The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-26
From the wachman and Reflector
THE JUDGES VISON.

THE JUDGES vIsON.
The Judge was hale man Of three scor
years, erect, white haired, and yet hand
some. Much thought and many jndicia
cares had lined the noble forehead wit
seams; but both age and care sat grace
fully upon him. Men respected him be
cause he had been successful in winnin;
both fame and wealth-woman admired
him because he pleased them. There wa
a rumor that as ayoung man he had been wil'
and bon viuGasts wiuked as they declared
that the old gentleman could toss off beak
er with the best Of them.
The Judge gave splendid suppers now ant
then. His clothing was of the finest, and h'
Jared sumptuously every day. His house
was built of marble, his appointments were
princely !: retinue Of servants gave seeming
dignity to his possessions. He had, whel
in court, habit of setting his chin, COM
fortsbly in the folds of his cravat, while
work was in progress, so that sometimes
when his eyes were cast down, ho migh
have been thought doing; but for the nerv.
Gus pressure of his lips, indicating that mind
and body were fully awake, and intent upoI
the matter in hand.
One day there was an unusual press oil
business. Several cases had been disposed
of and now there remained but an old man
and a young girl to commit. The one was
a habitual drunkard, blear eyed, haggard,
unshayen, trembling. muttering, bearing
every visible mark of degradation in face,
frame and manner. The other God help
all such was the pitiable thing forsaken
by her sex, humbled and despised by man
fallen women.
When the latter was called up-she was
very young-she started and shivered as
one in an ugue. She had none of that
| hardened, brazen manner so often assumed
by people of her class. Her hollow eyes
were scarcely lifted. Plenteous tears had
nearly washed the false colors from cheeks
sunken by disease, her small, thin hands,
so tightly clcnched, that they seemed
chiselled out of a pale stone-spoke Of
praycr--agonizing, yet still hopeless
| faithlcss.
| IL CHANGED to be very still as she stood
there. Why it was the Judge knew not,
but it seemed to him, there fell an uneafthly
silence over the entire assembly, like that of
the grave. He lifted his head from the po-
sitiOn TO which it had settled. His strong.
piercing gray eyes fell full upon the pitiful
object before him. Downward dropped the
pale face, from shame and WEAKNESS. The
whole posture betrayed Il wretched life, an
abb ject fear, and it seemed al that moment,
as if some unearthly voice cried out in the
midst of that startling quiet,
"Give her bread-she is starving.'
1t also appeared to the Judge as if the
/ lawyer on his right-an angular, long faced
man who hn1 iaap in; oil
day, seemed unusually exhausted he
made an attempt to speak, as if it were be-
yond his power; and bis honor continued to
shaoowy, then at the lawyer, and still he
wondered at the strange silence.
Suddenly the Judge started. What was
that shadow behind the girl: What was
that misty cloud, that seemed growing out
Of that shadow, at first white and faint,
but gradually taking form aud feature, un-
til to his horror a face looked with shining
eyes into his own--a face that he knew had
lam for twenty years in an unhallowed
grave. A cold sweat broke out over his
brow, and a tremor selling his franc shook
him as with an iron hand.
More and more distinctly grew that ghost
Tly figure in the awful silence, behind the
dropping form Of the sinful girl who dared
not face the wild, but austere countenance
of the Judge.
What-what can have summoned her
here,' he cried in Il husky whisper, his gaze
still rivetted upon the mysterious presence
-"Who has called upon the sepu!cher to
yield up its sheeted doad-who -
There was no answer; still that dreadful
silence reisned. The Judge grew livid his
teeth chattered-he sank back in his chair
unable to move his eyes from that thin
shade that with raised hand seemed ready
to speak.
"Man," it sail-anl the tones who can
describe? Who cun catch the moan of the
waling wind among the pines? who shad-
ow forth the sound Of the breeze that sings
the dirge Of the dead in lonely graveyords?
Tint voice was not of earth. "Man, behold
N.y work, and Judge her, if thou canst!
LIok in thine own heart. and tn dare to
cuudemn this poor child Twenty years
ago, WAS fnrer than she: twenty years
ago | was innocent as she was within few
short months. Though YOU look pure and
saintIy you-you ruined me. Though you
stand erect among men-exalted above
your fellows, bowed down TO, eulogised and
followed-vou destroyed this sacred temple
YOU made it a den cf thieves-you planted
deadly flowers in its walk. Aye, and You,
and those who stand in high places like you.
know your own corruption, yet you dare not
pass Judgment on the erring. 0! that |
conld brand you now. rs God will brand
you in the future! How dare you condemn
this poor man and that weak women. when
yon are guilty of the very vices that bring
them here? In the name of all that is sa-
cred, ask you-how dare you, thrice per-
.iured and accursed ?"
The words fell on the heart of the Judge
like drops Of melted lead. The figure of
the shade grew yet more erect and terrible,
and the deep eyes burned like dying
fires.
The Judge was conscious of but one feel
in.-remorse 1t seemed TO him that every
ear had heard, that every heart was passing
the verdict of guilty upon him; and that
verdict, in an awful voice. as the voice Of
many waters, was pouring into his ears,
while the people shouted
Thou unjust Judge! Thou hvpocrite!"
Still! the covering figure of the poor
strcct-waker, with its clasped hands and
streaming eyes. wavered before him. Did
she hear the accusation! Was her soul stung
to madness because of the injustice, the
hypocricy of man? 1t might be, for the
tears came faster now, and the cheeks grew
more ghastly. The Judge essayed twice,
thrice to speak-but the words would not
come, and his lips were icecold.
SIN this poor, sinful creature,' cried the
shade, with that same indiscrihable tone,
behold your wrctched child. In this old man
this miserable wreck ruined by nteruperauce
| and the anguish of blighted hopes, behold
nv father-now broken hearted-he whose
humble door you entered to break faith,
prove recreant to manhood, curse fair
name, and bring desolation to loving
household. From that roof you went-a
more than murderer-from that roof was
| carried in one short year, to the village
graveyard, and over the mound which COW
ers me, the nettles are growing now. From
that roof went out little child, cursed
| from the birth-the victim Of coldness,
neglect and brutality. For that old man,
once the honest, upright husband and faith
er-disappointed, world-sick, disgraced,
ruined, drank to drown bis grief, and made
/ HI, bor,o hall a,h;to -oo-,,,,