The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-12-23
His FIRST Official NIGHT.
BY w. =.

Years ago, when the ambitious city OF
Weston was simply a village, there
lived on the hill beyond the creek a mar
who divided his time about equally be
tween deer hunting and tilling the few
rocky, sterile acres that constituted his
farm. This man-George Bently, by
name-was II prominent figure in thai
sparsely- settled region. He was O
giant in strength, daring in danger, coo
in emergencies and fertile in expcdients.
Though illiterate, he was by 10 means
u~neducated so far as the love Of fores,
and stream was concerned, and his skill
in deciphering the volume OF human
nature was of no mean order. So n,
thirty-five he was an acknowledged
leader among his fellows.
About this time IA general election
occurred, and during the day somebody
suggested that George Bently be voted
q for Justice of the Peace for Weston
Beat. The suggestion being acted on,
that individual returned home about
sunset. and with pardonable elation in
formed his wife that he had been
elected Il magistrate without opposition.
Without giving the matter any o II
sideration, either as TO the duties apper-
tanning 10 the office or his own qualifiCa-
tions for their performance, he made the
necessary bond, and in due time his
commission, bearing the grea, seal of the
State, was received. together with IA copy
Of the Code. Now our new official had
never uad n law book in his hands before,
and he felt somewhat dismayod, but
rather important withal, rs hc'surveycd
the bulky volume, bound in legal calf.
Thrusting his commission into the
pocket of his pantaloons, for he had
no coat, and taking the huge
volume under his arm, he wendell
his homeward way. If his gait
was more staid and his bearing more
dignifed than usual il was simply be-
cause he felt himself an exponent, if
not n part. of the State, in her sovereign
capacity of making and administering
laws.
AS soon as supper was dispatched he,
with the aid Of his wife. spelled out the
commission, and thon taking upthe Code
he began at the title page, He had got
nearly to the end of the report Of the
Codiiying Committee when drowsiness
overpowcred him, and he began to dis
robe for the night. As he was in the act
of lying down IA loud "helloI' was heard
at the yard gate. When the door was
opened n voice in the darkness called
out
docs Squire Bently live hcre2'
''I'm the man, y was the rather pompous
reply.
al want n warrant for Jake Jones"
whats he doneI"
"Him and Pete Brown got into n row
at old mar Halls house-raising this
evenin' and he knocked Pete down with
q handspike, aud it looks like he's gain'
TO die
"An right-come in
BY the time the officer had donncd
his clothes and replenished the fire the
other man-one John Graham-had en-
tered.
Had Squire Bently been required to
make an astronomical calculation he
would not have been more completely at
o loss how TO proceed. But he felt that
his official honor was at stake and so,
after hasty but f~ruitless search in the
Code for a 'form," he proceeded to bring
forth from his inner consciousness the
momentous document.
The first difficulty TO be s%urmountcd
was the fact that there was not a scrap
of writing paper in the house. Not an
ticipating emergencies wherein it would
be required, no stationery had been pro.
s%sded for official purposes. Unwilling
TO be baked, he tore a blank leaf from
the back of the Code, and borrowing d
pencil-for it was developed that 20 pen,
ink or even a lead pencil belonged TO tn,
after infinite pains, produced the follow.
ing warrant
''taik jaik joans
G.. BENTLY, esq, j. p"
As Mr.. Graham received this document
he asked:
"Who will serve this warrant
"You can do il as well as anybody
else, can't your
az guess so! Where must l take hin
to2"
Bring him here, of course"
"Whenf'
AT once-or sooner, If you can FIND
him."
"All rightw and the Special Constable
took his leave.
Our officer now retired, but the Incl
dent of the warrant had unsettled hin
somewhat and he vainly courted sleep
After an hour or two Of restless tum
bling he was about entering dreamlanC
when there was another call at the gate
Going 10 the door he was again met b.
the inquiry
"Does Squire Bently live hereF'
Eyes; what do you want2'
1--WE want to get married. " was tn
rather hesitating and huskily spoken rC
ply.
"Come inln and again the ofici'
hauled on his pantaloons, and out G