The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-06
JUDGE MORSE'S
REASON.
BY LEPHIA M. BRYANT.
aberdeen, Wash.)

&.-a-sS.-s-.-S-s-9-.-e@ -.-9.-s-.-e.<e-.-s-.9
mo, thank you; never indulge" said
the judge as his companions passed the
sparkling decanter and glasses toward
him. The members of the city council
and the jurymen on a noted case that had
just closed were giving the judge ban
quet at one of the leading hotels. His
refusal to join them in a social glass
greatly astonished them and was the
cause of many rude jokes, which the
judge did not seem to mind.
Isn't it sudden, judge? asked Alder
man Buff, holding his glass up farther to
admire the rich ruby Of the wine. Il
remember that the last time we were to-
gether you treated the crowd. How Is
it? Wife object?" The gay party watch
ed the judge with ill concealed merri-
ment, and the champagne set two dozen
tongues wagging at his expense.
'Oh, come and tell us what brought
you into the teetotal army" said the
mayor, giving the judge n playful nudge.
You may be able to get recruit from
this lot of tipplers." The mayor laughed
and refilled his glass, while others of the
company asked if the judge had any Of
Murphy's pledges or blue ribbons in his
pockets.
eyes, tell u.s." said the clerk. "Noth-
ing short of the tragic could have made
a prohib out of you"
"'Tis a secret buried in the deepest
corner of his heart" said the mayor, imi-
tating Joe Jefferson's most tragic tones.
Judge Morse paid little attention to
their prankish talk. He was weary from
his hard days work and anxious to reach
home. However, he had promised to
stay until IL o'clock, though he took little
part in the merrymaking. The glasses
clinked, and toast after toast was given
in his honor. Alderman Stumm, very
anxious to learn the reason of the judges
Changed politics." said between the
toasts: "You owe it to this assembly to
tell why you refuse wine-the best cham
payne. Why, how can you see it grow
fiat before your eyes, judge? Tell us
your reason" Alderman Stumm pulled
out the words, and the others laughed
laughed till the rafters answered with
echoes.
WELL" said Judge Morse after a
pause, 81 will tell it, but the story does
me no credit, although the circumstances
made better man of me-made me a
teetotaler and almost Christian"
The city council assumed gravity al
most laughable after their late hilarity,
and the judge began his story.
Five years ago-it was five years ago
this very day-strange! he said, musing
on the flight of time. you remember
the Rushworth case being tried in Saw
yer county? 1t was the longest trial
known in the state, and everybody was
getting tired Of the complications. l was
on the bench and on the day in question
had taken something to encourage me
and had also given the jurymen enough
to put them in the best of humor, and
when court opened we were ready for the
cross questioning of all the lawyers in
Christendom.
1.-THE accused took the stand and was
probed and probed, the prosecution grew
noisy, the defense sarcastic, and I had
to use the gavel. The louder welded
the gavel the louder those two lawyers
lawed. The jurymen seemed to enjoy
the situation and were nodding in their
seats (the effect of the Scotch whisky in
spite of the tempest of words all around
them. After little time order returned,
several witnesses gave their testimonies,
and the accused waited for the verdict.
THE jury had reused themselves suffi-
GENTLY to cross the hall to an anteroom
and after half an hour came back with
the verdict of guilty and / sentenced
the young man. After passing the SEN
tence 1 asked the young criminal if he
had anything to say. He was only 20
years of age. l was sorry for him, but
duty is duty, and l felt at that time that
I had done mine honorably and justly.
The courthouse was packed, and as the
boy arose hush prevailed. His mother,
father and two sisters sat In the gallery
near the door.
His fine eyes lit up as he caught his
mothers look of love, and then he said
in q voice have never been able to for
get: 4 am guilty Of the charge brought
against me. I deserve the punishment.
I do not wish to place the responsibility
of my crime on any shoulders but my
own. am everything the judge says
ana gambler, a forger and a heavy
drinker-and, as the last witness said,
not fit to be In the presence of honest
men and women. l am glad the judge
has granted me the privilege of speaking.
I see some of my old chums here, and
what l say may do them little good
may keep them from stumbling over the
rocks that ruined me- He looked around
until his eyes rested on the seats at the
right of the entrance. DIR. Pickets, l
took my first lessons In gambling from
you! You said there was no harm II
didn't Ego in too heavy" I went "too
heavy" it SEEMS The boy laughed nery-
ously, and the doctor flushed crimson and
loosened his cravat.
"I took my first lessons In forging
from you, Mr.. Wyatt The juror at my
right hand jumped from his chair as If
shot from q cannon, but said nothing.
His adeptness with the pen was well
known, and his head dropped with the
sense of guilt. The young criminal was
deeply agitated, but so long as l had
given him rope was going to let him
use all he wanted to.
"He drew his hand across his eyes,
which were scanning the sea of faces.
After careful survey of the seats re-
served for ladies and while keeping his
eyes fixed on a pale, beautiful face he
said, with choking emotion, I took my
first drink of brandy from lady-a lady
who has young sons-a lady who serves
drinks that sting.
"a woman had risen. 'Forgive-oh,
forgive me, Albert she cried, bowling
her head on her shaking hands. The In
terruption was hardly noticed, though
every one in the house had recognized
Mrs. Grieving. You remember Mrs.
Gricving, who entertained us so royallyF
"Oh, yes, yes" said Mayor Hume;
"but 60 ON with the boy"
"Well," said the judge, she had talked
ali round the room, and now he addressed
himself to me. I'm all that you say l
ANA gambler, forger, a drinker-and
now you've given me another name,
convict His eyes burned into my soul.
Twenty years-is that the sentence?
Twenty years old now, 40 when am re-
leased. Then I'll be ex-convict.
Father he said, turning his eyes
toward the gallery where his parents sat.
you had great future planned for your
only son. I'm sorry I've disappointed
your hopes and darkened your home.
Forgive me-
"Then he addressed me again, and al
though there were hundreds Of people
present I'm sure you could have heard
pin drop it was so still. The boys voice
had grown a little husky, and after TAX
ing a sip Of water he said: I deserve the
punishment. acknowledge the power of
the civil law. But, judge, my only Won
| der Is that you have not 100 boys here
today instead of one. I've said all l
| wish to say. I'm ready to GO
"The sheriff advanced with the hand
| cuffs, and Albert held out his wrists. He
went to prison very quietly" said Judge
| Morse, opening a paper which he had
taken from his notebook, "and four