The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-30
BLAKE'S WIDOW.


trial was to come off directly.
The extraordinary interest in the af-
fair was less due to the murder and its
peculiar circumstances than 10 the fact
that this was the first case tried at San
Saba in any more formal court than
the time-honored institution of Judge
Lynch.
As there was no place specially ar
ranged for the trial, Judge Pitblado
Hospitality offered the use of his shed.
Here a rough table and chair were
placed for the Judge, the other neces-
sary furniture. intended to represent
the dock, the stand, etc., being eked
out with boxes from Silas Baggertt's
store.
Jake Smith looked at these prepara-
tions for time with frownin9 discon-
tent, and then strolled down the road,
turning into the lane that led to Blake's.
When he reached the door of the shanty
he leaned against the jamb and poked
his naked head inside, tanning himself
in an embarrassed way with his greasy
fragrant hat. He had come there with
the intention of saying something, but
the sight within made him forget it.
Blake's widow sat there. as she had
sat pretty much all the time since the
murder. staring straight before her.
with her chin in her palm. The sun
light struck through the foliage of the
red-oak trees that grew before the
| door, and checkered with hickering
brightness the floor and cradle in which
Jem's baby was sleeping.
There it was. just as it had been
three days ago could it be only three
| days?)-just as it had been when she
went out that morning to look after
the drying clothes and left him stand
| ing in the door by the cradle Chow
fond he was of the babyD-just as it
was when she heard the crack of the
pistol and ran in with an awful sense
of suffocating fright-just the same as
when she had found him lying upon
the cradle, dabbling its white linen
with his blood and the baby playing
with his hair. She screamed once, the
first and last complaint any one had
heard her make; then she was quiet
and helpful through it all-when men
came and lifted him up; when they laid
him on the rough bed in the other
room; when they carried him to the
grave, she following with the baby in
her arms.
Jake Smith was trying to find the
link missing in his thoughts; he shifted
with perpIexity-or something
Blake's widow looked up without
speaking. Jake nodded pleasantly
four or five times.
"Pooty chipper?' asked he.
Blake's widow smiled sadly, bent
over the sleeping child and smoothed
the clothes with a tender touch.
They're agoin' ter try him in a
court" Jake went on, 'an' don't be-
lieve"-
TRY who-Antonio?" She turned
toward the burly figure in the door
with flash of interest in her black
eyes.
Yes. The Jedge is making a court
out of his shed. hope it'll turn oui
all right, but it seems like givin' thai
Mexican devil chance he oughtn't tel
have.'
He can't get clear. can hep" she
asked, rocking the cradle gently anC
patting the coverlet.
II don't see how, but he's got some
kind of a law cuss to speak for hlm-'
feller that stopped here day or twt
ago on his way to Galveston-anG
makes me kind O. nervous"
Blake's widow did not appear t.
notice the last remark. for the child
disturbed by the talking, had awakened
and sat up in his trade with wonder
ing look.
''Pooty, amt hep" said Jake, regard
ing the small figure with interest
Looks just like-ahem!-you. Poo
little i = az = he stammered, an
treated his hat like a mortal enemy
"Of course he'd had-you've got
there's nothin' l could do fur yer, may
be?"
She answered with a grateful look
but it was accompanied by a shake c
the head.
Jake bent down and with his bi
fore-fnger softly rumpled the hair
the baby's head; then he went out an
left them, Blakes widow sitting as b
found her, and the baby staring dow
the path after him.
He walked on until he reached tn
top of the little hill, where he coul
look down upon the roof which covere
the piteous scene he had just lef
Here he seemed to have half min
to turn back, for he hesitated an
stopped; but he changed his partl;
intention after lingering momen
and walked meditatively onward, wit
the exclamation. wal, some wome
do beat the ID amazin'."
OF course everybody came to II
trial. The arrangements were 500
found to be altogether too meage
Pitblado's shed was filled to overflow
ing. and Baggett made clean swee
of every empty box in his store.
Antonio's lawyer a sharp eye,
= sharp-featured fellow from Galveston
had hustled about with surprisir
I agility on the day previous, holdir
mysterious conferences with ill-cond
, toned fellows of Gueldo's kidney.
The court was assembled, the Jun
j had been chosen. and the witness
were all present save one-Blake
widow.
Pretty soon there was a stir at tt
Il door, then a murmur of surprise II
= through the crowded room.
May l be id" said Jake Smit
audibIy, ''if she hasn't brought h
babym
What reason she may have had Fl
not having left the little thing
charge of some sympathizing WON;
and there were plenty who wou
have been glad of the trust-was n
2 apparent; however that might b
- there it was, clasped firmly in h
~ arms, its bright red cheeks contrastil
with her whiteness, and its father
sunny hair mingling with her da1
}. locks.