Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-01-19
A FORTUNATE THEFT.
A PATHETIC COURTROOM SCENE II
THE METROPOLIS.

II was a veritable athlete of baby
He had a carful for an audience thal
watched his antics with rapt attention
His round cheeks were nearly as red a;
the homely red hood enveloping his head
His dress was not much in the way O.
style, adornment or protection; his small
toes were out of his red shoes. hut he die
not mind that; he rather liked it because
OF the freedom it gave him. He divided
his time between looking around at th'
passengers and worrying his mother anC
grandmother, at intervals doing both a
once as easily as one.
What was he on earth for? The blu.
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 ;
moment. Then he pulled the mother
nose as if he would stretch it a little
He kicked at his mother and she smiled
slightly. At this he uttered a scream
and ran his fingers into his mouth. L
was an unusual thing for grandmothel
to smile. She cannot remember evel
having smiled before, it was SO long agt
since she had.
The mother looked thin-thin becaus,
she did not have enough to eat-and a!
if she hated all of the world save he
baby. She did not mind the childi
pounding. 1t was like striking hersel
in play. The little fellow was of he
flesh, and had absorbed all of her strength
She cared not for her future if her baby
could be provided for. She looked upoi
him as all her own. He was nothing O
his fathers. His father? They were go
ing to see him.
! Hes a smasher, amt heT the con
ductor said, stopping the car, and thu
least bit Of pride showed itself in tn,
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 wa
looking neither grave nor stern; he wa
looking commonplace; the case befor,
him was one of everyday occurrence
The first witness was called-the plain
tiff, John Whiteside. Whiteside haC
been relieved of some few dollars il
money. He was countryman when ht
came to town to sell his produce-foul
handed, law obeying, shrewd. A THE
should be jailed forever; hanging wa
none too good for him, he thought. HI
had a straightforward tale. The mother
of the accused sat looking fxedly at tht
man on the stand; the young mother
and wife wept; the baby threw its arm'
around its mammals neck and screamed
The lawyer for the accused made al
objection without confidence, which wa!
denied, and he sat down dejectedly. HI
was young, and paid for taking up tht
case in the experience it was supposed t(
give him. Witnesses were called cor
roborating the plaintiffs testimony. Th'
defense? There was none of any weight
the young lawyer had conjured wha
there was out of byplaces; 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 you'll
was to be seen. The old countrymar
rose and walked outside the railing tx
where she was sitting, his face whittier
than his hair and his hands trembling.
Aren't you Sue Whiteside?' he asked
Il was-once."
You ran away from home to be mar
ried to young New York feller?"
Yes" She shuddered. She felt the
clear eyes Of the old man upon her
What was coming next? He knew about
her history! She tried to cover her rags
Pride did not last long, while the mai
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 YOU
, brother"
John. Johnr' She drew away from
him."
why didn't you write to u.s."
81 was ashamed. / had nothing tt
tell only miseryP'
You killed your mother. She nevel
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 Lit
tie misunderstanding. This boy is m!
nephew I'll take him away from th'
city. withdraw my charge, and l wisl
you would let him go free. your honor.
Il willm
| The accused put on his derby hat ant
slouched over where the little knot o
relatives was gathered. He looked a
his child, its mother and grandmother.
THE kids gettin fat. Amt he. Nary
Now you are all goin back hom
with me-
Home? Never. never The fallel
sister started to go, drawing the thin
shawl about her shoulders.
Il do not live in Painsville now. Su
san. | am in the west. No one vii
know you ont there"
A sigh of relief, content, happines
issued from the grandmother's lips. TIL
weary woman felt the baby to be ighte
on her knee. The child crowed as if h
thought the west the best kind of
place for a growing baby.
Il don't like to leave old New YorI
for the country" said the young man
There's nothin going on out there
Mebbe twill be easier sleddin. Say
old man, you got five cents about you
l amt had drink for three days-seei
New York Herald.
Life OF an italian Signalman.