The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-10-12
the BURNT MOTH
~ GRACE w. AOeovT

In those dark. prison workshop days
from which she had Just escap-d Even
a. the worm. cnNelopcd Ia it, cucoun
breaks from H. bondage into u beau
uful thing Of gauxy wings and gay
colors. only 10 d. destroyed In tn
flame ~ the candle. - had Nh. broken
from ia" squalid surroundings IT h.f
home HE into the eaycr llf. II the
city, unly to burn her delicate wing
Ia the hamr ~ crime For hers was a
crime. besp.rat. envy aud longing for
the beautiful things Of life had led
her o. the FIRST tlmid venture from
the path ~ righteousness. success In
her theft had encouraged her To- great
.r crimes. untll The purity ~ her girls
soul was smlrched with greed and
lawl.sHuess Then -- drt.ctiun aud
prison. where 81. learned her bitter
lesson where she lost her Joyousne~.
was only twenty-five.
NoN--oncc agnin she was free bu,
such u sight as III. presented. shut
Hing lisil--sly along IN. park path
Sh. dropped on N. FIRST bench She
came To. utterly deb-rtei tired. hun
gry aud alone
Martin Leonard had taken u short
cut through the PARK To- his club and
had sucrumh.d 60 ~. beauty ~ the
spring night A sort II holiness cr'pt
over him. appealed 10 his better self
and he walked along purgcd ~ ~.
ha~.r thoughts ~ ~. day. suddenly
the ngur. "n ~. bench attracted hi
attention. How could anyone droop -
oB such a nightT Ne approached the
bench slowly. warlly. hui the sound
II dry sobhin. assured him 81 real
trouble aud be- dropped beSid. The
giri Startled. IA. raised her face
from her hands. strangely pathetic In
tho pale lsh,
Don't b" frightened Do treasured
her 4 heard yuu crying sud want
g. know n ! ,an hs'p you."
pumhly she stared at him. uttcring
no sound
Ilc toad her hands The, we're ilk,
ic.
"Com.. come this Wil' never de-" he
FAiAf w NNAAh AHNN ANf hNA ANffHNiA -
After q Will" bis persistence and
kindHcss drew from her The s"r,iid
story and then for Whlie both were
silent the suoc,ssful young man and
a." little wall FINALLY ~, .-.sin Ia
tall gently. u"t i1nsiug at her telling
In dreamy sort 81 ouy ah"ut the
wonders II the sprustius. 80 uppar
a fs.aF 81
trutiou a. The nesu--s ~ NJ. lsaN"s
N. srnss.s. M. fresh beauty 81 the
flowers. the pcurrfuln-ss that was liz.
hen,-il,ilou
And pcupl, ,uu H. Ike that you
know The, ,irrt oui In the ~prng of
life la all their t,sgr and fresh.
young strength aud thr, wander away
aud De- thlns. the, su-ht net To. and
yet. each du, to them mas be- a spring
time. that gives them chance Ia
start over again .ik. the tr-rs aud
N" flowers. a. prove Co the world that
what l. PASSED l. uot forever that
49, eau show them the real gu"in-.s
that i, ours" iic paused aud found
her bis .ye- Wide with wonder likr a
fNlNl Nh-A NlHfh va Jaw fNf'A Wv
finished. kindly.
"Nou-you mean that there j.
chancr for me Go start my lie over.
liz. III. flowers. amt"
~. nodded
~. took her home tu has mother that
night. and that good lads tpuk her to
her heart. and put her to brG. In he
morning ia. found her sleeping quietly
With traces 81 teas on her cheeks.
hut a serene expression Withal
kindness aud ,arr brought "a" littl"
waif back To health. aud instillsd into
her heart an undyiug love for her ben
efactors. She studied stenograph, and
proud was she when she displayed
with qui,.ring lips the nrsi honest
money she had ever earned
Martins heart had long age been
the llttl. girls own personal property
n. adored the ground ia" walked on.
yet there was never u sikh until this
day when she held out her money h.
him. eyes nlled with unshed tears.
"oh. Marty. it's you ! have TO thank
for all tlns-you wonderful man, aud
please. now. Marty. shall 80 away
aud not bother you more. can earn
my own living can show the world
nov, Marty" III. tears choksd her.
aud she stopped.
The man besid. her caught her Ia
his arms but she struggled hcrcclS
against him.
No, Marty. pleas No" she cried
desperately but b. held her tightly,
telling of his love She did not relax.
hut raised her face 10 him. murmur-
Ing. NO. Marty. Darlington cant
love m.-you can't-l'm-a thief-and
-a-a-con,ict :"
"ssda." he said. his dark eyes hNed
On her face. You must never never
la all your life again say those words.
You ar. not thief You were thief.
aud you paid the penalty. Nav you
are the purest little flower that ever
came out Ia spring, and want you 10
he my wife, You say that you ARE
grateful to me. Sada-can't you See !
need you nowf'
with q little cry she came 10 him.