The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-03-07

cries out o doors, and my strength
needs savin'. Easy, Molli there amt
any paddin' on his little bones. He's
dreadful poor"
They We're hurrying away down the
bare street in the noon suns glare
The mother shielded the tiny old face
with one of her rough, red hands. Her
eyes dwelt on it.
TO think his father amt ever seen
| him. To think it'll be the first time
therel" she sobbed softly, quieted
! somewhat from her frenzy. Him look
in up sudden-think 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 queeri 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 right"
She was sarely in need of her breath,
and painted between the words. Yet she
talked on drearily..
Hes holdin' it up just the same, -
ed court room, waiting with defiant
young face for his sentence, was
charged with a grave crime. In a mo-
ment of anger he had felled a comrade
! with single blow of his big fist. The
injured man had rallied at first, and
| then suddenly sunk into 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 provocation it always counts,
| doesn't it, Moll? You've heard so time
and often, haven't you? / have, too!
The proyocation Larry had had ought
to help out, 1 tell youi OF course it
Wilt hope you don't think I'm afraid,
Moll Tinker! I'm only goin' there SOS
to smile when Larry looks up. We
must hurry-hurry. We're goin' so
| SLOW"
Gasping and white, she got to the
| court room door and held out her arms
| for the sick child
Now" 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 it if 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 prisoner at
was just winding up his verbose plea.
There was already restless expect
ancy evident 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
sympathy. 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 here defiant and
scornful. The first shade of softness
was yet to be seen on Lawrence
Knapp's face.
ITS his way-it's his way" whis-
pered the little woman to the girl, her
friend. IF they only knew it was
Larry's wayl It's outside-if they
could only see him insidel 1 can-why
can't they? That's the way he looked
when his mother died-hard, just like
that. Just exactly, and don't know
how Larry loved his mother?"
The judge got heavily to his feet.
His face was grave and stern. The
twelve faces of the jury, impenetrable
and dread as fate itself, settled to
fresh attention. Then the baby crined.
wailing piteous cry at first, until
it took on notes of pain, when it shrill-
ed and sharpened.
Hush Up-oh, hush upi" breathed
Larry's wife in agony. Hush up for
father, darlin! You don't want them
to put US out-pityin' heart, this is the
time I've got to be here! There, there,
darlin', don't'
The judge was visibly annoyed. A
fTnXVT1 rya hot IL
brows. But there came a short respite
from the baby cry, and the deep voice
OF the judge filled it resonantly, as he
began his charge. The mothers face
relaxed with infinite relief, and she
turned her attention instantly to the
prisoner. But she could not meet his
eye. Again and again she was ready
with her brave smile, but in vain. The
naughty young head of the prisoner
lowered not an inch, and the defiant
eyes stared on steadily into the sea of
faces. 1t was his way-his way. oh,
if they could only know.
The baby cried again-this time q
burst of anguish that settled into a
steady, piteous moan. The mother
rocked and hushed vailly. 1t kept on.
And the judge was getting impatient;
rustic OF nervousness swayed the au-
dience, the lawyers, the jury.
Suddenly something happened. The
prisoner moved in his seat-when had
he moved before? He turned about sud
denly, and what was this he was doing
He was holding out his arms!
Give the little chap to me, Lindy; 1
can hush him up
That was what he was saying. He
had the tiny. wailing one in his arms
now. The tiny face was against his
breast; he was swaying gently to and
fro-the baby had stopped crying.
A great silence filed the big, bare
place. Every eye was riveted on the
prisoners face, as it bent over the
baby. The wonder of the change filled
in it filled every soul with amazement
For the face of the young prisoner was
tender and warm; could it ever have
been hard and defiant? Not this one
this face that nestled against the tiny
one and gazed at it raptly. This was
the face of a father who looks at his
son for the first time. But, heart Of
pity, what surroundings, What a back
ground! Men read the story and gazed
in blank wonder. Women drew together
and touched each others hands. The
pale little woman sobbed on the girls
faithful breast.
A full minute-two, three, four-it
lasted. The prisoner seemed lost to ev-
erything but the moist, warm touch of
the tiny face. He did not cease the gem
tie swaying of his body for an instant.
and people smiled presently and prod
ded each other, for the baby was asleep.
A tiny ones bridge between trouble and
Inconsistencies is short, and there. in
the noisone,r crowded room. in that
brief moment of. silence, the tired baby
had crossed the bridge into sleep. Calm
and sweet it lay against the prisoners
breast, the prisoners tender face above
it. A throb of sympathy rose in the
crowd and Travelled over it from side
to side like wave. Then the judge