Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-13
By A. r. Groh

There are no apple blossoms in this story.
The hero is not handsome nor :an. The heroine
chiseled. The reader. having fair warning, pro-
eeeds at his own risk.
1t was Monday morning in police court. The
door OF the bull-pen opened, and, In response
to the name John Cleveland, red-haired
Of As, limped out On his face was stubbie
OF beard. His head partly bald. He carried
his greasy cap in his hand.
He was charged with having removed vege-
table matter from the city in his wagon, the
manure. This crime while not heinOus was in
violation Of ordinance recently passed giving
the monopoly Of garbage hauling to certain
great ana rich contractor
Mr.. Cleveland defended himself with soma
vigor. He had honorable record Of 20 years
in the garbage business. and, since the ordi-
nance. had abandoned the vegetable end Of bis
profession and confined HIS studies exclusively
to manure, ashes. tin cans, bottles and the like.
His tone carried conviction and he was dis
charged.
The next name was Lizzie Bowers. It 10
customary to hear light foot the stair az
this point. The portieres also have way Of
parting TO admit the vision Of a beautiful girl.
Not here. Lizzie entered in charge Of the
maTron. She portly. 40 or 30 years old. and
wore a much soiled black dress. The hands
which she rested on the judges desk were large
and work-wOrn. She lost time in singing the
epic OF her Innocence She pronounced Il an
outrage that ian honest Woodworking woman
can't step into drug store for a bit OF medi-
cine FOR cold that she's had goin' on two
weeks-two weeks this coming Thursday" with
out being taken by policeman and brought into
dirty police station.
Now the fact that Lizzie was a hard-work-
ing well known. But this not
the first visit she had made TO the court.
fact which the judge pointed out kindly but
firmly. Then he remarked:
81 think the matron you for q few
days in her department"
He was about TO write the fatal words in the
big book, and Lizzie was between tears and
pleading, when. big. strong masculine voice
Eyer honor 1t said.
The court looked IN to see John Cleveland
standing before the bar. A policeman moved
to eject him, but the judge ordered him to De
let alone.
eyer honor continued John Cleveland IL
all right II you'll let her GO I've knowed her
long time She's a good honest woman"
The court was in good humor. The court
liked to be known as good court, humane
court
Mrs Bowers is discharged"
There were tears I'm the womans eyes az
she turned. Then she moved impulsively TO
where John Cleveland still stood and grasped
o. We. who think that love is not for the
old and POOR. could you but have the look
IL don't want You to think that I'm that
kind Of a woman said Mrs Bowers when they
were out the street.
ssYou know / don't Lizzie he said and |
defy any gallant young man TO put conviction
more into his words to the most lovely young
woman.
Il must hurry to my work now,' said Mrs.
Bowers.
john Cleveland took her land again.
Lizzie. I've got 4 nice little place with q
much good at cooking. Guess you'd be scared
just TO look az my kitchen need IA house
keeper. You know what mean. I want you.
want you 10 marry me-
1t was just a week later when / noticed the
licenses published I'm evening paper: John
Cleveland, IS; Mrs. Elizabeth Bowers, a."