The Washington times., 1915-12-25
Continued from Yesterday


The years had slipped away. Once
more the grown woman was a penttent
little child at the knee Of the nurse who
idolized her and whose chief Joy in life
was to soothe away the little ones
woes June felt this strangely sweet
influence of the protecting love. And 1t
was like balm to her wrecked spirit.
She knew now that she could tell her
story to this woman who understood
who always understood. And, braVely
she begun her confession.
Il think I've gone mad" said June
Il can't understand II any other way.
can't accoAnt, any other way, for the
fearful power that has taken hold OF
me, from time to time. this past day
or two. l don't understand myself. 1
can't believe it's really /, who am
swayed by these horrible impulses. If
IL we lived in Olden times, Mary. I'd
honestly believe l was a victim OF witch
craft or--or possessed OF Il devil like
people in Bible days. A demon seems
to have entered into me-uo make Inc
want to do thingS-Id never dreamed
OF doing a few days ago. You're--you're
sure you won't hate me IL ! tell yOu|'
A reassuring pressure OF the arms
that held her so closely was the only
reply June received-or desired. The
girl slipped to the floor and, kneelinE
there, her face against Mary's breast,
she told her story.
TT began just the other day." she
whispered. IAN in a flash. You remem-
Der, l told you about my going to the
prison with mother, the day Circle
Jim Borden was released-aId the way
he repulsed me when spoke to him?
Yes Yes" assented Mary, her lined
face paling and an unaccounteble shud-
der convulsing her slender old body. Il
remember"
why do you quiver like that. Mary?"
asked the girl. And when frst told
you about meeting Borden at the prison
your face went CHASTITY, asked you
why, and you wouldn't tell me. Did
you ever know him Or"
nurse. "Of course, didn't What a
foolish idea!"
oh, don't know, dearle. Perhaps be-
cause hate to think Of folks being
sent to Jail, like he was. Go on with
your story. l want to know all about
it."
Well" resumed June. "Just a few
hours after / left the prison, all at once
l had the strangest sensation. 1t SEEM
ed to start in my brain end go all over
me. 1t was as II something had snap
ped, in my soul l can't explain 1t. And
the strangest impulses came surging
through my mind. IL felt like Grim
inal! !"
"Dearie Z"
81 did. felt as a criminal must feel
felt a craving to commit crime; n
love for its perils. a hideous crafty wit
at escaping the laws punishment. 1t
vast was
Little girl: Little girl" sOothed
Mary, as a sob choked June's hushed
voice. That's nothing It's just bad
nerves, most likely. Instead OF going
to dances and all such gay doings, the
way other. pretty girls do, you've been
spending too much time visiting poor
folks and reading those nasty prison
reports and helping Jailbirds and such
like. It's gotten on your mind till
you're all run down, and you've begun
to l,el like a criminal yourself. it's
the same way with me, every time
read a patent medicine advertisement;
l begin thinking I've got all the symp-
toms the advertisement tells about.
And yet all the time I'm no more an
invalid than you're-thRn you're a
criminal!"
81 am a cTiminal!"
June spoke the words very quietly,
and with no trace Of emotion. But her
sweet voice was dead, and in her big
dark eyes was an utter hopelessness
that it wrung Marys soft old heart to
see.
"A crimlnalv repeated the nurse in
fine scorn. You? You're one of the