The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-03-02
THE JUDGES VISION

some Much thought and many judicial
cares had Incl that noble forehead with
seams ; but both age and care sat grace
fully upon him. Men respected him be
cause he had been successful in winning
both fame and wealtl-women admired
! him because lie pleased them. There was
a rumor that as Il young man he had been
wild-and bon vtcaats winked as they de-
cIared that the old gentleman could toss
off beaker with the best of them
The Judge gave splendid suppers now
and then. His clothing was Of the finest,
and he Jared sumptuously every day. His
house was built of marble, It's appoint.
ments were princely a retinue OF servants
gave seeming dignity to his possessions.
lie had, when in court, a habit of settling
! his chin comfortably in the folds Of his
crayat, while work was III progress, so
that sometimes when his eyes were cast
down, he might have been thought doing
but for the nervous pressure Of his lips, in
dicating that body and mind were fully
awake, and intent upon the matter in
hand.
One day there was an unusual press Of
business. Several cases had been dispo-
sed of, and now there remained but an
old man and young girl to commit
The one was an habitual drunkarG, blear-
eyed, haggard, unshayen, trembling, NUT
tering, bearing every visible mark Of deg
radiation in face, frame and manner The
other--God help al such was that pitt
able thing, for,aken by her sex, humbled
and despised by man-a fallen woman.
When the latter was called up-she
was very young-she started and shiyered
as one in an ague 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 color from cheeks
sunken by disease; her small, thin hands,
50 tightly clemched that they seemed CHS
eied out Of pale stono-sp5ke of prayer
agonizing, yet still hopeess-faithless.
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 unearth-
ly silence over the entire assembly, like
that Of the grave. lie lifted his head from
the position to which it had settled. His
strorg, piercing gray eyes fell full upon
the pitiful object before him. Downward
dropped the pale face, from shame and
WEAKNESS. 1he who,e posture betrayed a
wretchel life, an abject fear, and it seemed
at that moment as II some unearlhiv voice
cried out ia the midst of the startling qui
ct
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 had been examining wit
nessea all day, seemed unusually exhaust
ed--that he made an attempt to speak, IS
ii it Were beyond hio pow er and his hon
or continued to gaze, first at the girl, who
was SO wan and shadoWy, then at the
lawy yer, and still be wondered at the
strange presence. Suddenly the Judge
started. What was that shadow behind
the gill! What was that misty cloud
that seemed growing out of that shadow,
at first wLite and faint but gradually tax
ing form and feature, until to his horror a
face looked with shining eyes into bis
own-a face that he knew had lain for
twenty years in an unhaiiowed grave. \
cold sweat broke out over his brow, and a
tremor seizing his frame, shook him as
with an iron hand
M.re and more distinct grew that
ghostIy figure in the awful silence, behind
the dropping form Of the sinful Girl. who
dared BOT face the wild but austele coun-
tenauce of the Judge.
. What-what can have summoned her
here = he cried III husky whisper, his
gaze still r.yeteI upon the mysterious
presence. Who has called upon the sep
ulchre to yield mp its sheeted dea i-who." |
There was no answer still that dread
fuI silence rcigned. The Judge grew Iivid; !
his teeth chatlcreI he sunk back in his |
chair, unable TO move his ewes from that
thin shade that with raised hand seemed |
ready to speak.
Man." 1t said-and the tones who can
describe. Who can catch the moan Of
the walling wind among the pines who I
shadow forth the sound Of The breeze that
sings the Urge Of the dead in lonely grave
yards: That voice was not Cf earth
. Man, beholI thy work, and Judge her if
thou canst. Look at thine own heart
and then dare to condemn this poor child /
Twenty years ago | was fairer than she /
twenty years ago | was innocent as she .
was within few short months. Though /
you look pure and sanity, yoa, you rum
ed me. Though you stanl erect among
men. exalted above your fellows. bowed /
down to, euIogised and followed, YOU
destroyed this sacred tempIe-you made ,
II a den Of thieves-you planted deadly /
flowers IN its walks. Aye, and you, aud
those who stand in high places Ike you,
know your own corruption, vet you dare I
to pass judgment on the erring. Oh, that /
! could brand you now as God will brand !.
you in the future, How dare you con
denim this poor man and that weak wo-
man, when you are guilty OF the very Vi I
ces that bring them here In the name /
OF all that is sacred, ask you bow dare
you, thrice periuFed and accursed Z"
The words fell on the heart of the /.
Judge ike drops Of melted lead The /.
hgaTe of the shade grew vet more erect
and terrible, aud the deep eyes burned
like never dying fires.
The Judge was conscious of bu. one
fee.ln[-remorse It scanned to him that /,
every ear had heard, that every heart was
passing verdict Of guilty upon him and
that verdict, IN an awful voice. rs the