The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-02-20

BEFORE THE COURT.

= 81 - 81 81
BEFORE THE COURT
/ By T. p. KOPTA.
| -, - -
| After having wandered all over th
forest I thought that I had better e
and see the notar. I found him il
much the same state of mind as be
fore. So I gave him the papers
where I had written down the prob
able worth of the different parts O
the forest, to look over at his leisure
and betook myself to the Colder
Calf.
This time was lucky enough t,
be waited on by the sweet Sera
phiene"-at least, felt tolerabl,
sure that it was she, for she was ;
good deal pitted with the smallpox
found her tall, lanky girl of abou
twenty, with gray eyes and hair the
color of tow. She did not seem at al
pleased to see me, and l afterward.
discovered that had disturbed hel
in a Irritation with a stalwart chin
neysweep in the kitchen, who was
very leisurely drawing his brushes
through the chimney. Having made
this discovery, I was not exactine
about the waiting on, and soon the
two young people were having nice
time together.
Every now and then I could hear a
stified giggle from the girl, and a
subdued tHe! he!" from the youth,
and then scuf1e / was propitious,
but fate willed otherwise. In the
middle of the entertainment some
one came in, evidently person of
authority, for I heard sound slap
given, and the next moment .tsweet
Seraphiene" arrived in the room like
bomb thrown out of a cannon. One
be indiscrees. nasH nsa1sHsun: N6didd aRA Md
kiss was followed by fine box on
the ear by a third party. Out of the
window I saw the sweep disappearing
rapidly around the corner.
While / was meditating why true
love affairs inevitably went crooked,
and trying to look as unconcerned as
possible to the fact that Sweet Sera-
phiene" was weeping behind the
stove, young man came in, writer
at the court, whom had met before.
He called for beer, which was served
to him by buxom matron, whose re-
semblance to Seraphiene left no doubt
that she was her mother. knew the
young man slightly, and asked how
he was, and If there was anything
new in the town.
Taking up his beer glass he came
to my table and sat down opposite
me.
.News!" he said. ST should think
there was! I thought I would shake
in the court to-day, and all on ac-
count of your precious Matey.''
my Matey!" said in astonish-
ment.
"Oh. well, the Matey where you
live. Barking Matey,' we call him
in the town.
What has he done now?" asked.
'Barked at the pfaner?"
Dear no! But he came as wit
ness to the court"
"a witness!"I said .'For whom?"
"That is exactly the point. For
whom"
I am afraid looked rather mysti-
fed. for the youth went on:
Listen - will tell you. Two
men, both Of them poachers, and
good-for-nothings, one butcher, the
other shoemaker. had row. One
of them declared the dog of the other
Gas ugly brute as ever you saw
had bitten him. As Matey was the
only witness, he was summoned to.
give his evidence before the court
Both men had declared under oath
their view of the matter and it only
remained for Matey to give his evil
dence.
t4The judgewas in histalar (gown)
and when Matey's name was called
he drew himself up to his full height
and looked as stern as he could.
I'm came Matey in his best clothes,
as solemn as death head, his white,
bleached-out hair standing straight
up on end. Oh, he was sight, tell
you!
tMatey Liska,' Matthew Fox),
said the judge in his most solemn
voice, you are called before this
court to give witness, to speak the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth. Do you understand
''Matey stood first on one leg, then
on the other. At last he said he un-
derstood. Lighting two candles, on
either side of the crucifix standing on
the table, the judge said solemnly:
"I will now administer the oath
to you. I warn you that should your
testimony prove false in any particu-
lar you are liable TO be imprisoned
for number of years, or days, as the
case may be, for perjury
I'VE all stood up. Both the men
had lawyers with them, SO we were
six. The judge recited the words,
and Matey repeated them, holding up
his three fingers, in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,
as the custom is, then we all sat
down to business.
Before I question you, Matey
I icHo caid fha 1Idua tT have a 0ueS-
ton to put Have either of these
men promised you money. or any
thing else, not to testify to the
TRUTH