The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-11-26

could be heard demanding access to the
court that was trying the man who had
killed hers.
I'm Mud's WIFE" she insisted in a
shrill, shaky voice.
"Oh, | know what yer nickna1ned
him. His n my names Dobbs, n be
were a good huff man most WAYS, n !
want ter see the man what killed him
n Ief' me er lone wilder rite in the
prime er life"
The relict Of the late Mud was at the
lar Of the court BY this time. She Va;
a tall, angular oma of forty or so.
dressed IL rusty black, with an inn
mense calico sunbonnet that projected
ovcr her face like a section Of stovepipe
and effectUally concealed her features.
The eyes We're bright and keen though,
and swept quick glances from prisoner
. judge and jury.
The court ordered a chair for her in
-:e the bar, and when she had seated
herself remarked to her:
We never krowed eff Mud were a
mar'd man, marin. Eff we had we'd
shorty hev waited this trial for ye."
ID We mean to say yer've CORN n tried
this yer man fer KILN mine, n me not
here ter see: Yer a nice kin O er judge.
| mus say. WAL, We kin jest go ter
tryin i'm rite over agin, noT | am
yere," and the widow settled comfort
ably back in her chair and took a dip of
snuff. The court, counsel, jury and
spectators We're melted in a moment.
They We're Missouriaus, almost to a man,
and the one touch Of nature" that snuff
dip awOke in them made them the
widows slaves for the The
ourt. counsel and jury consulted for a
few moments. and the judge intilnated
to the widow that they had concluded
that ner request vas d Very natural, aud
under the circumstances, a very proper
n and that with the prisoners con-
sent they would comply with it, but as
he had already been tried and found
guilty once. they thought it hardly fair
to him TO try him again without his
consent.
Velvet arose. the CSes Of the throng
upon him. He was a tall, slight, grace
full fellow, with ii swaggcr about him
that lEsensi3ly attracted men and wom-
en- alike. and with a smile that showed
his white teeth under the black mus
tache, remarked that he wa always de-
lighted to please a lady, but that under
the circumstances he could not see any
thing to be gained BY it. He had in fact
pleaded guilty III the first place, and all
that remained for the judge was to pass
sentence, but that as they had insisted
on trying him once to please themselves,
they might as well try him again to
please the lady. There was a murnur
of approval at this sentiment from the
audience. which was sternly checked by
the court. The widow had been dipping
snuff ana eyiug Velvet during his and
the courts remarks, and seemed to have
made up her mind to something she had
been considering, for she suddenly closed
her snuffboz with IA click, rose from her
chair and. turning to the court, said:
"Jedge, I'm the person what's bin
most hurt III this yer scrap. I'm lef' a
lone woman, with nary man ter provide
fer me, an We been er thlnkin Their best
way out o this yer biznis is fer this man
what Kilt my man ter git me er new
one" She stopped amid a deathlike 81
ience. Velvet was the only mar that
preserved his customary unruf1ed com
posure. Every other face wore an ex-
preston Of Mortified establishment for a
moment. and then a yell Of delight went
up from the crowd. The cool e~ffrontery
of the woman had caught their sense of
the fitness Of things. Here, in a country
where u wonian most needed a mans
protection. her man had been taken from
her. What more just than that the man
who had caused his taking off should re-
place him. The racket subsiding, the
court g~ravely arose and said:
"Pris'ner ct the bar, yer hev bin tried
n foun guilty of murder. Hev yer any
thin ter say why Their sentence in this
yer cote should not be past pom yer::"
Velvet shook his head smilingly and the
court continued: 'Ther sentence of Their
cote is tibet yer shall marry this yer
woman, n the cote. ez a ~jestice, will tie
yer up right now" At this there was a
yell that fairly shook the roof, and tie
audience rushed inside the bar to shake
hands with the prospective bride and
groom and offer congratulations, but the
bride had something else to say first.
"Jedge." she shrilled, I've bin telrd
thet Mud wind a constable ct gamblin
last night n | want ther money"
The coin and dust had been impound-
ed by the court, and he reluctantly
turned it over to the widow. After
looking it over she slowed it away in a
voluminous pocket, and announced her
readiness for the ceremony. The coun-
sci for the prosecution and defense acted