 Cleghorn.
She was not without suitors There
are always plenty of them in the coun-
ty for a pretty miss There are rare
/ ~ enough pretty girls to go around in
rural communities But still she put
them all out of her life for this man.
listened to his promise Of marriage
believed in him still even though he had
qqce disappointed her when she sup
posed the ceremony would take place
sshe continued To believe in him uu-
, III DEAN beckoned
! But there is still sweetness in the
story. and as long as heart beats in
fresponse 10 heart. there win be tears
lshed for he mother. taking in her arms
! The dying girl Whispering to her those
words of comfort, forgiveness and love
that probably lighted her way into a
better world Who knows?