Middletown transcript., 1883-12-28
THE GIRLS CHOICE.
BY OPIE P. READ.

Judge Wallman, one of the best
known justices occupying the United
States circuit bench, after listening tC
party of lawyers, the other day,
lighted his pipe, leaned back in an easy
chair and said:
Gentlemen, your stories of court
ship and marriage are quite interesting
and romantic, but believe that it is
reserved for me to tell you Of love
affair which, | am inclined to think,
will teach you that the commonplace
marriage Of every day life is not worthy
of place in our most prosaic novels Oh
even our spirited conversation. Quite
a number of years ago, just after the
war, was appointed judge Of south
ern circuit. + attended very strictly to
the discharge of my duty, and although
very fond Of ladies' society, yet in my
rounds I met very few representatives
of the fair sex who in the least i'm
pressed me- One day, during an over
flow, l crossed the river about twenty
five miles away from my regular beat,
and the stream was so swollen that by
the time I had landed, the sun had
gone down and darkness had spread it
self over the face Of the earth, so far
as / could discern, and the bosom of
the water. I did not find road when
1 landed, and [ made enquiry Of the
ferryman who, in effect, declared that
he had never made geography a study
and that / must take care Of myself.
Of course l intended to abide by the
extremity Of such advice, and after
thanking my water-side character for
information which, to say the least,
was self-apparent, l turned, knew not
where, and began solitary journey
through the woods | had not gone
far when came upon large log house,
surrounded by well-kept fence and
almost covered by a thick growth of
wild vines. 1 was assailed at the gate
by an army Of dogs. Their fury
brought out an old man who drove
them away and in voice Of touching
kindness asked me what 1 wanted.
explained my misfortunes attendant
upon high water that l was federal
judge endeavoring to reach an appoint
ment. He very cordially invited me
into the house. .
CA jedge ur a constable is welcome
at my house at sich time as this, he
said, throwing more wood on the fire
"I've been cotch out myself and
know what it is. So you are jedge p
Yes, l am a judge, holding the
office under the United States govern.
ment.''
"That means you amt State
jedge ?''
eyes"
Wall, it don't make no difference
l wouldn't help a State jedge nc
quicker than l would you. Myra, SET
eff thar's anything to eat in the house,
looked up and the girl to whom
he spoke stood near me. She moved
away Immediately after being ad
dressed, but not so soon that I failed
to note the extreme beauty Of her face
1 saw her wealth of bright, fibelight-re
fiecting hair, her glorious depth of eye
her ruddy fall-of-the-year cheek ant
raspberry mouth. She seemed to pay
no attention to me but obeyed without
hesitation. Presently she reappearet
and announced that there was some
thing to eat in the house and that il
was spread on the table.
."Come," he said, and conducted me
to the dining-room. Although l wa
very hungry, yet l think that my appe
tite could have been satisfied by allow
ing my eyes to feast on the beautiful
girl who attended the repast. Th'
spare-ribs and backbone and mashed
potatoes were excellent, 1 admit, bu
that magnificent face which bent abov,
it all, far exceeded any banquet that
had ever seer.
| "Myra," said the old man, after W,