Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-09-09
!. A WISE YOUNG JUDGE
BY MINNIE W. BAINES-MILLER

weather was so oppressive. She would
assist her mother by arranging the lodg-
ers' roons-for, alas, since the death 81
the husband and father, the family had
been reduced to this shift OF genteel
poverty-and then for an hour or two
with Orchard Carvel" in the hammock
ont under the trees.
But somehow her talk with Mrs. OHal-
loran had discomposed her mind. 1t was
in state of keenest Indignation against
facts as they existed in the world. She
felt, like Hamlet, that ''the times are ont
Of joint" and that she ought to be able
to set some Of their dislocations right.
Like Don Quixote, she desired to ride a
tilt in behalf Of distressed human crea-
lures, although, unlike him, she would
not confine her chivalrous championship
to those possessing beauty. Of course
Tim o. Halloran had no business to make
a beast Of himself BY drinking but then
Tins position and tastes were not OF
high standard. He had no education
and he was not sensitive. He couldn't
be expected really to know tile injury he
was inficting upon himself and his
family. And Jock Liddy-and the entire
class which he represented-what Of
them? OF low grade of intelligence,
as a rale and Of no social standing. Was
it not an outrage that the State, for so
many hundred dollars year, should put
into their hands the right and privilege,
guaranteed under its great seal, to de-
grade and ruin their fellow-men and the
families dependent upon them? Doris
doubled up her soft white fists and
wished she could, then, that moment,
dash into the general assembly room Of
the commonwealth in which she lived,
and bowl over the legislators who had
no more conscience than to pass such
laws as this. You will observe, from this
inclination of our heroine, that she was
very young. 1t was not her quarrel, to
he sure, but she had large, tender, low
ing heart that desired to see equal justice
administered to all men. And perhaps,
too, she had never read that proverb Of
Solomon's which runs He that passeth
by and meddleth with strife belonging
not to him, is like one that taketh dog
by the ears"
Doris was anxious to take something
or somebody sharply by the ears in re-
prisal for those black eyes and that iabbed
chin Of Mrs. O'Halloran's while that
lady, fast forgetting the injustice Of fate
in the creature comforts OF the passing
moment, was breakfasting sumptuously
on hot mullins and beefsteak, poached
eggs and coffee at Mrs. Murray's kitchen
table.
1t was plain to Doris that there was
Nothing to be done with Tim O'Halloran
or the Legislature. Was there anybody
else She could hold responsible? She
unused for a moment with knitted broWs,
with pillow she was just sliding into
its clean case held under her chin. Then
she threw the pillow into its accustomed
place with the joyful cry, Eureka r.
There was Mr.. Mark Whittlesey, who
lived in a mansion of house on East
Bread street. He was a wealthy and
successful lawyer, talked of every now
and then for some important Office. A
massive, handsome man, whose very
appearance carried weight and inspired
confidence in his general ability She
had seen him frequently from the win
dow, in front of which she sat when she
took dictation, driving a pair of high
steppers whose coats wore a gloss like
satin, and whose harness had, here and
there, touch Of gold. She had seen his
name constantly in the society columns,
as winning this favor in the german, or
that prize at progressive euchre, or as
giving dance or a dinner at the Coli
Club House. Yes, he was swimming on
the crest Of life, and taking in rents from
Jock Liddy and men Of his ilk to support
this style Of existence. Every dollar OF
such money was red with blood, and she
was going to tell him so. 1t was prob
able that telling him SO wouldn't do any
good, but such people seldom hear the
truth about their wicked deeds, and ore
Of them, for once in a way, should hear
it now. Perhaps lie would put her out
of his office by main force. She quaiIed
little at this possibility, for she was moi
physically brave but her spirit did not
finch. II people always backed down at
the prospect Of bodily harm to themselves
where would the martyrs have come
from, or the Revolutionary heroes, OF
recent Rough Riders, the Joans of Arc,
the Grace Darlings and the reformers and
humanitarians generally? Martin Luther
was not afraid to 60 to Worms nor John
Knox to tell Mary, Queen OF Scots, Lis
horror OF the mass nor Girolamo Sayon.
arola to acquaint the dying Lorenzo de
MedlcI on what terms only, he could give
him dissolution. She said to herself that
she would not be afraid, either, as she
carefully dressed herself in dainty lawn
having just the faintest tinge OF pink
about it, and PINNED on big black chip
hat becomingly adorned with black feath.
eFs. When she looked at her reflection
IN the tilted mirror OF her cIliffonier, she
was not displeased.
She saw tall, erect, slender figure,
which the airy, stylish. looking home
made gown set off to advantage. The
thin guimpe aud the lace shoulder-ruffies
OF tins gown gave the figure look OF
added breadth. Its delicate color seemed
reflected on the oval cheek under the
black hat and the half waved parted hair,
as black, which it Swallowed. Wisps Of
this hair, willful as the disposition OF its
impetuous owner, strayed as they would
III plant little tendrils about her fore.
head and her neck and ears. Her ewes
were black and soft and soulful. One
could scarcely believe the owner of such
eyes would be DESTROYS of bowling over
| that august body known as the State
| Legislature but in her bahoH i ,,,,,st