The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-07
THE JUDGES BRIDE.


judge, aged so, sat on the train beside his
bride of 90.
The judge was at his best that night,
and in order to entertain his companion he
drew upon his past life for such reminis-
cences as he thought would interest her.
'BlakeP' shouted the conductor as they
approached little station.
fsThat is the name of the first man ever
sent to the gallows," said the judge.
The figure by his side gave slight start
''Who was he, and what was his crime?'
she asked.
"Oh, it is not much of story replied
her husband. "You see, when was q
young man, long before moved to Wash
ington, practiced law out in Kansas,
which was then frontier state.
Friends got me appointed judge and
before had been on the bench q week Dick
Blake''-
''Dick Blake?''
eyes; that was his name. He was
charged with murder and convicted. The
evidence against him was purely circum-
stantial, but the jury found verdict of
guilty, and had to sentence him."
"You sentenced him to death?''
Certainly, did. 1t was my first ex-
perience in that line, and 1 gave the pris-
oner very impressive talk and wound up
by sentencing him to be hanged by the
neck until he was dead, and when 1 asked
God to have mercy on his soul put so
much solemn emphasis into my voice that
Blake turned pale and trembled like leaf
81 felt sorry for the poor fellow. He
had good face and looked like a gentle
man, but the evidence was against him,
and had to do my duty"
"Was he executed" The question came
in a tremulOus tone.
eyes; he died on the gallows," said the
judge Gle protested his innocence to the
last, and his conduct all the way through
was that of brave man."
The bride, with averted face, was look
ing through the window into the darkness,
and it was easy to see that she was greatly
agitated.
''The worst of it is" continued the
Judge, "Blaze was innocent"
Innocent, you say?'
Undoubtedly. After his death the real
murderer turned up and confessed. The
boys lynched him before had chance to
try him"
The girl looked steadily through the
window, and the judge thought that he
heard suppressed sob.
He almost regretted that he had told her
such a sad story, but it was too late to un-
do the mischief
Ibid you ever find out anything about
Blake?" asked his listener.
''Not very much, - was the response. 81
somewhere in the south. He was a splen-
did looking man, not over 80, with pierre
| ing gray eyes and hair like gold. His love
| of adventure carried him to the frontier,
! and when he was tried in my court his
case was badly managed. 1 believe that
he left wife and child in his old home
but 1 have forgotten where he lived
Still the listener maintained her droop-
ing attitude. Apparently she was very
| MT in ho
| she was fatigued or i'll.
The judge began to think that the hang
| ing episode was not exactly the thing to
! tell to a young and tender hearted woman.
1.-THE law occasionally makes mistake, -
| he said, land this was one. But it is bet
| ter for an innocent man to suffer once in
awhile than to administer justice too
| loosely. Besides, for all I know, Blake
| may have been bad man. If his life had
been spared, he might have developed into
the worst kind of a desperate. The case
has never given me any mental distress.
After all, one life more or less is a small
| NATTER
Not a word came from the shrinking
woman at the window.
The judge grew restless It was very
/ dull sitting there with pretty bride who
would not talk.
At last he rose and said that he would
| go into the smoking Car for few mo-
ments. An old friend was there, he said,
| and he wanted to say a word to him on
business.
The girl merely nodded and said some
! thing in a low tone which the judge con-
strued into assent.
The solitary traveller remained motion
less for some time after the departure Of
her companion. There we're few passen-
gers in the car and she was not acquaint-
ed with any of them.
AS the train rushed onward through the
darkness she quickly matured her plan and
| made up her mind to carry it out at all
hazards. Drawing a notebook from her
satchel, she penciled few words and pin
ned the paper on the judges overcoat,
which hung over the back of the seat.
just then the train stopped. The girl
knew the place well. 1t was the junction,
and at this point she could in half an hour
take train which would carry her back
to the village where her uncle lived.
The drowsy passengers saw nothing, and
even the conductor failed to see a slight
form passing through the car and stepping
on the station platform.
The old judge had jolly time with his
friend in the smoking car, and before he
knew it an hour had slipped by.
With some regrets and computations he
made his way back to his seat.
1t was vacant, and there was no sign of
the bridel
The judge picked up the note pinned to
his overcoat and read this brief message:
JUDGE-Richard Blake was my father. After
his death took the name of my uncle and
lived with him from my early childhood until
my marriage. 1t would have been well for Us
both if we had known each Others history.
go to my uncles home to remain there, and
most earnestly request you never to cross my
path again. cannot bear the sight of the
man who sent my father to the gallows. l get
off at the junction. V. b.
The judge read the note through and
sat the remainder of the night with his
hat pulled down over his face, without
looking up or saying word to anybody.
The next day an outgoing steamer from
New York to Europe had the judge among
&C. ,.c--ov, r,o,.e A t1an+a Constitution