The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-01

. ~ lDtIIN litA va A' iAANN
Muag-y was abashed His hs"In
slumped back to its normal posture
and again he gazed at the floor.
"P-pleasc. sir. I'm here falterod
the figure under the shawl, While a
pair of grepnishyellow eyes roVen
back and forth between judge and priS'
oner
Are you Mary Ann Eyans?' asked
his honor
yves. sir. An came here this
mornin' because Jimmy-thats my
brother-seen in the paper thai
Mugesy was arrested an he SAID
they'd try him this mornin. An
thought mebbe | cOuld-do sumpln -
p fer i'm" Further elucidation was In
terrupted by the necessity for stop
ming a flow of tears with one corner
of her shawl
is it this man, or his cousin. that
you were going to marry asked 'he
judge.
e Mary Ann checked an impulse 70
' answer and looked to the prisoner lot
= guidance. Muggsy's eyes slowly rose
o from the floor, met hers, and rean
their honest appeal. That loon
: shamed the duplicity out of him. lie
p stepped nearer the Judge. while the HI
e lie group narrowed around the am
e anced pair. and he addressed the Judge
in a voice firm. but low, so that lue
y curiosity-mongers beyond the railing
I might not hear.
4. "Tll tell We the truth, yer honor
Sc he said. AN it'll be the first time
n ever told il to We lied wen | SAID
the license was fer me cousin, an L
le lied about breakin' the windy by accl-
ne dent. This little girl had promiSeu
Ne TO marry me. yer honor. an the Wed.
ne din was 10 "a been yesterday. An
a wen happened to think how dldn
have no ring, an how | needed one
ne and didn't have no money to buy one
de nor nOt'in'. wy | don't know now II
er. was yer honor, but just couldn't help
fergittin' Ia reformed. an gittln a
an ring the best way | could. An now
et 7 s'pose | got to go to the WORKS
again. an don't care much, Ter l
led don't s'pose Mary Ann'll have anything
he to do with me now-fer she's decent
led respectable girl yer honor. an not IKE
vas me- Only, | don't know what she Il
S. do on account of bein out of loD
IN an nobody to take care OF her. bu'
lilt it's all I'm now. an you might as wei
ana give me the sentence right away. Eel
honor: fer there can't be no weddln
The an nv jobs lost, an it's no use'
red. guess, tryin' to be decent
the "What Jobs that" asked the prose
. 1t cutor. The suggestion OF Muggsy
Elk work. following close upon the reveli
ton of Muggsy in love, staggere
llce him.
md Thereupon the prisoner filled in tn
or details of the story. His narratl'
ner- was supplemented by the testimon
inch Of a policeman who recognized Mar
idge Ann and had known her father.
oris- Are you still willing to mari
lety. him." asked the judge, curiously.
nor, "Why, of counsel" and Mary All
erful ct.red at him in surprise. 81 knO
J 1t he'll never do such thing again. A
guess | can git along somehow till
nor gifts out. an gifts another job.
yelry "Well, in view of the circumstance
1din' 7 won't make it so long as otherwi
niled would" began the judge, as he
tor sumed his judicial air. 1T Will be
clerk But the reportoriaI face had su
ators denly approached his honOr's ear, a.
the there was a quiet little conference.
lnces which the prosecutor presently Joint
aft will -ahem."-resumed
secu- honor when the heads separated
r the three months and costs" He paus'
Increasingly. And. in view of c.
;" he tain extenuating circumstances
and workhouse sentence is suspended d
ing good behavior. and the fine to
tered Maid at the convenience OF the pr
oner."
Gated Muggsy stared stupidity.
at GO on" said Mooney. nudging h
owed good.naturedly. mo. not that wa
nfess as the prisoner started back toward
bull pen" Out here, with your
You're free. as long as you behi
you, yourself. See?"
it'll a Muggsy saw, and with a radi
1. smile overspread his ugly face as
Lieut.. grasped Mary AIMS hand, and 4
cense turned away too happy for speech
there. wait minute" whispered the
ly he reporter. your job?'
the The smile faded.
to be 1T was mighty hard to git. and
- and I've lost it," Muggsy faltered. i
t suf- TO report fer work this mornin.'
won't you sign this, judge as
spect- the scribe
was a His honor took from him the 81
away Of official court paper and read:
gle in Foreman of the - Foundry:
to the presence of Mr. Mcguire has been
ouired at an important trial this m
Ann ing. He informs me that as re
A. -