The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-16
THE WISDOM OF The COURT.

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board of aldermen and the only thing
that still told of the dignity Of the
room was a statue of the republic
covered with an inch Of dust, stand
ing on a shelf between two lamps and
flag rolled tightly around its pole
In corner was pile of colored glass
used as illuminations and lot of
fireworks left over from some cele-
bration the year before.
1t was evident that the chief Of po-
lice, NJ Denis Combel, never entered
the room. He read the classics in the
shade of the trees of his garden or
wrote verses which were greatly
praised by the local population When
he was not at Avignon he was very
much interested in his beehives never
giving his public Office and dignity a
thought. Perhaps it was the perfect
climate, perhaps some other thing
which caused the people of the town
TO live happy and content. Everybody
minded his own business and if the
young people had little too much
on election day they settled their own
difficulties among themselves in the
little pine wood outside the village.
one day, however, the chief Of police
happened to enter the court room and
ne was so shocked at its condition that
he forced the aldermen to make an
appropriation of so francs for repairs
and now masons, carpenters and gla-
1iers got busy. But fate had decrced
that on this very day when the court
room was a chaos a case came up, and
after a moments hesitation the chief
of police asked the two parties to meet
at his house the next afternoon at If
o'clock sharp. Through his housekeep-
or he already knew all about the case
When he had served his time he re-
turned, but wicked tongues accused
Rosine of having AirtCd with others
and Prosper would have nothing to
do with her any more but asked TO
have his ring returned-a ring that
cost II francs at Matchmaker Nah
istres store on Place de la Fontaine,
and as Rosine would not return the
ring the case come to court.
Sunday forenoon at II o'clock Pros
per came to see Chief Combel, who
was sitting under a cherry tree read
ing aloud from one Of his fayorito
books. Prosper was wearing his Sun
day clothes and as he did not see
Rosine anywhere he took a stroll
around the garden.
At half past eleven ROsine arrived.
The chief looked at Prosper and no
| ticed he turned pale and from this he
concluded the case would not be very
difficult one, for though he had little
or no experience in love affairs Denis
Combel could see enough to tell him
that the young couple were very much
in love with each other
you are growing prettier every
day." he said TO ROsine, who blushed
deeper still Then he scratched his old
| gray hair and said: We'll, what has
come over you two that you need my
assistance? Come over here and sit
down under the old cherry tree where
the air is much better than in the
musty old court room. Tell me then
all about It," Neither of them said
word.
Monsieur 10 Chef" Rosine stam-
mered at last
We'll, my Child?" tho Judge replied
But Rosine was silent again and
very red in the face. Prosper was
fumbling with his hat.
Combel then took matters into his
own hands.
81 know all about this from Marin
cite. II Is about ring that Rosine did
force her to do so, but first | want to
hear what you have to say, Prosper"
And he looked at the handsome
young fellow who sat so close TO the
girl that her skirt covered his shoes.
What have you got for lunch to-
day Marinette?" he asked
Preserved olives, Monsieur" the
old girl replied, "and then | have an
omelet- these young people are to
take lunch with me today and after
wards we are to talk about their case'
And he went down into his cellar
himself to get some old Burgundy,
leaving the young people very much
embarrassed.
At the beginning of the meal the
two were rather bashful and silent,
but with the Burgundy their tongues
loosened and they seemed to forget all
about their quarrel, and looked at
each other with eyes beaming with
joy
At last M. Combel asked Rosine to
serve the dessert, and she most
gracefully climbed a chair and from
that into the tree Soon the Judge and
Prosper were laughingly gathering the
cherries the pretty girl threw at them,
When coffee had been served NJ.
Combel lit his pipe and said: We'll,
| suppose we shall have to take up
your case now" fs.
And as he received no answer he
turned to the young man and said
did you really care very much, Pros
per, to get back your ring? Rosine
| yI,ra mo ,tour hand with tho rim,