St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-06-03
A JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON.

"Hugh, come here" called Mr.. ALFRED
Nevalls, the active partner of Nevalls,
Son & Co., forwarders, from his private
office.
The bookkeeper left his desk in tn,
middle of the room and stood silent be
fore his master
"Close the door and sit down."
Hugh obeyed quietly, demurely, as hi
did everything else, as undisturbed anc
as imperturbable as the belfry is to the
clangor of the bell.
"Soph-that is Mrs. Nevalls-has re-
turned from Anyway and is now visiting
her mother, Mrs. Tracey" began Mr.
Nevalls.
''Sorry to hear that, Sir"
"And she has little Mary with her."
Mr.. Nevalls looked fercely at his re-
tainer as if expecting a response, and
Hugh replied: ''Sorry again, Sir"
eyes, and by the Lord I won't stand
it. My-that is, Mrs. Nevalls has broken
her word, or at least our understanding
while I have been true to every under
taking. What did she mean by saying
that she would take the house at Arm
way and educate the child if she didn't in
tend to stay there? She knew full we'll
that, separation or no separation, would
never submit my little girl to the
dominion of that old harridan. And
yet she is back here in a months
time.
II suppose, as it always was, it's
mother She has ruined two lives, but
she shan't ruin the third! l tell you,
Hugh, won't stand it; by Jove, won
stand it!' and Mr.. Nevalls, as if to ex-
emplify this determination, began to
pace up and down the floor. "You must
get little Mary for me-" he continued
Il am her natural guardian. The law
gives me the right, and now Sophia 81
mean Mrs. Nevalls'-own act makes it a
duty. You must get her, and trust me,
I'll keep her,"
"Yes, SIR" said Hugh, and he arose as
if he had been asked to fetch file of
paper;
rupt. Can't you see I'm nervous2
You won't do anything to shock So
phia. She has such tender, sensitive
nature"
sob! no, indeed, sir"
"And will you need any money!"
Il will let you know this afternoon,
when l have reconupitred and found out
how old and ugly the maid isl
"Well, take your time and method,
Hugh. / trust you. But look out for
that old warrior if you value your eyes
and hair
Cant spare them, sir, even to oblige
a lady" And silently, furtively, Hugh
passed into his Office, and thence out of
the warehouse, leaving word with the
boy at the door that he was going to
funeral, and would not be back before
night if he had to drive to the GENE.
terry.
And Alfred Nevalls swung around in
his chair and clutched the topmost letter
as if it were drowning mans straw.
But to no avail. He could not work.
Who can, indeed, when self cries out for
justifcation2 The black letters lost
their form and meaning and assumed de-
lightful shapes of fascinating young
woman, Of charming little girl. De-
lightful, yet exasperating. for these pic
lures seemed to say: 1--WE are yours;
why don't you claim us and hold us?
Only coward would abandon those so
weak and trustful."
What al fool I've always been" thought
Alfred. "And what's worse, how fool
ish my present course will some day
surely seem. From idiotic infancy l |
have passed through a driveling youth
into asinine manhood, and there I stick.
What a muddle I've made of life, or
rather what middle life is! The more
one stores, the quicker itspoils. |
And yet, when I returned from college
and father took me into business, and |
Sophie smiled, as she always had smiled |
since we were little children together,
and even that old vixen did't show her
teeth except to grin, why, earth seemed
an Eden"
Meanwhile the faithful Hugh was med
ltating after his nature, as he proceeded |
on his mission. "People that play with
ire are apt to jump and suck. their
fingers" he unused. Matrimonial quar-
rels are so romantic on the stage and SO |
easily settled; but it is real life, with
red-faced ranger to fan 'em, the prairie |
flowers are quickly swept away and |
nothing left but black, baked soil. Well,
let them 60 it."
Hugh turned into a side street and
stopped before mean looking shop,
whose windows bore the proud insignia
Of LombardY and displayed Q motley