Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-04-19
NO 81

M e saafs sniEsAes All a4sOs o.
No one ever went to hin hnma a liz
tie cottage anong the trsss il Ia
clty's outskirts. becanse he had never
shown disposition to make welcome
the visits Of those who even lived IA
the immediate vicinity. Hn oiFiea
was not giyea him throaah kha infla-
ence OF "electioneerinR, because ha
never asked any man for his vote.
He was first elected because. having
been sulmmoned in . case Of arbitra5
tloa. he exhibited tie axeontirs aide
q such q legal mind che psonle nora-
mated and elected him. lie sooa
gained the name 81 the Hard Just
Ice, y aud every lawyer in Afkansas
referred to his decisions. His rulinva
were never naEassad bT the higher
courts He showed no sentimant in
declsion, he stood nnon the nlatfarm
" ! lae whish - III raails !. nsAss ] ).
and no man disputed him.
Several days ago 9 woman charged
with misdemeaROr was arraigned bs.
fore him.
The old man seems more than
ever unsteady" remarked a lawyer
as the magistrate took his seat. "I
don't see how = man so old can stand
the vexations Of court much lon
GER"
II am not well to-day said the
Judge, turning to the lawyers, land
any cases that you may have you will
please dispatch them to the best, and,
let me add, to the quickest of your
ability"
Everyone saw that the old man
was unusually feeble, and no one
thought of a scheme to prolong a dis
cussion, for all the lawyers had learn
ed to almost reverence him.
is this the woman ?" asked the
judge, "who is defending herr
Il have no defense, your honor"
the woman replied. I'm fact, do
not think that need any, for am
here to confess my guilt. No man
can defend me, and she locked at
the magistrate with a curious gage.
IL have been arrested on a charge of
disturbing the public peace, and am
willing to submit my case. / am dy-
ing OF consumption, Judge, and know
that any ruling made by the law can
have but little effect on me-" and
she coughed a hollow, vacant cough,
and drew around her an old black
shawl that she wore. The express
ion on the face of the magistrate re-
mained unchanged, but his eyeliAs
dropped, and he did not raise them
when the woman continued: "As I
say, no man can defend me. / am
too near that awful approach, TO pas.
which We know is everlasting death
to soul and 10 body. Years ago I
was child of brightest promise. I
lived with my parents in Kentucky.
Wayward and lighthearted, | was
admired of all the gay society known
in our neighborhoOd. A man came
and professed his love for me. I
don't say this. Judge, to excite your
sympathy. | have many and many
time been drawn before courts, but
| have never before spoken Of my
past life. She coughed again and
caught flow OF blood on a handker-
chief which she pressed to her lips.
81 speak now because | know that
this Is the last court on earth before
which ! will be arraigned. | was
fifteen years old when fell in love
with the man. My father said he
was bad, but | loved him. He came
again and again, and when my father
said he should come no more I ran
away and married him. My father
said | should never come home again.
| had always been his pride and had
loved him so dearly, but be said
must never again come TO his home.
my home, the home Of my youth and
happiness. How longed to see him.
How yearned TO put my head on
bis breast. My husband became ad-
dicted to drink He abused me.
wrote TO my father, asking him TO
let me come home, but the answer
httaS SauAS was hO nOb huO" you
Ny husband died. Homeless and
wretched, and with my little boy, /
went out into the world. Ny child
died and / bowed down and wept
over paupers grave. / wrote to
my father again, but he answered,
/ know not those who disobey my
commandments Iturned away from
that letter hardened. / embraced
sin. / rushed madly into vice.
spurned my teachings. | was time
and time and again arrested. Now
/ am here" Several lawyers rushed
forward. A crimson tide flowed from
her lips. They leaned her lifeles4
head back against a chair. The old
magistrate had not raised his eyes.
"Great God r. said a lawyer, "she is
dead. The woman was his daugh-
ter.