The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-10-25

Dot vi UiIC SOulU ~ bhio OlhlC. 1'S
was a tall. angular woman OF 10 or
so, dressed in rusty black. with an
immense calico s%unhonnet that pro-
jected over her face like a section of
stovepipe and cnectually concealed
her Gestures.
Th court ordered a chair for her
inside the bar. and when she had
seated herself remarked TO her:
ave never knpwed eff Mud wcra a
mar'd man. marin: ef we had, we'd
shorty hey waited this trial for yc.'
''D' yer mea to say yerve CORN n
tried this yer man for KILN mine,
N me not here ter Sec: Yer Il nice
kin O e. Judge, l mus say. Wal, yer
kin est 90 ter tryin' IN rite Over
again, now l am yere," and the
widow settled comfortably back in
her chair and took "a dip OF snuff.
The court, ~co(nsel, jury, and spec
tators were melted in a moment.
They were Missourians. almost to a
man, and the lone touch of nature"
hat snuff dip awokc in them made
them the widows slaves for the mo
mcut.
The court, counsel. and jury con-
suited Tor Il few moments, and the
Judge intimated TO the widow that
they had concluded that her rcQue.t
was a very natural, aud. under the
circumstances, very proper one, and
that with the prisoners consent they
would comply with II, hut as he had
already been tried and found guilty
One they thought 1t hardly fair TO
Inn to Try him again without his
consent
Velvet arose, the eyes OF the throng
upon him. He was a tall, sight,
graceful fellow with a swagger aaout
him that ~iIscnsibly attracted men
and alike. and with a smile
that shove his white teeth under MS
black mustache, remarked that lie
was always delighted 10 please a lady,
but that under the circumstance he
cou!l not see ANYTHING to be gained
~ IT.
He had, in fact, pleaded guilty in
the first place. and ii. that remained
for the Judge was 10 pass sentence
but as they had Insisted upon trying
h.m once to please themselves, they
might a. well Try him again to please
tae lady.
There wa a murmcr OF approval at
this sentiment from the audicn e
which was Sternly checked by the
court. Tie widow had been dipping
snuff and eying \e.yet during his
and the courts remarks and seemed
70 have made up her mind to some.
thing She had b Ell considering. for
she suddenly closed Ler smut box with
a click, roS from her chair. ana
turning 10 the court sad:
"JedEe, I'm the person what's bin
most hurt in this yer scrap I'm let
a lone woman with nary a mar ter
provide tor me, an I've been er
tninKin' thcr best way out o til : yer
bizni, IS Re. this man what kilt my
man ter = I me er new one"
She stopped amid a death-llke
silence Velvet was the only man
that preserved his customary I'M
runied composure. Every other face
" an lADICNS4DI ~ llOI.IItu d>-
constituent for a moment and then a
yell OF delight went up from the
crowd.
The cool ~eifronterv Of the woman
had caught their sense OF the illness
OF things. Here IN a country where
Il woman most needed Il mans pro-
lie tipn her MAJ had teen taken from
her. WHAT nor JuSt than that the
man who had caused his taking OF
should replace HIM The racket sub
siding. the court g-ayely arose and
said:
''Prisner at the lar. yer hey bin
tried n iOuu' guilty Of murder. Iiev
ye~ anythiu' Ter say Why Their sen
tence in thi>h yer cote should not be
past bon yer:"
Velvet shook his head smiliugly
and the court continued.
''1hcr sentence in Their cote is,
thet yer shall marry this yer woman
N the cote, ez a ~iestice will tie
yer up right now"
At this there was a yell that fairly
shook the roof, ana the 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.
ledge she shrilled. I've bin
telid thct Mud wind a c0n,id'b.e ct
gamblin' last night n | want Their
money"
i he coin md dust had loon i'm.
pounded 10y the court, and he e.
luctantly turLcd it over to the
widow.
After looking il over she slowed il
away in a vOluMinous POCKET and an
nOGnced ner readiness for the ccre-
mony. The couuse! for the pr0secu-
tion and defense acted as groOmsIEen