Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 210, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1912 — WOMAN GOT A LESSON [ARTICLE]

WOMAN GOT A LESSON

INCIDENT OF TWO GIRLS AND THE BTOLEN PEONIES. How the Bhabbily Dressed Man Administered Gentle But Effective Re proof to the Owner of the Pillaged Brooklyn Garden. Two poorly dressed little girls stood outside the garden of a handsome residence in SL Mark’s avenue, Brooklyn, and gazed longingly at the beautiful white and scarlet peonies that bloomed within. Finally the temptation became irresistible, and the elder, scaling the low hedge that separated the garden from the street, proceeded to help herself to the flowers. She had two of the blooms in her hands and was reaching for a third when a smartly dressed woman dashed out of the house and seized her. “Now, you little thief, I’m going to turn you over to the police,” she said. “Oh, please, missus,” begged the child, groveling at her feet; “oh, please don’t get me arrested! I only wanted a few —and they looked so pretty.” But the woman was adamant She was slowly dragging the child toward the sidewalk and repeating her threat about the police when a shabby looking man came along. He gazed at the two for an instant, while an expression of pained surprise came over his face. Then, raising his dingy derby politely, he inquired what the trouble was. “Nothing,” snapped the woman, “except that I caught this little thief stealing my peonies. And Fm going to teach her a lesson if I have to take her to the station house myself.” A curious look came into the shabby man’s eyes. Then he began to fumble in his pockets. A few seconds later he held out to the woman aa open palm on which two dimes reposed. “If thesell pay for what damage she’s done, I wish you’d take them and let her go,” he said. An indignant blush spread over the woman’s face, and then it deepenedinto a blush of shame. She relaxed her grasp on the little girl’s arm and there she paused and turned toward the shabby one, who still held the two dimes in his hand: “I’m sorry,” she said, "and—l thank you.”—New York Evening Mail.