The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-12-09


was with real guilt, l knew that 1T
did not belong to either. When had
disposed of the bulk of my cases l
called the couple before me and with
out inviting either to state the diff
Guilty between them asked:
"How long have you two been mar
ried?"
Just one year today" replied the
girl sadly.
"And this is the anniversary of your
wedding day. You come here with
what you consider a trouble. Do you
know that you have no trouble"
There was no reply to this. Both
stood mutely belying my statement by
the misery Of their appearance and the
expression on their faces.
"How old are you?" asked the hus-
band.
Nineteen, your honor"
"And your" of the girl.
Seventeen"
What should do with this boy and
girl to turn their antagonism into for
giveness and affection? Suddenly it,
heaven
"Sit down there, side by side, and
think pleasant things Of each other.
Mind, you are not to think anything
disagreeable. If such things come into
your heads, drive them out at once and
begin again on something affectionate."
| They did as bid them, while pro-
! ceeded with the remaining cases to
come before me. l still had my eye
on them and found them an interesting
study. The husband sat for awhile
with a lowering brow, but he was evil
IDENTIFY trying to do my bidding, and
after awhile l noticed that it had re-
Taxed. The wife apparently found it
easier to think pleasantly of him, and
presently l saw her steal glance at
him. 1t was anxious, pleading, loving.
His hand was on the seat and partly
covered by her skirts. Hers disap-
peared from view, and knew that it
rested ON his. | waited moment to
see if he would withdraw his, and
when he did not / knew that the case
was won.
\ pleasurable feeling came over my
hardened judicial heart. and, looking
from this comparatively innocent pair
to creatures into whom only divinity
could inject a mite of the good,
wished that / might be endowed with
such divine power. l sent one who
had inherited sin and had lived since
birth in its environment to Jail, anoth-
err to the wcrkhouse, third dismissed
With warning. Men and women,
even children, disposed of mercilessly.
Then when | had attended to all
called the young couple before me.
This is the anniversary of your
wedding" l said. You remember
how happy you were on that day.
You remember to the husband, chow
pretty she looked. Well, she is as
pretty today, only senseless bicker-
ings have kept you from work, and she
is not so well dressed. And you," to
the wife, don't bother him about un-
important things, nor importune him,
but dust trouble off him every day as
you dust your rooms. 1t is the wife's
part. Now go and celebrate your first
wedding anniversary"
They turned away, but noticed thai
there was something on the mans
mind The wife came back and whis
pered to me:
"He has nothing to celebrate with"
l put my hand in my pocket and
drew forth some bills. ""This Is fol
the supper" / said, land this for the
{.l,o RI
don't ever come here again on such ar
Grand"
AS they left me the man had al
abashed look, while his young wife's
face was wreathed III smiles. AS
looked at them l felt the justice III
my charge to the girl that it was hel
part to ward trouble from her hus
band Whatever he felt he had no abil
fly to show; what she felt was as plain
as the sun in heaven.
The case, though different from the
thousands that came before me and re
freshing as it was, had passed out OF
my mind when one day on taking my
seat for my days work l saw on my
desk a. cheap glass vase containing q
DullCI Ol OIulIluly uONClS. Dc1oit III
rested card on which was written
"From the garden of our happy home
Second wedding anniversary of John
md Mary Hilton"
Having no remembrance CT John and
Mary Hilton, l gaZed at the plebeial
Gift puzzled Looking up, l saw ut the
farther end of the courtroom Il girl
waving a handkerchief and smiling
Her face was familiar, and knew she
was bent ON attracting my attention
Then it came over me that she was one
of the couple I had by my simple ex-
pedient saved from n marital separa-
ton and its consequent miseries.
Once a year | find flowers on my
desk, and once a year | am buoyed to
endure the melancholy work which
Providence has assigned me.
EDMOND COMPTON.