The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-25
A PITIFUL SCENE.

PITIFUL SCENE.
venerable oil MN, hale ami hearty
stood before Justice Duffy at tho Jefferson
Market Police Court. New York Although
the SHOWS of nearly seventy winters ha,
whtencl his head and moustache, lIo was a.
straight asan arrow. He had Roman feat
ures, flashing gray eyes and ruddy com
plcxion. He held silk hat in his left hand
and his attire was faultless. A smaller man
made prcmaturcly old 10y dissipation, stoo,
Mt his side. His clothes were shabby, and h,
twirl"d his frosty moustache with trcmllous
fingers. His hollow eyes had fcversh lus
ire, and there were deep lines in his face
Ills manner was apprrhcnsivc and he
m"istenci his lips with his tongue as he
pleaded with the white-haircd gentleman.
Judge" said the Roman-faced veteran IN
courtly manner. 81 wish you would com
init my son to the Island lie is n hopeless,
drunkard 1t is my only hope for his rc.
formation
FEATHER, oh, fatherw exclaimed the man
Mt his side, In accents Of grief, mot this
time, not this timc! Please give mo one
more chance"
There were tears in his eyes The old man
was rs immovablc as statue. He kept his
eyes fixed ON the Judge. In terms cold and
almost pitiless ho urged tho Judge to scnd
him To the workhouse
Don't listen To him, Judge" said the
younger man "lic don't mean it. Oh, I'm
Surc he don't mean it. Father doesn't know
what he is saying"
BE quiet, said the Judge "Wew will hear
you IN due season. Old age must have the
precedence. Gray hairs must he respected :"
I'm set terms the stern parent again urged
the punishment of his Gon. lie had evidently
StCrlcd his nerves before entering court and
he was rs firm rs a rock. Not for nm instant
however, would he trust his eyes to look upon
his son. Though deaf TO his cntrcaty, tho
sight of his boys misery might soften his
hCart.
Are you this gcntleman's sony' asked
Judge Duffy of the younger man.
'IIc is my father Judge" was the rcply
after the fcrvrish lips had again been moist
cnCd.
How old are youy' the Judge inquired
"Forty-threc years" was the almost in
audible answer
"Forty y-threc years. exclaimed the Judge
in u tone of surprise "Is it possible? Dissipa
ton has made you prematurcly old. Sou
nrc older i'll appearance than your father.
Then turning to the father, he asked: For
row long do you want your son committed?"
The old man was stone lie had not taken
his eyes from the Judge. "For ono year" hc
replied in an impasSive tone.
"Ol, father broke in the son in n thin
trcmu'ous voice. For Gods sake don't make
it year. Give mo three months. III try
and he satisfied with thrce-not more
Please, Judge" turning TO the bench appeal
R9iiiici ftrv,it ItSSIVlnE s.Racsiis-Am
the background, "hell say a good word for
me-"
The father was obtluratc The son pleaded
so strcnuously that even tho heart Of the
Judge was touched. 81 might make it nine
months he said, with M obscrvant look at
the old man.
Twelve months" the Roman urged, dc
spite the sobbing of the degraded son.
Father" the son cried, mot twelve, il you
ever loved me. Make it six, oh Judge, maxi
j: six months Ill take six months willingly.
but not twelve"
1T is the Judges duty to fix the term Of
imprisonment the police justice sternly
said. "You must both remember that. I'LL
give you five months, and if You behave
yourself I'll let you OF before that time
THANK you, Judge" the young MAJ,
sobbed "Tou have treated me better than
deserved"
lie turned toward the father, but the iron
willed parent had abandoned him, and was
walking from the courtroom as still rs {
ramrod. The commitment was made out
and the officers took the son into prison.
Five minutes aftcrward the unforgivinl
father stood in the corridor Of the downtown
elevated station at Eighth street weeping n:
though his heart would break.