Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-05-27
THE GARNET RING.

VIC AioI y COL VI pioSeiSS a.
an attorney, clients and cases were so few
with me, that ! found il all agreeable
change from the dullness of IN unturnlsh-
ed and untrequented back office, to visit
the court rooms " here | not only became
familiar with the usages, arts and means
of success employed by skiiiful lawyers,
but where | could see human nature IN Its
perplexities and struggles, its teebleness
and power, exciting In NE an Interest and
sympathy that the drama has never
eQualled.
One freezing morning during the first
week of December, my office having been
wholly innocent, tor The season, OF all ar
tificiai warmth, was too cold and cherries
TO be endured any longer. Itwas enough
to quench the hight of hope and fire OF
courage in the most Let headed and en-
ihnsiastic young man, SO | determined to
leave it tor a while. | took down from
its book my old overcoat, the ever ready
and uptiinching friend OF two or three
winters, which regardless OF dignity az al
outsider, nad never shrunk from the do
ties OF 8 trock-coat, dressing gown, sick
gown and bed clothes. But, alas on this
Ereless, cold morning, when it would have
been SO grateful to my poor heart and
into one of the thickest beavers, fur. lined
and fur-trimmed, invincible to the fiercest
Northwestern, it looked to me, spite my
old attachment to it, and my gratitude for
its services, it looked quite used up, brown
and rusty, thin and thread bare; its col
lar sadly soiled, its button holes sadly rent,
buttons lonesome, no two standing to
gether And worse-the once friendly
garment was TO my gloomy and suspicious
eyes tailor. Would it not tell to every
one who should see it the secrets |
much wished to hide 2-those which
might bring my final ruin Would it not
tell that | was poor and unsuccessful, that
| had no business and no immediate pros
pect of any z that | had no requirements
snG abilities which the world needed, not
enough even to enable me To take care OF
myseltl The once good friend seemed
anything but friend now, and it must not
go with me this morning. But then, il Il
stayed at home, its absence would tel my
tale the same as Its presence. | was IN
dispair. What could | dol What was
there Tor me Out poverty, neglect and
modification 1 hurried away 10 the po-
lice court room, where turbulent and un-
comfortable distress makes Us forget the
suffering that can be hidden; where the
hopeless and frantic agony OF crime makes
us feel fortunate IN our innocence how
ever else unfor tunate.
AS entered, girl was put on trial for
larceny, common case, as that stated
yet saw something in my first glance at
her, that made me forget lack OF clients
cherries office and Iel-tale overcoat. She
was about eighteen; fair aud fresh look
ing; with soft light hair brushed neatiy
over her ears; large blue eyes, the lids
very much swollen by crying ; and small
remarkable features. She was clad In q
dark blue merlno dress, and plain white
collar. | cannot clearly explain what il
was III her that Interested me. The inner
lite has expression outward that Is more
easily recognized than described, and il
was probably this. | felt that there was
undoubtedly something wrong In the case
that decent looking woman, SO neat and
proper IN dress, without any tawriness or
ornament did not belong in prisoners
dock, ought not TO be there.
L watched her and the trial. The clerk
read the indictments. The girl stood up
and heard herself, Selma hlte, charged.
with stealing shawi and dress, the pro
perty of one Mary Wilson. The tears
rolling 10 streams down her cheeks, and
iNiC NoiNc duulUI6 from emotion
she pleaded mot guilty.
The INST witness was the policeman
who arrested her. His testimony was
nothing more than that he had found the
clothes alleged to have been stolen in q
ar-pet-bag marked with the prisoners
name, and claimed by her. The prisoner
ceased weeping when the witness was
called, and kept her eyes fixed steadily
upon him. She was told by the .Ipdye
whose sympathy she had evidently en-
listed, that 1t was proper for her To ask
any questions bearing on tie case. and
now | perceived that she had no one IN
defend her, or give her special advice and
aid. She awaited herself OF the privilege
with which the Judge had made her ac-
quainted, and underworld to draw from
the officer the admission that she he'd
shown more surprise when the stolen arti
cies were found IN her carpet-bag than
any one else present, but in this she failed.
tie was altogether uncommunicative and
eyasive IN his answers To her.
One May Wilson testified TO the loss of
some clothes which she described; some
garments were shown her which She iden-
tilted. In answer 10 questions, she stated
that they had been lying IL a trunk THAI
she had nos laid eyes OF them for three
months, or more, till she found them in
the prisoners carpet bag, and that one
Mary Murray had suggested her looking
there tor them.
Mary Murray was now called. She was
8 very bold girl, SNOWY in dress and airy
IL manners. Her fingers were loaded with
cheap rings, the most conspicuous OF which
was a large garnet. While the stolen gar
menfs ware being shows, / had observed
q youag man crowd as far forward as he
could get to look st them. Ny eyes hap
pened to be on him when he first got sight
of the witness rings, and the expression
which then covered his face excited my