The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-04-07

30 the Judge argument, support
ed by his influence, and increasin!
bias at San Saba in favor of NOR,
civilized views, settled the matter
and il was decided that Antonio Gu
eldo should he tried before he wa
hanged.
| AS there was no place specially ar
ranged for such ceremonies, Jud-,
Pit5|ado Hospitality offered the us'
of bis shed.
Here rough table and chair wer,
placed for the judge, the other ne
cessary furniture, intended to repre-
sent the dock, the stand, ETC., being
eked out with boxes from Silas Bag
yett's grocery store.
Jake Smith looked on at these pre-
parations for time with frownlne
liscontent, and then strolled dowr
the road, turning into the land thai
led to Blake's.
Wqen he reached the door of the
shanty he leaned against the jamt
and poked his naked head inside
tanning himselfin an embarrassed
way with his greasy fragment. of 8
hat. He had come there with the
intention of saying something, but
the sight within made him forget it.
Blake's widow sat there, as she had
sat pretty much all the time since
the murder, staring straight before
her, with her chin in her palm. The
sunlight struck through the foliage
of the red oak trees that grew before
the door, and checkered With flicker.
ing brightness the floor and the era.
die where Jem's baby was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been
three days ago; (could it only be
three days7) just as it had been when
she went out that morning to look
after the drying clothes, and left him
standing in the door by the cradle,
chow fond he was of the baby!) jus,
as it was when she heard the crack
of the pistol, and ran in with an aw.
full sense Of sufocating fright; jus,
the same as she had found him lying
upon the cradle, dabbling its white
linen with his blood, and the baby
playing with his hair. She scream
ed once, the first and last complain,
any one had heard her make; ther
she was quiet and helpful through il
all; when the men came and lifted
him up; when they laid him out upur
the rough bed in the other room
when they carried him to his grave
she following with the bagy in hel
arms.
Jake Smith was trying TO find the
link missing in his thoughts; he
shifted with perplexity-or some
thing-and Blake's widow looked W.
without speaking. Jake nodded
pleasantly four or FIVE times.
"Pooty chipper?" asked be-.
Blake's widow smiled sadly. ben,
over the sleeping child and smooth
ed the clothes with tender touch
"They're agoin' ter try him in 8
court" Jake went on, San / dom,
believe -
"Try who-Antonio?" She turn.
ed toward the burly figure in the
door with fash of interest in hel
black eyes.
ayes. The judge is maxim acour,
out of his shed. hope it'll turn GU,
all right, but it seems like givin'
that Mexican devil a chance be
ought'n have"
"He can't get clear, can hep" she
asked, rocking the cradle gently and
patting the coverlet. s..'..
81 don't see how, butts he's 90,
some kind of a law cuss to speak for
him-a fellow that stopped here a
day or two ago on his way to Calves
Too, and it makes me kind O.
nervous"
Blake's widow die not appear to
notice the last remark, for the child,
disturbed by the talking, had awak.
ened and sat up in his cradle with q
.
wondering look.
''Pooty, aiu't hep said Jake, re.
garding the small figure with inter.
est. Looks just like-ahem!-y
Poor little-1-a-" he stammered
and treated his hat like mortal en-.
envy. "Of course he's had-you've
got-there amt nothin' I could de-
fur yer, maybe3" a
She answered with grateful look
but it was accompanied by q shake
Of the head.
Jake bent down, and, with his big
forefnger, softly rumpled the hair Of