The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
HELD HIS LAST COURT.
An Old Magistrate who Closed Ills kyss
 and Sank m Sleep,

fhtA oa1 WHO &t0sC1 HIS ENCA
 and Sank m Sleep,
 Old fudge Gtepsan a jnSiice ut the peace. Mas never known te smile He 5 eAmc io Arkansaw years ago. before the carpct-baggcrs began thc,r reckless sway. and year after year, by the will of the voters. he held his place as mag,s- tfa,e. The lawyers who praeneed m h,. court never loked with him. because every one soon lcarsed that the old man never engaged in levity. Every morn ing. no matter how bad the weather nigh, be. the old man took hIs place be- hind the bar which. with his own hands. he had made. and every evening. just a, a certain tune he closed his books and went home. No one evtr engaged ,im m ptisate conversation. be- snse he would talk ,e na one. No one ever went to hls home. A fgtie cottage among the trecs tn the s;y's oussk IL, bet 4asc he had never shnNn a di>pestlop io m ke welsomc L, s4siiz oi ghasc who even ll9ei a 'he in mediate sistns4 llls oihsc a..s 4o. FHea han through shc influence ui ..ele aeneefnk. ecstuse he neset 8ssea lnt man faf hts vote. lie nAs hIsi elc,s sei be-tu2e. hatng onae hecu summoned u ! case ot arbitration, bc exhibited the executive s,dc oi sa,h legal miud ,ha, 'he people npm,natei and elected hun i He soon galned the name of the had l justice. and gvery lawyer tn Atkan>aN referred to Als deel>lone. ils tni,ng, were rev ef reversed by the higher courts | Ht, showed na scailincn, in decision 4Ie stood upon the platform oi a ls~ sh,s l. he made study. and no man disputed him.
 Several days ago a woman. charged ~ith misdemeanot, was affa'gned before him. The oid man seems more than ever unsteady, remarked lawyer. a. | the magistrate took hls seal don'i see boa man so o!d can sand the ves aiion, oi d court ln9s h longer
 am noi well ,o.day, sad the judge turning to the laayers and aay eases ,hat you may have you will please d, patch them to the best and le' me add. ! quickest of your ab,hly.
 Every one sa~ that the old man .as unusually feeble, and no one though, of 4 scheme to prolong 4 discussion. fot al the lawyers had learned ,o almos, Ieser enee hum.
 Is ,h,s the woman z asked the lndge :. Who IS defending her Z"
 have no defense, your honor, th, woman replied. |" In fac, do TO, ,h.nl ,ha, need any, for l am here Ia confess my guilt, No man can defend me. and she looked al the magistrate with curl ous gaze. ' have been arrested on a charge of disturbing the peace, and am willing to submi, my case. am dying of consumption, judge, and know that any ruling made b the law an have bu, little effect on me - and she coughed, hollow. vacant cough. and drew around her an old black shawl that she wore. The espre ssion On the face of the stern magistrate remained un- changed. but his eye-lds dropped and he did not raise them when the woman continued A l say. no man can defend me. 1 arn too near tha, awful approach 10 pass which ~e kno. is everlasting death to soul and ,o body. Yeap ago 1 ~as A child of bs.ghe., pFom.>e. lived ~iih my par enis m Kentucky. W4ywsrd and ligh,heared, 1 was the admire of all the gay society known in our ncigh- hnrhood A man came and professed hIs love for me don't say ihis, judge, to excite your sympathy 1 have. many and many a time, been drawn before courts. b.; never before spoke of my pas, life" She ooughcd again and caught flow of blood on handkerchief, which she pressed to her lips. speak : of it now because know that this IS the las, cour, on earth before which wiii be araigned- was fifteen years old when ! fell in love with the man. My father sad he vas bad. ba, loved him. He came again and again, and when my father sad that he should come no more, I ran away and married him. Ny father sad should never come home sgain. mad always been his pride. and had loved him so dearly, bn; he said that mus, never again come to his home my home. the home of my you;h and happiness.