The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-01-19
A FORTUNATE THEFT

A FORTUNATE THEFT.
A PATHETIC COURTROOM SCENE IN
THE METROPOLIS.
Make Up Heartrending Sigbt-A Rec
ognition That Brought Up Many Sad
Recollections-A Brothers. Love.
It was veritable athlete of baby.
He had carful for an audience that
watched his antics with rapt attention.
His round cheeks were nearly as red as
the homely red hood enveloping his head.
His dress was not much in the way Of
style, adornment or protection; his small
toes were out of his red shoes, hut he did
not mind that; he rather liked it because
Of the freedom it gave him. He divided
his time between looking around at the
passengers and worrying his mother and
grandmother, at intervals doing both at
once as easily as one
What was he on earth for? The blue
eyes could find no answer in the passen-
gers faces.
His mothers eye pits were deep today
and his fists fitted nicely into the cavi-
ties. He piled them vigorously for a
moment. Then he pulled the mothers
nose as if he would stretch it little.
He kicked at his mother and she smiled
slightly. At this he uttered a scream
and ran his fingers into his mouth. It
was an unusual thing for grandmother
to smile. She cannot remember ever
having smiled before. it was SO long ago
since she had.
The mother looked thin-thin because
she did not have enough to eat-and as
If she hated all Of the world save her
baby. She did not mind the child's
pounding. It was like striking herself
in play. The little fellow was of her
flesh, and had absorbed all of her strength.
She cared not for her future if her baby
could be provided for. She looked upon
him as all her own. He was nothing of
his fathers. His father? They were go
ing to see him.
"He's smasher, amt he?' the con-
ductor said, stopping the car, and the
least bit of pride showed itself in the
mothers face as she descended the steps,
the swing of the baby's weight throwing
her almost prone upon the pavement.
They climbed the stairs, the three gen.
erations-child mother, grandmother
into the courtroom. The judge was
looking neither grave nor stern; he was
looking commonplace; the case before
him was one of everyday occurrence.
The first witness was called-the plain
tiff, John Whiteside. Whiteside had
been relieved of some few dollars in
money. He was a countryman when he
came to town to sell his produce-four
handed, law obeying, shrewd. A thief
should be jailed forever; hanging was
none too good for him, he thought. He
had straightforward tale The mother
of the accused sat looking fxedly at the
man on the stand; the young mother
and wife wept; the baby threw its arms
around its mammals neck and screamed.
The lawyer for the accused made an
objection without confidence, which was
denied, and he sat down dejectedly. He
was young, and paid for taking up the
case in the experience it was supposed to
give him. Witnesses were called cor
roborating the plaintiff s testimony. The
defense? There was none Of any weight;
the young lawyer had conjured what
there was out Of byplaees; the prisoner
could ask only for leniency. The money
had been used to buy drink with. Would
the court be lenient? the lawyer asked.
The gray haired plaintiff evidently saw
something familiar in the old woman
with the young mother and child sitting
in the row of spectators. He looked
closely at the face hardened with suffer-
ing; little to connect it with its youth
was to be seen. The old countryman
rose and walked outside the railing to
where she was sitting, his face winter
than his hair and his hands trembling.
"Aren't you Sue Whiteside3" he asked.
Il was-once."
"You ran away from home to be mar.
ried to a young New York feller2"
eyes" She shuddered. She felt the
clear eyes Of the old man upon her.
What was coming next9 He knew about
her history! She tried to cover her rags
Pride did not last long, while the man
continued to look at her narrowly and
mystifed. What was the use of cover
ing? She was low down forever now.
Her life would have soon run its stretch.
Don't you know me? l am your
brother"
"John. Johnp She drew away from
him."
"Why didn't you write to us9"
II was ashamed. had nothing to
tell only misery"
"You killed your mother. She never
smiled after that night"
Let me go. No, no; save my boy.
he is the only support we have"
Since it is your first offense, and,
hope, your last one, will be lenient,"
the judge was saying.
"Your honor, SIR" The old man stood
again within the rail. "There was a lit
tie misunderstanding. This boy is my
nephew. I'll take him away from the
city. withdraw my charge, and wish
you would let him go free, your honor"
II will!''
The accused put on his derby hat and
slouched over where the little knot of
relatives was gathered. He looked at
his child, its mother and grandmother.
"The kids gettin fat. Amt he, Nary
Now You are all goin back home
with me-
Homer Never, never The fallen
sister started to go, drawing the thin
shawl about her shoulders.
II do not live In Painsville now, Su-
san. / am in the west. No one will
know you out there"
A sigh Of relief, content, happiness
issued from the grandmother's lips The
weary woman felt the baby to be lighter
on her knee. The child crowed as if he
thought the west the best kind of
place for growing baby.
II don't like to leave old New York