The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-18


Couldn't take il further. But the road
TO Coldneck was rougher, an | couldn't
give her no hold on me, so back went,
twelve miles, an whole day spilled.
But Cooney was sorry. / could see, an
she never did ask me for many things,
so I borrowed Buck Drawhorn's spring
wagon, an next day bright an early L
put out again. When | got back to the
old home she was stannin' just like
left her. with her hands on her sides.
didn't get time to put in TO she called
out: Nobody but er nachul-born fool
would come here for er machine, an
clouds er risen in the rain quarter.
Don't you know eff that machine gets
wet hit won't be worth hits weight in
ole iron? You can't Git hitn Well,
gentlemen, seems to me that with all
our kiver mos still in the house, she
might er loant me some TO put on that
machine, but she didn't, an bein' 'fraid
er myself / wheeled roun' an went
back them twelve miles again. Another
day spilled an no machine. An / won't
do nobody er injustice, gentlemen. Hit
did rain like allfire, tho whar hit
come from i don't know till now, an
got wet to the bones.
But i was determ' then TO git that
machine if ! didn't never plant er cot
ton seed. Next day / rode up bright
an early, an thar she was / hadn't
got out the wagon TO she opened. You
can't git that machine! You go back
an tell Cooney I'm er sewin' for Hester
Bloodsworth, an when l git done I'll
let her know. An don't you come
back here no more till / let you
lInow' Well, gentlemen, then /
knowed I had'n' been 'fraid of my
self for nuthin'. i started TO cussin!
i cussed all the way up the walk and up
the steps and into the room, an while
/ was shoulderin' that ar machine, an
while was er totin' hit out, an while
/ was er loadin' hit in the wagon, an
while i was er drivin' Off. An when
l thought of them seventy odd miles,
an the three days plantin' I'd done
lost, stopped at the rise in the road
and cussed back agin. i did hit, an,
as I said, hit was ongentlemanly, an
gentlemen, is did hit in self-defense,
for if hadn't cussed, so help me God.
I'd er busted wide open then an thar"
The sensation that followed this re-
markable climax was not soon stilled.
but when quiet wNs at length restored
everybody's attention was attracted TO
the prosecutrix. She had never lifted
her face from the time the defendant
had mentioned the dead boy. She was
still sitting with her face concealed, lost
in thought, and it is likely that she
never knew the conclusion of the de-
feudant's statement. She looked up az
last, impressed by the silence and see
ing the court gazing toward her as he
fingered his books and arose wearily
and unsteadily.
"CaD say a few words, judge?" Her
voice was just audible at first. He
nodded gravely. "Then I want TO say
that--I have-probably been wrong
oil the way through. I have had
many troubles-many disappointments.
Cooney's husband has been n good hus-
band to her and has always treated
me kindly. / don't believe he intended
10 curse me, and think II you will let
me take IL all back"--she hesitated and
faltered.
"Be seated, madam" said the court,
with something like tenderness in his
voice. Gentlemen of the jury, this
case is dismissed"
The defendant came down from the
stand and paused before the woman in
black a moment. Then he bent over
her, but the only words anyone caught
were "Cooney" and little Tom" lie
patted her shoulder with his rough. sun
burned hand. She hesitated moment,
and then, drawing down her veil, she
took his arm and in silence left the
courtroom. There was sudden burst
OF applause, followed by the sound of
the Judges gavel. At the door, Lawyer
Rutherford. leaning over the rail which
separated the bar from the audience,
thrust something into Hiram Ards
hand. "The fee goes with the speech"
he said, smiling. Keep it for little
Tom"
THE END. '' rff-