New-York tribune., 1884-10-05

ing. Out She ran 10 Dennis, VINO haNiHE '"N''O"
his own apartment had now for sitting room ohy
the shadow of the trees = Lord. Lord, Mars Dennis
yerl Jes hab ter tell de pore gal She akin fer iom
an bress yore soul can't tell a word
Dennis had been passing some very uncomfortable
days The despair of that black man had haunted
every quiet moment since the one when he hao
walked in the rt-house to see what justice was
shown the negro"
"COnfound it, Nanny" he said. impatently. but
not unkndly. al don't know what to say TO
woman. nor how | can tell such a horrible thing as
this truth. | don't like TO break the poor g'rls
| heart"
All, please 60, Massa Dennis. She'll try harder
to hold herself in ef yer tells her Den you say II
more nicer. massa | amt got de heart to- wid
dem big eyes o hern, an dat thin pore face Jest
akin an lOokin fer Tom"
! Dennis was soft hearted fellow he could not en-
! dure tears. those of an old black woman. 80
hc put his pipe in his pocket. and with his mana
nervously closing and unclosing walked into the
| room.
| Dennis had intended, quietly and gently as he
could to state the truth. Even in the few moments
when walking from the gard N to the sick ROOM he
had thought over the words he would use
! Iut there was something about the thin girlish
face with the soft dark hair twisted IN knot ana
| in the large eyes, pitfu as a wounded fawns, that
I
! choking him.
She looked at hm pitcousy and then without
uttering sound her trembling lips formed:
| atom. Where"
In vain Dennis tried to clear mis- throat and speak.
| the words would not come. This woman's asonized
suspense, which he could only deepen into despair.
actually strangled him.
! lie took the chair near the bed she watching hrs
! every movement. He opened his clinched hand
and began 20 speak but that face was too much for
! him. Tie covered IN. own with his hand. hurying
| his Fl gers in his thick light hair, and something
| like pl,p broke the stiffness.
! 10 those strained. listening ears that waiting
heart. the sound told the story of her woe Perhaps
/ nothing clso could have made the blow less deadly
/ than the pity of this sanger who had opened hrs
door 60 the homeless
Her face crow aslcn. but when. after moment.
she spoke. her voice was soft and gcntle a. any
ladys.
Sir God reward you for your goodness to the
miserable / knew there was something wrong
with nay husband. II comes back to ne now.
convict Ten years they sad. Ten years leu
years"
The unlld face was iu4led with irvor. tho slight
figure tossing aud muaiing ia tho bed. once moro
drifting ont of - con.cious world into the uncertain
| lights of wandering felsun. lut even In that chaos
put1uod by relentless fate NoW mutlnnting ol hrt
cabin now siuLug with tuuctul voice that nnddonly
ccu,cd ils melody to nltoh oul 4" Not guilty. the
young vile las tlicio many day,
"Dod help hor. II There bc - t'0d" " Dennis nut
tered bittufy a, hlt human heart torn by THIS
human suffering which Tor HIM destroyed the
hcauty of the world oven the sunlight, that SHINING
through i-afy bough- fell the baby in it, roll of
blanket, lying .t his feet
The grave little copper face stared him ont of
4 fr...
the usefulness of life.
lie thought of the father of this waif, of his nm
mcrited punishment and the mans heart within his
breast beat fast and furious indignation grew
stronger at this fresh instance OF inhumanty
"Of what Use was all the fighting!" he asked
looking at his vacant sleeve. and pressing his hand
upon his side. where a throbbng pain reminded
him of the bullet he would carry to his grave.
After the brtn Of jules child Dennis had striven
to send word to ONeal He had sought the ballif in
whose eyes he had the glInner OF plying
tears
He walked down to the Court House andfound the
mau directing some negroes who were cleaning the
| Grounds But in this burly fellow, with shaggy
eyebrows, heavy with frowns and coarse trough
voice he could hardly recognize the bailid. Walk
| ing up 10 him. Dennis introduced himself Dennis
Day
Well. what's that ter me ;" the man answered
gruhIy.
Nothing to you, more than you are to Inc. did
not come here for the pleasure OF your acquaint-
ance | came to make inquiries about negro con-
| victed Yesterday"
And what's that % me eitherf Once convicted
we ain't got no further Use fer en-
If Dennis had had two hands he would have
doubled them up and flung them ut this coarse
voiced wretch. The one left To him did with a
threatening gesture but something in the mans
face not a wink. nor a side glance. but slight
change Of expression made him think he was play
ing a part And just then out of a side door came
the Judge OF the previous day.
"Ah Brown" he said 10 the bailiii, on duty"
Eyes yer honor Can be of any ter you y
Browns hat was of, and his head bent low in
salute as the great with " Not now" passed
on A, for Dennis the Judge had sneered carpet
barger" and Dennis glanced back i'll angry
tempt Brown kept his head down, overpowered BY
his proximity TO greatness But Dennis watching
him. could hardly control his laughter. for as the
Judge receded in the distance Brown closed his eye
with the most comcal of winlls The face so lately
frowns and Ill-temper. despite its shaggy brows.
weathcr-beaten skin and grizzly beard CLEANED with
good humor while his very rotund person shook
with the enjoyment Of his own fun.
When the Judge was well out of sight Brown
rose erect and swapping his fingers. said
Brutes. sir brutes Perfect brutes, but my bread
and butter depends on 'em. It's not 50 much my
bread au' butter. but the chillens. Ten on EN- and
hearty as young Ibears.s Bread an butter guess
so You Jest ought ter see it 60 down them
mouths"
He held back his head. half closing his eyes and
with admiration on hls face. seemed at that very
moment gazing at the ten hungry little mouths for
whose sake hc hid his truer self, aud appeared
thing lac hated
Dennis looking at him thought of The miserable
ahfts poverty forces on man, and wondered
ns many m1n has done. that the