The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-12-29
THAT GIRL MELISSA
BY MOLLiE MATHER.

0N0NON0O0N0S0S 0O0O0V0O0O0V
Copyright. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.
One went down to the ravine by a
path leading from the sunny roadway.
Melissa loved to follow this path,
though her aunt argued against it..
"The ravine is such an isolated spot"
Aunt Melissa objected, IF anything
should happen to you no one could
hear your cries for help. And they
say, now, that an escaped convict is
hiding around down there"
II will take the hill walk" Melissa
would cheerfully evade, for her aunt's
comfort. She, herself, was afraid If
nothing. And her promise was partly
true. Melissa did take the hill walk.
but it was from there that the little
adventurous path led down to the heart
Of the silently glowing ravine.
Truthfully, it was Aunt Melissa
who busted herself happily over the
sewing, while Melissa, with her old
bent, roamed the countryside. Today
the forbidden retreat seemed more
than ever inviting. She put aside her
magazine for uninterrupted pleasure
IN the view. A bird near by perked it's
head curiously at Melissa and, imitat-
Ing, Melissa turned to perk her head at
the bird. Then she saw the man. He
was stretched upon the ground near
by, just around behind the tree.
This mans face was white, with it's
great burning eyes staring at her In
hostility. His clothing was rumpled
and shabby. After moment of medi-
tative silence, Melissa smiled. "How
do you do?' she remarked. Are you
the escaped convict?" The man
jumped to his feet and came towards
her.
where did you hear that?" he de-
manded.
''Oh, one hears all sorts of things"
Melissa calmly said. "Perhaps the re-
port is untrue Some one told some
one else, I believe, that a man resem-
bling former resident Of the village
who had been committed for a crime.
was seen hiding around this ravine.
When you appeared thought that you
might be that man."
Hostility left the haggard face. The
man settled himself abruptly at her
side.
II was that convict" he quietly told
Melissa, "but 1 have not escaped: I
am discharged. The sentence was
found, after my second year of impris-
onment, to have been a mistake"
"Please tell me all about it," she in
vited.
The man hesitated. "You live here?"
he asked.
Melissa shook her head. "Just visit
ing; tell your story
Il was convicted for embezzlement
and given q long sentence" the man
spoke slowly. 1.-THE proof of the theft
was indisputable; it occurred in the
City Trust bank, where, at the time, l
was employed as assistant cashier. The
money was supposed to have been
gambled away, though no evidence to
that effect was found. made no de-
Tense of any kind, or no denial" The
tense line fastened again about his
lips. "Yet all the time" he added
earnestly, II was as innocent of crime
as you are today"
'Then why" asked Melissa, quickly
''did you make no denial?"
His answer came with difficulty
Because my own father was the
criminal; also, he was the long-trusted
cashier of that bank. He had fancied
urgent need Of the money to pay an
accumulated debt. He was, you see
old and very weak, and not himself
lie came to me, crying like child. He
spoke of my dead mother, and of his
inability to endure the hardship of a
prison sentence, and he was cowardly
willing that l should suffer that sen.
tence in his place. So, l suffered
That is all. Now that my father is
dead, it seemed unnecessary to longer
continue the sacrifice of punishment
l spoke, and my release was found
to be justified. With freedom came
a home-sick longing for the old asso
Citations Of my village home. But fight
seems to have gone from me, even
confidence, to set myself right in the
eyes of my friends.''
go" asked Melissa, softly, "Wha1
are you going to do?" Hopelessly, the
man replied, 81 do not know" The
eyes Of Melissa took on their thought
full light, reassuringly she smiled upor
him.
wait" she requested, and bent tt
her writing pad. With awakening In
terest he watched her flying pencil
When she had finished she leaned bacl
in content.
"There!' she exclaimed, that's {
real story. One of the best 1 have
ever done. It's for the City Herald
and will be lined front page. YOU
own story. No, don't object, you owt
it to yourself to be right in the eye!
Of the world, and you shall be, wher
these facts are proven correct. l an
late Of the Herald staff, and this ar
ticle makes the. announcement tina
the City Trust bank. Grasp you
chance, my friend, and make good"
Stammering, the broken man stoo,
before her. But" he murmured, con
fusedly. 1T is all right" explained
Melissa, II am going to marry JOIN
Frawlings-John Frawlings of the Cit,
Trust bank. He has confidence in m,
judgment, and, he happens to be fon,
of me-"
''That girl, Melissa" admiringly ex
claimed the managing editor, as h