Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-11-05


a THRlLLAHG IxCIDENT.
In the winter Of 1870 I had ossaaion
% 90 from Green Bay 20 0hiaaRo on the
Northeastern kailgay. AtOshkcsh We
we're joined b. . delegation Of lawyers
on their uay 70 Madison. the oapital. 70
attend the Legislature, then in seasiou.
fheY we're all men Of more than usnaf
iuselleoi and Of exceptional chaFaotsR.
Two we're tx-iudges Of the Circuit Court
and one had seen chaiYmsn 81 he
Yong Mems Christian Association.
they found seats near together, and
after the first salntasicns were over and
the news discussed, they began to iook
about for means to While away ths time.
After Wills some one proposed q game
Of cards. No sooner said than done.
Two seats we're turned apart 90 as 70
iaoo each other, cushion fmpKoVised
for table. and thrse Of cur lawyers,
including the chairman Of the ToanR
Mems Christian Associations, and 4 Chi-
eaao runner o. good terms with them,
we're coon deep in The mysteries Of 3
game Of euehre.
was surprised TO Gee Christian GEN.
tlemen and judges Of Law and equity,
leaders OF society, makers Of public
sentiment, laWgiveFs for q great State,
directors Of public morals, supposed so
be public sxsmplars Of 2ll that ls good,
and guides e she young. thus Getting
pa1liely their zeal Of approval 20 q most
dangerous and evil practics. To be
sure, they played for stakes no higher
thAn cigars Tor the party. Bat Il seems
to me shat In the eyes Of all discreet
persons this does not change the act nor
lessen the danger of its example, but
rather hightens il, as from the less 20
the greater is the iavaFiable course Of
crime.
But did not intend 20 moralize on
paper, but was about 70 say that while /
was filled with such thoughts as these.
one Of the party grew tired Of she game,
and our remaining iadRe Was invited to
take bis place. Isaw the blood mount
10 81 honest blush Of disappr0val 20 his
naniy face, and be hesitated and drew
back. Bat the game had become inter-
esting, and bis excited companions
urged Aim.
"O0me, Judge, take q hand.n they
cried; We can't 20 on without you.n
30 the Judae rose slowly from his
seat, inWardiy oondemning she act, as I
evidently saw, and, stepping forward,
took seat among the players. and the
game vent on.
/ had noticed an cid lady IN q seat 10
the rear Of the players. WHO had got on
board Sc MenHsha, believe. Gray and
bent With age, she had SAT Abashed. and.
With eyes closed, seemed asleep most ~
the time, until the train, stopping al
Oshkosh, took on board the Company OF
lawyers. She then uDdePwent q change
and became greatly interested In the
company, looking often from one 20 the
other as II ahe recognized them all, or
vas trying 70 recall their faces. When
the game Of cards was started che be-
came yery restless, would hitch uneasily
bout IN her seas, take up The hem OF
Ter faded apron and nervousiy bite the
taFeada. Ones OF twice | thought che
wiped her eyes under her shaker ben
nel, bot oo1 not tell. She acted 30
strangely that became more interested
N her than 10 the players, and Watched
Ger closely. She Rot up after y time
and t0ttered forward, holding on % the
seat e. she passed. She brushed against
Judge - IN passing, bst be had BE-
come interested in the game and aid NOT
notice her. Reaching the waier-tank al |
lasi, she drank q cup Of water and took !
q ssaf near the door, with her back 10 |
the players. Bat she did rot long ~ |
main there. RtainQ again, With difaonltv |
she totieFsd back % her former ssat, bui. /
reaching The players. che paused directly 1
IL froat Of them, and nov. greatly en- |
cited, threw back her bonnet fr8m her /
face and looked around on the company.
Her action 81 onos arrested their aaten /
ton, and, pausing In their play, they al 1
looked up inauiFinRly.
Gazing directly IN The face Of the /
Jadge, she said, IL tremulous tone:
Do you know ne. Judge --f'
Ne, mother. don't remember you,S
said the JUDGE, PLEASANTLY. " Where
have we metz
my Dams Is Saith" said she. aIl
vas with my poor boy throe daya Of |
snd on, ~ the courtroom IL Oshknsh, /
wien be vas tried for-for-for robhinR 1
somshodx, and you are the sane man /
toat sent him 70 prison for Zen years;
and Be disd there last Jana.s
All faees were nov sobered, and fhe /
passengers beaan 70 gather aEoand and i
stand no ell over tho ear % Iissen a.
give the dudee ti8e enough % answer Il
her, but bseomine more and more ex-
cltsd, nhe vent on:
" He yes . good boy. II you ala send
tim TO Jail. De helped NJ 90 clear ebe Il
farm, and when father vas took set /
and died be done ell Tie work, and hs
was getting along right smart fill hs
took 10 going tot0Wn aud Rot 70 playing
cards and drinking. and taen aomehow 4
be didn't hke 20 w0Fk after that, BAT i
used 20 stay cat often till morning, and
then he'd sleep % late and / coaldnsf
wake him whrn kDoWed hs'd been ont 1
20 late the night afore. And then he
farm kiaaeF run down, and then We loal Il
TIE team; one Of then GOT killed Wien
hsd been 10 toWa enc aWfal cold night.
He played late. and / supposs they Rot
cold staRdin' Gus and got akeared ana /
broke iOase and run maat home, bot run
Aaln the fsnce, and 9 stake ran into enc
OF 'eD, and when ne found Il tbs uext
mofninR e waa dad, and she 5thef uas
standin' undeF the she'd. And 90 afsns
. while BE ooaxed ne - sell tie farm
and boy q house and lot IN he village
end bed 9ork a. earpeateF Wafk. Aad
- did, - ~ eouldn't do noshin' On
TIE farm- Buf be RFew worse tran eVer.
and after . Whfle be coafant aet ans
work. and w0nidn't do anythina INT
gamble and drink al tbs time. 4 Esd
% DO everything / osald % aet him "a
quit and b . good. industrioas bov
aEins bnt be assd % ass mad after 4
uAile. and onoa Be sfraak me, and fksn
IL tha marnInR ! fsand be had taksn
snat htt1s moaeg there waa lsft from
tne farms and had run "a. Altar thatI
sos along - sell as / ooaid, cisanin,
hoasa ter felix's and waahins, bua I Il
oidn't hsaF nothine Ct him FOR fonr 81
Ave years. bue Whe1 be eos arrested and
rs took ap - O1kkoah for trial, hs srIt
70 me-
~ this ume fhaEa wag not 3 dry ere IL +,
TIE caxs and he eaEda had disappeared
ahs ed lady herself waa ailsnsiy aeep-
M ana rl,nskfr.u :, r..af..t... 49,