She seemed wholly indifferent to any
moral appeal and conscience was evidently dead. She would make no
promises for future good-behavior, she showed no evidence of shame. She
was unmoved by the matron's words of appeal. When she found that she was
to be detained through the day she begged the woman probation officer
to go with her to her home saying that her mother was ill and she feared
the result if she did not return as usual. With a great desire to
befriend the girl the officer went. She found a sweet pale-faced woman
suffering from incurable heart trouble, a bright beautiful girl of
sixteen who was taking the business course in the high school and a
ten-year-old boy. The flat was airy, neatly furnished and seemed a very
happy home. The girl told her mother that she had had breakfast and must
be away that day on business but would return for supper. The love of
that mother for the daughter who bade her good-by so tenderly, the
evident affection of the younger sister and the admiration of the boy
greatly impressed the officer.
The girl walked in silence back to the station, then she broke down.
"Now, you see why I chose the street to make a living," she said. "We
used father's life insurance and mother had to have things. She will not
live a month now, the doctor says.
Pages:
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62