The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1902-07-03

amt gone out yet. The man said 1t
wouldn't be before afternoon. The
judges got to charge 'em, amt he?
He amt done that yet, I said I'd let
you know in time, and amt I? But
you better go now il you're goin'."
"If I'm goin'w the frail little woman
cried nightly. "If I'm goin' to Larry
in the bitterest hour o. his needl
Come-yes, you can carry him as fur
as the door. 1t won't hurt any IL he
cries out O. doors, and my strength
needs savin'. Easy, Moll.-there amt
any paddin' on his little bones. He's
dreadful poor"
They were huTying away down the
bare street in the noon SUMS glare.
The mother shielded the tiny old face
with one Of her rough, red hands. Her
eyes dwelt on it.
ITO think his father amt ever seen
him!-to think it'll be the first time
there" she sobbed softly, quieted some
what from her frenzy. Him lookin
up sudden-thlnk O. that, Moll-and
seem the face of his son for the first
time! It's queer to think of, amt it?
Oh, yes, it's queer! How could any
thing come round like that, when we
were so happy a little while ago, me
and Larry? That amt the way things
happen-it amt rightw
She was sorely in need Of her breath,
and painted between the words. Yet
she talked on drearily.
The man on ahead Of them, in the
crowded court room, waiting with de-
tiant young face for his sentence, was
charged with a grave crime. In mo-
ment Of anger, he had felled a comrade
with a single blow of his big fist. The
injured man had rallied at first, and
then suddenly sunk in a stupor and
died. The doctors talked learnedly of
complicating conditions, but the out
look was dark for the prisoner. His
stolid bearing was against him.
HE had provocation-can't they see
what provocation Larry had! When
there's provocatidn, 1t always counts,
doesn't It, Moll? You've heard so time
and often, haven't your l have, too.
The provocation Larry had had ought
to help out, tell youl OF course II
WILL hope you don't think I'm afraid,
Mol Tinker! I'm only goin' there SOS
to smile when Larry looks up. We
must hurry-hurryl We're goin' so
| slow"
Gasping and white she got to the
court room door and held out her arms
for the sick child.
Nov" she whispered, in sudden,
pale calm. I'm goin' in now. You
tell somebody that I've got to have a
seat up near Larry. I've got to-
can't help 1t IL the baby cries. We've
got to go up there, amt we, fathers
little son? Oh, you'll hush up for
father, won't you, darlin'? Come, I'm
ready, Moll"
They went in. Some one made a
way through the crowd and piloted
the two up to the front, Some one
made a chance for them near the pris-
oner at the bar. The lawyer for the
defense was just winding up his YER
bose plea, There was already a rest
less expectancy on the weary faces Of
the crowd. 1t had been a tedious, hot
morning.
The haggard little woman's eyes
swept the sea Of faces rapidly and then
whitened, She had not found what
she sought. She had not found sympa-
thy. Public opinion was against the
man whose life or death seemed
trembling in the balance. 1t was not
so much to be wondered at, for all
through the monotonous days Of the
trial he had sat there, defiant and
scOrrful. The first shade of softness
was yet to be seen on Lawrence
Knapp's face.
TITS his way-it's his way" whis-
pered the little woman to the girl, her
friend, "If they only knew 1t was
Larry's way! It's outside-if they could
only see him inside! / can-why can't
they? That's the way he looked when
his mother died-hard. just like that.
Just exactly, and don't l know how
Larry loved his mother?"
The Judge got heavily to bis feet.
His voice was grave and stern. The
twelve faces of the jury impenetrable
and dread as fate itself, settled to fresh
attention. Then the baby cried. A
wailing, piteous cry at first, until 1t
took on notes Of pain, when 1t shrilled
and sharpened.
flush up--oh, hush upw breathed
Larry's wife in agony. Flush up FOR
iatder. darlin'l You don't want them