Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-12
Blake'S Widow.

trial was to come off directly
The extraordinary interest in the af-
fair was less due to the murder and its
peculiar circumstances than to the fact
that this was the first case tried at San
Saba in any more formal court than the
time honored institution of Judge Lynch.
Jem had been quiet man and good
neighbor, with hand always ready to
help one who was out of luck, so public
sentiment ran pretty high against Anto-
nio. If the general inclination had been
followed-as, up to that time. it always
had-.the last named gentleman would
have found very scant opportunity to
make any remarks in his own behalf.
However, things were advancing, at
San Saba as well as elsewhere, and it
wouldn't do to hang Antonio without
regular trial, no matter how agreeable
such proceeding might be to the peo-
pie at large.
So ran the opinion expressed by Judge
Pitblado. whose ideas on such subjects
were usually accepted without comment.
Nevertheless, there was more than
one dissenter in the present instance, to
whom it was by no means clear that
there could be any sense in thus beat
ing about the bush.
"Ef Antonio's goin' ter be hung, why
in-don't we hang him ?"
This was the pertinent query of Jake
Smith, the leader of the opposing fac
ton, and his views of the question put
it in so clear light that the Judge had
great difficulty in impressing people
with his conviction. He said that
things had gone on in an irregular way
long enough, and here was a way to
start the law in properly, and give it a
fair show. Besides, it didn't make any
kind of difference; Antonio had shot
Jem dead, hadn't he? Well, then. what
was the use in talking ? All the jury
would have to do now was to return
their verdict of guilty in the first de-
gree, and then you were all comfortable.
1t was just the same thing in the
end, exactly.
81 tell YER" said the judge, who felt
the weight of his title, albeit the same
was altogether one of courtesy; 81 tell
yer there's nothln' like doin' a thing
re'lar; partickerlally when yer know
jest how it's comm out
So the judges argument supported
by his influence, and increasing bias at
San Saba in favor of more civilized
views. settled the matter, and 1t was
decided that Antonio Gueldo should be
tried before he was hanged.
As there was no place specially ar
ranged for such ceremonies. Judge Pit
blado Hospitality offered the use of hi:
shed.
Here rough table and chair were
placed for the judge, and other neces
sary furniture, intended to represent thu
dock, the stand, etc., being eked ou
with boxes from Silas Baggart's gro
Gerry store.
Jake Smith looked at these prepara
tions for time with frowning discon
tent, and then strolled down the road
turning into the lane that led to Blake's
When he reached the door of the shan
ty he leaned against the jamb and pok
ed his naked head inside, tanning him
self in an embarrassed way with hi
greasy fragment of hat. He had com
there with the intention of saying some
thing, but the sight within made hir
forget it.
Blake's widow sat there, as she ha
sat pretty much all the time since th
murder, staring straight before her, wit
her chin in her palm. The sunligh
struck through the foliage of the re-
oak trees that grew before the door, an
checkered with Pickering brightness tn
floor and cradle in which Jem's bah
was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been thre
days ago could it be only three days ?
just as 1t had been when she wen
out that morning to look after the dry
ing clothes, and left him standing i
the door by the cradle chow fond b
was of the baby Dust as it was whe
she heard the crack of the pistol, an
ran in with an awful sense of suffoca
ing fright; just the same as she ha
found him lying upon the cradle, dat
bling its white linen with his blood, an
the baby playing with his hair ST
screamed once, the first and last con
plant any one had heard her make
then she was quiet and helpful throug
it all when the men came and lifte
him up; when they laid him on til
rough bed in the other room when the
carried him to the grave. she followin
with the baby in her arms.
Jake Smith was trying to find Il
, link missing in his thoughts; he snifft
with perplexity-or something-au
: Blake's widow looked up without speal
ing. Jake nodded pleasantly four
five times.
. "Pooty chipper?' asked he.