Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-05-27

expected energy, but he did not "go;'
instead, he answered, In tone more OF
sorrow than Of anger: "Yc won't stand
tratc, won't We, mumP It's the right
we alters claims. an the byes won I
bring up the weights fur the big stand
in'-up bed till ye gives us our rights.
The saints forgic me If lets mcscl be
imposed on because I'm poor man.
Good avenin, mum; plisint night TO
ye. Whin We foiud yersel ready TO gle
me the dollar, Ill fitch yer weights;
yell foind me at me stand. And
away went Paddy, and before Mrs.
Lightlace recovered from the shock,
Nancy rushed in to say that the wagon
had gone of with some Of the things
in il. II Mrs. Lightlace had been wise,
she would have sent for brother James
to help her out of her embarrassment;
but, alas for the foolish ambition of
womenl she could not make up her
mind to sacrifice her reputation for in
dependence and strength of charac-
ter; she would win the battle herself.
and no one should know the particu-
lars Of the struggle. II was too late to
takc any steps that evening. but in the
morning she would "have that wretch
arrested rs sure as am born" As
nothing had been surcr than that fact
for more years than Mrs. Lightlacc
would have cared to acknowledge, we
need not be surprised that the morning
found her with no diminution of her
determination. She took a seat nc the
breakfast table, and then ordered Nancy
TO summon Il policeman; and that OIL
cial presenting himself. she informed
him that she wished him to arrest Paddy
O'Rourk ut once. She was somewhat
dismaycd at the intelligencc that she
would have TO obtain warrant at the
police court before that could be done.
But even this news did not alter her de-
termination. At ten o'clock she sailed
forth. Poor little timid Alice with tear.
ful eyes insisted on going with her.
This was permitted until they arrived
at the entrance Of the formidablc-luok.
ing building on Sixth avenue, when
Mrs. Lightlace, feeling her own heart
quailing, positively refused to allow her
young daughter TO go further; so Alice
retired to store opposite, and waited
her temperance.
Mrs. Lightlacc, it must be confessed.
felt a quickcning Of her hcart-beats as
with tagging footsteps she mounted
the steps leading into the court of
justice. II she had not had character
to sustain she would have turned back
then and there; but as that could not
be, she coniided her trouble 10 the tall
policeman at the door. Ii was rcassur-
ing to mark his Indignation at the
recital. 1.-The villain!' he exclaimed;
she will get six months sure. just you
90 in, ma am. aud sit down till your
time comes; then 90 mp and tell the
Judge all ahont It, and he will have it
all right in minute
While he had been speaking. our
heroine had been looking past the
speaker into the untricd field upon
which she was about 10 enter. Ii was
a strange sight to her inexperienced
eyes the immense hall filled with a
motley crowd Of black. white. and
yellow men, women, and children, cul-
minating in the judges platform at
the farther end, where he now sat adj
ministcring justice by the wholesale.
His present attention was conccntrat ii
upon a sadly bloated woman who stood
before him with little girl whom she
held by the band. The child was
labOring man, and apparently trying
to get to him; the baby lip was pitiful
as the man shook his head. The story
was easy TO read; the mother was
drunkard, and the father wanted to
take the child, to whom she clung.
About the judge were grouped men
who were writing at tables.
Reporters" exclaimed Mrs. Light
lace, as n recollection darted into her
brain of numerous paragraphs in which
these gentlemen of the quill had enter
tanned the public with dramatic scenes
from the police court. "Only suppose
they shoald make an item Of me and
Paddy O'Rourk!'
The policeman assured her that there
was no danger, and she at last got NJ
courage enough 10 follow his instruc.
tions and seek a scat. Trcmblingly she
advanced down the middle aisle, look
ing right and left for a vacancy. Whc?
near the front she was arrested by IN
voice Of the Judge, who exclaimed with
startling severity: But, madam, you
are drunk.
Her dismay at hearing such an accri
satiOn, even when addressed TO am
other the novelty OF her surroundings,
the rrrplexity OF her position, b,wil
dered our adyenturcr 10 such an extent
that she neglected to take heed OF hei
ways. She did not see that she was on
the brink OF step. and the next mo
ment fell forward headlong, prostrat
before the assembled court. In her
modification she would fain have lain
there forever, and it did not cOnsOl.
her anguish 10 hear voice from the
reporters tables say: "Ano.hcr drunk,
evidently. Respectable middle-agcd
woman in widows weeds. A terrible
example Of the Increase"
just here she fclt her arm pulled,
and raising her head, found bloatcl
woman tusging cnergeticdlly at hes
arm. as if anticipating some difficulty In
getting her upon her feet. The dreadful
suspicion conveyed by this intimation,
the "hail-fcllow-wcll-mct' expression
upon the coarse features Of her assist
ant, brought Mrs. Lightlace 10 her feet
In n second. Nainly she tried 10 shak
of her companion. She held her rs IN
wise, and whispered, audibly: "NiyeI
mind. hinny; hould on TO me; sich ak.
serdunts will happen. fell joust hero
meself 'ix months ago. and got or with
ten days"
The Judge never Interviewed Mrs.
Lightlace; Paddy O'Rourk was never
arrested by that lady. The tall officer
at the door had vision OF female fit-
ting past him; and little Alice, watch
ing, saw her mother rush down the
steps as II she had lost her senses.
Flying 10 meet her, she cried
Mamma, what can have happened?
Oh, what can 1t b2Y'
Don't ask me. my child. Oh, that
dreadful place! Your poor mother Is
disgraeed for life. 90 al once. Alice |