[fU] by the practitioner before they die. The operation once over, th

[Ponce <ant...@cr...>]

 every other place where woman is likely to go. Unfortunately for Miss
Wilson, though born pretty, she was not born rich. The good things of
this world were not given to her very abundantly. Work, she wouldn't.
For some reason or other, certainly not a valid one, work appears
degrading to some people. So it appeared to Miss Wilson. What was she to
do then? To steal would be to go to the penitentiary or the State
prison. She didn't like to live in either, and yet she had taken the
first erring step to go there. She is, in short, a fast woman, yet
driven to a gay life in order to eke out a precarious existence, to
gratify her love of dress. Fearing that she might get into the hands of
the police if she staid in the city, Maria engages a passage on one of
the Boston boats every alternate day, for the purpose of affording
"noctural accommodation" to gentlemen not having their wives along. A
day or two ago Maria, in company with another "lady" of like loose
character, went on board one of the boats alluded to, each bent upon
securing a state-room, if possible, but one at least was doomed to
disappointment. Miss Wilson's good looks made her a favorite with the
officer of the boat, and she succeeded in obtaining a stateroom. Her
partner, however, did not, and though unfortunate in this respect, she
was well off in another way. She did succeed in "picking up a man," with
whom she seemed to become suddenly in love. After perambulating the boat
decks and cabins for some time in flirtation and social chat, Maria's
friend asked her if she would be kind enough to allow her the use of her
state-room for a short time. Maria being lonely, and not feeling any
dispos