The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-18
-:- OUR DAILY SHORT STORY :.


 license in his clothes--Exhibit B, over there. It's got his name on, too. only | he says it's for a cousin as has tht same name as he has, an was to bt | married yesterday. I wonder-s anc while he was wondering, a light suf- fused his massive face
 No such weddin' in the, sassietS colyums,' volunteered Mooney, Why what you blushin' about, Muggsy?s
 You go to the devil" growied Mugg. sy. who. now the center of all eyes , was really blushing for probably tht ] first time in his life. Meanwhile a reported was inspect. 1 ing the marriage license He was a tall, lean scribe, with lazy, far-away look. and wore an eternal stogie ir his mouth. He leaned over to the i judge.
 The girls named is Mary Ann | Evans" he said. Maybe she's here. She'd made a good witness" Now, his honor had great respect for this particular reporter. Besides he was under obligation to him foi certain unnamed favors.
 Have you any witnesses?" he asked the prisoner.
 Me? Nav The judge handed the license tC the court officer.
 "Is Mary Ann Evans here presentT' roared Mooney
 Muggsy jerked himself erect, his square jaw set, his eyes flashing, and his fists clenched.
 Stop that. Mir oficer!' he cried. Mooney started back, and the court room stared in astonished silence. T don't want that there name men tioned in this d-d p'lice courtf' tht l prisoner gasped
 The judges bland smile had con gealed. The reporter critically poised his stogie and emitted a low, thought full whistle.
 Then the spell was broken by a com. motion beyond the railing among the spectators, and a little figure with car. roty hair and freckled face almost hid den beneath a faded shawl darted pas the officer at the gate and stepped tC the judges bench, A young lad about to follow her was denied admitatnce.
 Muggsy was abashed. His figure slumped back to its normal posture and again he gazed at the floor 'P-please,. sir, I'm here." falteret the figure under the shawl. while a pair of greenish- yellow eyes roved back and forth between judge and pris' oner.
 Are you Mary Ann Evans?" asked his honor.
 TY-yes sir. An I came here this Imornin' because Jimmy-that's my brother-seen in the paper that MuggsS was arrested, an he said they'd try him this mornin'. An I thought maybe could-do sumpin'--fer i'm" Fur ther elucidation was interrupted by the | necessity for stopping a flow of tears with one corner of her shawl. "Is 1t this man. or his cousin. thai you were going to carry?" asked the judge.
 Mary Ann checked an impulse to an. swer. and looked to the prisoner for guidance. Muggsys eyes slowly rose honest appeal. That look shamed ths duplicity out of him. He stepped nearer the judge, while the little group narrowed around the aff1anced pair and he addressed the judge in a voice firm, but low, so that the curiosity mongers beyond the railing might not hear.
 "Ill tell ye the truth. yer honor." he said, an it'll be the first time l ever told 1t to ye. I lied when said the license was fer me cousin, an I lied about breakin' the windy by accident. This little girl had promised to marry me, yer honor. an the widdin' was to "a been yesterday. An wen I hap pened to think how l didn't have no ring. an how I needed one, and didn't have no money to buy one, nor notin, wy don't know how it was. yer honor. but I just couldn't help fergittin I'd reformed, an gittln' a ring the best way I could. An now I spose I got to go to the Works again. an I don't care much, fer I don't s'pose Mary Ann'H have anything to do with me now-fer she's a, decent, respectable girl, yer honor. an not like me. Only, don't know what she'll do, on account of bein' out of job, an nobody to take care of her. But it's all up now, an you might as well give me the sen tence right away. yer honor; fer there can't be no weddin an my jobs lost, ans it's no use I guess, tryin' to be decent"
 What jobs that?" asked the prose- cutor The suggestion of Muggsy at work. following close upon the revela- tion of Muggsy in love, staggered him.
 Thereupon the prisoner filled in the details of the story His narrative was supplemented by the testimony of a policeman who recognized Mary Ann and had known her father.
 Are you still willing to marry him?'' asked the judge, curiously.
 why, of opurse!" and Mary Ann stared at him in surprise. 'I know he'll never do such a thing again. An l guess I can git along somehow till he gifts out, an gifts another job"
 DO you mean 1t. Mary AnnT asked Muggsy. in astonishment. I'll keeI straight sure, if you won't go oacK on me. But it's apt to be long time to wait"
 well, in view of the circumstances I won't make 1t so long as l otherwise would" began the judge as he re- sumed his Judicial air. Tt will be-
 But the reportoriai face had sud denly approached his honor's ear. ant there was a quiet little conference V which the prosecutor presently joined
 Tt will be-ahem! resumed ni honor. when the heads separated "three months and costs" He paused limpressively. And, in view of cer tain extenuating circumstance tn
 workhouse sentence is suspended dur