The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-07
THE GIRLS CHOICE.

~. ii 10y S.t;@ =.
Judge Mailman, one of the best known
justices occupying the United States cir
cult bench, after listening 70 q party Of
lawyers the, other day, lighted: bis pipe,
leaned bscksinian easy chair and said:
"Gentlemen, your.stories of courtship
and marriage are quite Interesting and
romantic, butt believe that it is served
for me to tell you of.a love affair, which
L am: inclined to think, will. teach you
THAT the common place marriage Of every
day life is. not worthy Of a place in our
most prosaic novels or even!in our most
spirited conversation Quite a number
-o{years ago, jdst after the war, I was ap-
pointed judge ofua southern circuit,
attended very strictly to the. discharge
Of my duty; and1although very fond Of
ladies' society," yet, il my rounds I met
very few representatives Of: the fair sex
who in theleast impressed me-, neday,
during an overflow; I crossed the river
about lkenttys: five miles below my. regular
beat, and tIe:streara was SO swollen that
by the time ILhad landed the SUN had
gone down and darkness had. spread it
self over the face of tie earth, 80 far as I
could discern, and the, bosom Of the wa
ter. Il did not find d road when Handed,
and I mads inquiry Of the ferrynan who,
in effect, declared that he, never made
geography. . study, and that I must take
care Of myself Ofzcourse l intended to
abidebyothe extremity of such advice,
and after thanking my swater.side char
.acter' for Information which, 'to.say the
least, was setf-apparsnt, I turned. and
began solitary journey, through the
woods. had not gone far when came
upon a large log house, surrounded by a
VIII Kept fehes and almost covered by 3
shiekgrowth Of wild vine. I 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 I wanted. |
explained my misfortune attendant upon
.highwater thst.I was federal judge
.trying to reach an appointment. He
very cordially invited me into the house."
fwAGjedge or constable is welcome at
smy house at 'sieh time as this" he said,
,throwing more wood on the, fire. "l've
.been cotch out myself and know what it
is. So you ara jedgs ~
eyes, lam 8 Judge, holdingthe Office
uuder the United ststes government"
'That means yous ain't State jedge"
eyes" .'2 .ssl:a
avail, it don u make any difference
1 wouldn't help aState jedge no quicker
than would; you. !. Myra see if thar's
anything to eat in the house,
81 looked up and the girl to whom ne
spoke stood near me. She moved away
Immediately after being addressed, but
not so soonthat failed to.note the ex'
,reme; beauty of her face. ] saw her
wealth o: Gre.light rejecting hair, her
glorious depth of eye, her rnddy fall of
the.year cheek and raspberry mouth.
SHE seemed to opay no attention TO me,
but obeyed without hesitation. Present
ly she reappeared and announced that
there was something toieatih the house
and Il was spread on the tables"
"Come," !" he said, and conducted me to
the dining room. %
"Although I was very hungry, yet l
.thiuk that my appetite could have been
satisfied by allowing my eyes to feast on
the beautiful girl who attended ther
past. The spare-ribs, backbone and
mashed potatoes were excellent admit,
but tia. magnificent face that bent above
it all, far exceeded any banquet, that l
h.ve ever seem.
"Myra," said the, old man, after we
had gone and taken position before the
fire, ahand around the pipes"
"The pipes were brought and filled
with natural leaf tobacco. We puffed
and pufed and talked and puffed. |
told NY experience and the old man told
his. had been a captain under Uncle
sam-Jefsrson Davis had made him
colonel. The old man had no family e1-
cept Myra, his daughter. He seemed as
devoted to her, and quite as much de-
pendent upon her as Mr.. Wick6eld was
upon Agnes. l had been SO much inter.
ested in the conversation, and especially
with the occasional glances cast at Myra,
that did not think to ask the old man
his name until just about the time we
were;ready to 60 to bed"
"My name is Jasmire," he said, II
was wonderin' if you were ever goin' to
ask me, an hanged eff I'd er told you eft
you hadn't. Hope you'll sleep WELL"
81 bsde him q cordial good night, and
with one more. glance at the beautiful
girl l followed negro boy who appeared
with candle.
81 scarcely remember the conversation
of the next morning. I know that 1ssw
a beautiful face, that / sat down when an