El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-17
The Herald's
Daily Short Story
Out of the Mouths of Babes

|, honor, ar 1876 Polk street, in two rooms
on the third floor back. They passed
as man and wife and called themselves
Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt. They had the
child with them, and they told every
body that her name was Schmidt. but
she gave the plant away by sticking
to 1t her name was Krause-
I'VE had fierce time getting them.
y'r honor" proceeded Daily
mo doubt" interrupted the justice
dryly. and 1 have no doubt you &C.
quilted yourself with great glery. but
We'll take all that fcr granted. Where's
the man who identified this woman as
his wife,
Here. your HONOR said the prose
cutor. pushing forward short slender
man who had been partially hidden by
his own six feet two statue and cor
responding breadth of shoulders, ana
whose Teutonic face held so much OF
fierce anger that the sallow youth
crouched yet nearer to the big police
man.
Justice McSweeney bent kindly to the
man. but before he had time TO ques-
ton him a small whirlwind come be-
tween.
Papa. papa" shrieked childish
voice. as the little girl made a flyhg
stretched to receive her. "Oh. my own
papa. have you come TO take mama and
me homer
The arms of the father went around
the child with passionate fierceness-
Justice McSweeney leaned over his
desk.
do YOU identify this woman as your
wife?" he asked.
yah. your honor, dot ist mein frau,
and here in mein arms list mein KIND
mein little Celia. Mein frau took Co
liza 1 thought 1 would never see her
again."
He stopped and looked into the baby
girls eyes "Oh, my leibchen! he said
aga and again.
The child patted her fathers face.
and then stretching one arm toward
her mother, said cosxingly:
And now. papa. let's get mama and
go away from this naughty place.
The mans face hardened, and he drew
the child back to him.
Mama cannot come with Celia" he
| said 'She must stay here. fou come
with papa" He raised his eyes heavy
with shame and weeping to the judge
ct have mein kind?" he asked
Justice insolvency looked at the sal
/ low, snowy mother with her bold eyes
carefully averted from the sight OF the
child in the fathers arms.
Yes, It's bad case" he said SLOWLY.
you are entitled to your child The
mother evidently does not want her
A hand touched his arm. Look at
the child" nreathed Mrs. Sinclair
| Banks.
The little justice obeyed her injunc-
ton. The tiny Celia was straining
away from her father with all her
childish strength, one hand pushing
| gadnst his chest. the other clenched
| in a small fist which she shook at the
| Judge Fer face was quivertng with
| the unreasoning despotic passion OF
| childhood.
You are a liar and bad. bad man"
she shrieked. You say my mama does
| not want me- she always wants me. she
never goes anywhere without me and
! she always kisses me and hugs me up
tight every night before go to sleep
Funny thing about these cases
| the judges aside enabled him to grasp
| q second fer decision. THE worst Wo-
man who comes in here generally has
| a soft spot in her heart for her child.
| If she is to be saved at all, 1t is the
| kid that does il every time"
He beckoned to the mother. who step
ped toward him. looking at him def
antly.
Il ought to send you to Bridewell.'
| he said sternly. You do not deserve
| the love that child gives you. But
will give you a chance. If your hus-