The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-03-01
BLAKE'S WIDOW.

Jem Blake was shot dead IN his owr
doorway by Antonio Gueldo, and the
trial was to comeoff directly.
The extraordinary interest in the affair
was less due to the murder and its pecu
liar circumstances than to the fact thai
this was the first case tried at San Saba
in any more formal court than the time,
honored institution of Judge Lynch.
AS there was no place specially ar
ranged for the trial, Judge Pitbladc
Hospitality offered the use of his shed
Here rough table and chair were placed
for the Judge, the other necessary furni.
ture, intended to represent the dock, the
stand, etc., being eked out with boxe:
from Silas Baggett's grocery store.
Jake Smith looked at these prepara,
tons for a 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 shanty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
In an embarrassed wav with his greasy
fragment of hat. He had come there
with the intention of saying something,
but the sight within made him forget It.
Blake's widow sat there, as she had
sat pretty much all the time since the
murder, staring straight before her,
with her chin in her palm. The sunlight
struck through. the foliage of the red
oak trees that grew before the door,
and checkered with fiickering bright
ness the floor and cradle in which Jem's
baby was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been three
days ago (could it be only three dayspl
just as it had been when she went
out that morning to look after the dry
ing clothes and left him standing in the
door by the cradle (how fond he was of
the babyD-just as it was when she
heard the crack of the pistol and ran in
with anawful sense. of suffocating fright
just the same as when she had found
nm lying upon the cradle, dabbling its
white linen with his blood, and the baby
playing with his hair. She screamed
once, the first and last complaint any
one had heard her make; then she was
quiet and helpful through it all-when
men came and lifted him up; when they
laid him out on the rough bed in the
other room; when they carried him to
me grave, she following with the baby
in her arms.
Jake Smith was trying to find the link
missing in his thoughts; he shifted with
perplexity-or something-and Blake's
widow looked up without speaking.
Jake nodded pleasantly four or FIVE times.
"Pooty chipper?o asked he.
Blake $ widow smiled sadly, bent over
the sleeping child and smoothed the
Clothes with tender touch.
They're agoin' ter try him in a
court, " Jake went on, can don't be-
heVe-' 70
Try who-AntonioP" she turned
towards the burly figure in the door with
nash OF interest in her black eyes.
"Yes. The Jedge is making a eourt
ou. or his shed. hope it'll turn out all
right, but it seems like givin' that Mexi-
can devil achance he oughtn't ter have. -
ne can't get clear, can heP'' she
asked, rocking the cradle gently and
patting the coverlet.
don't see how, but he has pot some
sr klnd OF law cuss to speak for him-a
leller that stopped here day or two aoo
" MS way to Galveston-and it makes
me KIND O. nervous
:, blaSe's widow did not appear to notice
ne iast remark, for the child, disturbed
y !he talking, had awakened and sat
Up N his cradle with wondering look.
footy, amt hep" said Jake, regard.
@ the small figure with interest,
~. Looks just -ahena!-you. Poor
n,aele-,I--a-" he stammered, and
.,e, treated his hat like mortal enemy
MI nieoaTse he's had-you' We got-there's
AoSiin !, could do fur yer, maybeP''
!. one answered with grateful look. but
I Iass vas accompanied by shake of the
sSke bent down and with his big fore
haf's, lSer softly rampled the hair Of the
sny 1aey head; then he went out and left
Sas Ssae'n, Blake's widow sitting as he found
after him. '''' uo"n ene pain
:. ne walked on until he reached the ton
sa !. .ne little hill, where he could look
,,;, no@n upon the roof which covered the
sas p,seous scene he had Just left. Here he
forliIeu sar y 70 have half mind to turn back
ch.aa u. ne ,h,esitated and stopped; but he
;a hanged bis partial intention after lingar.
ass. ~ moment, and walked meditatiyelv
saHssui Wlfh The exclamation. "Wai,