The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-01-21
A JUDGES TEMPTATION.

h Bench M Hnr0tl stock. when M.
ministoring Justice In the civil courts be-
delighted solicitors by hls patience mud
nsionlshed barrislera by his acnmcn
There was no ease 20 pruay hut that he
gave bis full mind 10 II, and II he qIcs.
toned a witness bis interrogations wcre
apt 10 brush AWAY bubbles Ike cob.
webs, aud lay the truth bare VI n sud.
den. In the Crown courts Baron Stock
was tho terror VI cyil-doors. Always
dispasslonatc, he pronounced sentence
calmly and thoughtfully, and his son.
tences were moro lenient than those 0f
most other Judges, for he was n mcrct.
full man; but the homilics with which he
accompanied them used 10 mako delin.
quents SILVER and cry. Baron Stock
seemed 10 know MI tb hidden springs
Of the heart whence good or evil Inn
pulses flow, and II was often surprising
10 hear him relate to n prisoner Nil the
successive stages VI error aud folly
through which the latter must have
glided before falling into the criminal
dock. But 10 the Judges honor be Il
said that no never seemed 10 consider
any criminals fall rs lrrcvocable. and
he always concluded his sentences with
n word Of encouragement and hope.
Thusit had frequently happened 10 him
20 be accostcd In the streets by pcni-
tcnt-looking fellows, who thanked him
for having sown good seeds In their
hearts by q few words In season. These
occurrences always delighted Baron
Stock. for he was a worthy man, who
liked 10 feel that no was doing good.
lie was also n happy one, lie had
married for love when he was a barris-
ter. and had found q devoted wife. His
childrcn--hc had eight-had grown up
10 DO handsome girls and brave boys.
Hy and by the girls married well, and
the boys, going out into the world, dis
tinguisbed themselves In their respective
professions. Baron Stock could really
have asked Of Heaven no moro than he
had got; and when ho reached the age
Of sixty he was able 10 look back upon
n life that bad been almost entirely ex.
empt from sorrows. You could tell this
by q glance ut his serene. unwrinkled
face and clear, open eyes. lie was II
handsome man. of tall stature, who
dressed well. walked well, and looked
ms comely out Of his wig and robes rs In
them.
II was toward his sixtleth year that
baron Stock, having money and leisure,
since his children were ali settled and
provided for, began 10 cultivate a taste
for art. lilo had always loved pictures,
and used To take a keen Interest In
those lawsuits which turned upon the
authenticity Of paintings attributed 10
old masters. When experts gave their
evidence touching the points BY which
genuine picture might be known the
Judge was all ears. catching up every
word that was said, and ~treasuring Il.
One day, during \ long vacation tour
IN Spain. he bought at an old brie-a-
brac shop In Barcelona a picture which
proved to be q genuine Murillo. His
pride at this achievement was great,
and from that time no began to form a
picturc-gallery. Ills purchases were
frequent but never reckless. lie spent
large sums Of money In gratifying his
new passion, but his investments could
not be called oxtrayaganL, as ever
work that came into his possession hal
an intrinsic merit that was sure 10 In.
crease in course Of years.
Lady Stock, however, who carct
nothing Mt all for pictures, did not view
her husbands proceedings with a hap
~ eye. The Judges taste for art hat
come TO him Just at the time when Lad,
Stock had been DESTROYS Of bnying al
estate In the country. SO she and he
husband, for tho first time in thoi
lives, almost quareled when the none,
that should have gone TO purchase
manor-house and broad acrus wa
wasted a my lady called Il, OF
"daubed eanvases." The Baron bel,
good. though, and Lady Stock eycntu
ally gave In 10 his weakness, like nj
nmlahlo wife rs she a Neverthe
less, IL caused her some uneasincss I.
perceive how entirely cngrossed he
husband was getting 10 DO by his mania
lie was forever attending sales. and |
he had n leisure hour ut home he wa
either examining bis pictures or talkinl
about them. On Sundays. regardless
Of the fourth commandment, he donnc,
a baize apron and went around his gal
lcry with a buster. fearing TO intrust IN
cleaning Of his treasures To my clumsy
handed servant II Is to DO feared tina
he grew very pmiss In his attcndanc
ut church from the time when he ha
emitted the opinion that "a bcauiif,
masterpiece breaches you sermons q
good a. any clergyman'sn
II Is a well known fact that every co
lcctor. Of no matter what. has In NJ
minds eye some particular treasure ths
he wants 10 add 10 his collection. Ger
orally the thing he coycts Is quite b,
yond his reach. either because Of n
price asked for t. or because Il il n,
for sale; but the craving after the thin
y only intensified by tho difficulty ,
imposzibilisy Of obtaining Il. Just as
the case with the moon which habi,
CRY for and dogs howl after. Now n
pictorial gem which Baron Stock cow
cd with all his heart and sighed for
his dreamy moments, was q little 30
trait Of a girls head BY Correggio. I
had seen u In the gallery Of . banks
The banker was not a very pleasaI
person 10 know, being . somewhat W
gar parvenu, but the Judge cultivat,
his acquaintance solely that he mig
worship his picture. The girls heu
appeared TO him to be 4 speaking TX
Of his wife when she was youn
and the Judge would have given
enormous sum 10 buy It. But Il
banker ~ not willing 10 sell, hasil
- need a money. - he used 10 n
VIII = boastful laugh. for which N
I1E?a Stock could hare panehsd
Eoeken. however. ars liable 10 n
4orls h lhelr pecuniary nlfail
1eppeasd vish ~ Bsros
~ o1mrlry MA trrpo1 q
- - >1e ske DEFENDANT