The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-02-14
! Child
Witness


-
my childhood home was In a
NI quiet little country town where
the Snort IL years Of my life had been
srent in peaceful happiness. The days
Slipped away and the world, to me,
was only great big playhouse. until
something happened which brought
me to q realization that it was indeed
playhouse bat on its stage tragedy
and crime played conspicuous part.
My childhood dreams had a rude
awakening. One morning, as ! was
bOsy at work in my little garden, ! was
startled by the sharp clatter OF horses
feet, coming down the street. The
easy, graceful rider was Harry Derbin,
young man OF our town.
He was, indeed, a man to be envied.
being endowed with everything to
make his life a success. He was hand
some, popular and wealthy. and re-
port said, soon to be married to q love-
ly girl in a neighboring town.
saw from his flashing eyes that
something was terribly wrong. In
an instant he had dashed up to tbs
blacksmith door across the stree. and
with 4 few words l could not hear.
ieyeled his pistol at tie .blacksmith's
head. The poor fellow begged piteous-
w for mercy. hut without a tremor
or one reienting glance, young Der
bin fret and the unfortunate man fell
to tie ground with a Rroan.
I was rooted to the spot in horror
and amazement, hut my eyes refused
to leave the man. who could by one
act of uneoyernabie passion. cast aside
all thought OF his future and wreck
a life so full Of promise as his. -,
With q glance at his PROSTATE VIC
tim, he coolly placed his revolver back
in his pocket, and rode off down the
street. As he passed me by, he glanced
down at my trembling little figure as
Tito say: swell, did you see it. little
one?" and my throbbing heart an
swered: "Yes, I, and only !, and your
Maker saw the deed" Then, as q
crowd came rushing up the street,
dazed and trembling, I turned and
went into the house-not the happy,
careless child that came out, but one
blindly confused at this first glimpse
Of tragedy In the worlds playhouse.
Upon iAvestigation it proved that
the motive for the deed, while ex-
tremely aggravating, did not justify
the taking of mans life. The black
smith had struck Henry Derbin's
little brother for. some mischievous
prank in his shop, but this was toe
much Tor the proud, fiery spirit of the
elder Sbrother,s and nothing but the
mans life would pay the penalty.
He was promptly arrested, and for
time there YVES great excitement
but after awhile the tumult subsidized
and. owing 10 his popularity and the
fact that he was the moving spirit
in the towns enterprises. public opin,
ion Soon began to lean very much in
his favor.1eG -
Hearsno the matter discussed &c
often = s,op iheg.n To consider him
.xemv r.rsecuted bero. Int consoled
mxseif thar Was the only one who
saw tbe shot 6red. INT ! WAS bewil.
d,red when father brought home one
dav INV summons "a the principal wit.
ness - The case. I aid not then res lizt
what !. meant ALTHOUGH father verx
s0lemnlv told me as we went to thu
courthouse that "a mans life was q
INV hands. . and that I must .stell the
truth and nothing Int the truth.
abont what saw on that terrible
(. dav. He led me into the crowded
courtroom, and i searched I'm vair
among the sea Of faces for that of my
hero. / tremblinely obeyed the cal
10 the witness stand, and at last saw
the pale, handsome face of the mar
whom my simple words would con
denim. There he sat with his mother
sweetheart, money and friends on one
side Of his scale of destiny, but alas
soon TO be. overbalanced by the law