Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1893 — A JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. [ARTICLE]

A JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON.

“Hugh, conic here,’’ called Mr. Alfred j Nevalls. the active partner of Nevalls, t Son & Co., forwarders, from his private | office. The bookkeeper left his desk in the middle of the room and stood silent before his master. “Close the door aud sit down.'' Hugh obeyed quietly, demurely, as lie did everything else, as undisturbed and as imperturbable us the belfry is to the clangor of the bell. -■ “Soph—that is Mrs. Xevalls- has returned from Armway and is now visiting her mother. Mrs. Tracer,” began Mia Nevalls. k “.flrirry to hear that, Sir." " “And she lias little Mfii'y with her.” Mr. Nevalls looked fiercely at his retainer as if expecting a response, and Hugh replied : “Sorry again, Sir.” “Yes, and by the Lord 1 won’t stand j it. My—that is, Mrs. Nevalls has broken her word, or at least our understanding; while I have been true to every undertaking. What did she mean by saying that she would take the house ut Armway and educate the child if she didn't intend to stay there? She knew full well that, separation or no separtion, I would never submit my little girl to the, dominion of that old harridan. And yet she is back here in a month's time. “I suppose, as it always was, it’s ‘mother.’ She has ruined two lives, but she shan’t ruin the third! I tell you, Hugh, I won’t staud it; by Jove, I won’t stand it!” and Mr. Nevalls, ns if to exemplify this determination, began to pace up and down the floor. “You must get little Mary for me,” he continued. “I am her uatural guardian. The law gives me-the right, and now Sophia’s—l mean Mrs. Nevalls’—own act makes it a duty. You must get her, and trust me, I’ll keep her.” “Yes, sir,” said Hugh, and he arose as if be had beeu asked to fetch a file of paper. “Wait a moment. Don’t be so abrupt. Can’t you see I’m nervous? You won’t do anything to shock Sophia. She has such a tender, sensitivenature.” “Oh! no, indeed, sir.”

“And will you need any money?” “I will lot you know this afternoon, when I have reconnoitred and found out how old and ugly the maid is.” “Well, take your time and method, Hugh. I trust you. But look out for that old warrior if you value your eyes and hair.” “Can’t spare them, sir, even to oblige a lady.” And silently, furtively, Hugh passed into his office, and thence out of the warehouse, leaving word with the boy at the door that he was going to a funeral, and would not he back before night if he had to drive to the eeme tery. And Alfred Ne vails swung around in his chair and clutched the topmost letter as if it were a drowning man's straw. But to no avail. He could not work. Who can, indeed, when self cries out for justification? The black letters lost their form and meaning and assumed delightful shapes of a fascinating young woman, of a charming little girl.' Delightful, yet exasperating for these pictures seemed to say: “We are yours; why don’t you claim us and hold us?’ Only a coward would abandon those so weak and trustful.” What afoot I’ve always been!” thought Alfred. “And what’s worse, how foolish my present course will some day surely seem. From idiotic infancy I have passed through a driveling youth into asinine manhood, and there I stick. What a muddle I’ve made of life, or rather what a muddle life is! The more liappiuess one stores, the quicker it spoils. And yet, when I returned from college and father took me into business, and Sophie smiled, ns she always had smiled since we were little children together, and even that old vixen did’t show her teeth except to grin, why, earth seemed an Eden.” Meanwhile the faithful Hugh was meditating after his nature, as he proceeded on his mission. “People that play with fire are apt to jump and suck their fingers,” lie mused. “Matrimonial quarrels are so romantic on the stage ana so easily settled; but it is real life, with a red-faced ranger to fan ’em, the prairie flowers are quickly swept away and nothing left but black, baked soil. Well, let them go it.” Hugh turned into a side street and Mopped before a mean looking shop, whose windows bore the proud insignia Wf Lombardy and displayed a motley

collection of diamonds, harmonicas, revolvers, watches, flutes, and razors. When he came out a few minutes later his derby hat had been replaced by a broad-brim, and his demure black frock coat by a velveteen shooting jacket, lie gave his drooping mustache an upward twist and grinned inanely, and looked far more like a German tenor out of a job than the confidential clerk of a reputable forwarding house. It wits a fall day, sunshiny, brilliant, with a zest to the air like the tingle of wine. Hugh took a car to the park and then strolled across toward Sammis street, in which the Tracey mansion was situated. There were but few pedestrians abroad, here and there a maid trundling her charge or watching 'its play from one of the benches; but Hugh saw no fluttering gleam of little Mary’s golden curls. He reached a clump of evergreens from which he could espy the house where she was held. To the left was a grove, and beyond this a terrace, at the foot of which ran the street through which he had arrived. On the upper and lower sides of the grove were broad fields, on which the school children were permitted to play croquet and tennis. But now these were deserted. Indeed, if the park was lonely mornings, this was its loneliest part; hardly a sound, hardly a motion, save the crackle of a falling twig or the lazy curl of smoke from great piles of burning leaves. Hugh found an obscure scat,and drawing his hat over his eyes thrust his hands into his breeches pockets, outstretched his long legs, seeming to sleep, narrowly watched.

Presently a flaxen-haired, robust maid was busied with the ice at the Tracey's basement entry, and then Hugh awoke. AVhat more natural than that a poor German exile should dare approach and accost a woman of his race ? What more natural than that a blue-eyed Madchen should chatter at the joyful sound of her mother tongue ? Oh, yes, she was more Ilian busy. She could not linger with the much-to-he-commiserated respectable stranger. Her mistress was a housewife with the eye of a lynx, and her mistress’s daughter had arrived to visit and was quite ill, arid she must attend on her and the little girl, besides the many duties of the ordinary day. A pleasant hour for a stroll with the child? Indeed it was, and more the pity. Her mistress would not let her grandhild out of her sight; did she fear that she might harm one so innocent? And the Madeheu shrugged her plump shoulders and hurried into the house ns the whistle resounded and a shrill voice strained the tube.

So Hugh, by a circuitous route, returned to his eyrie and waited, feeling rather discouraged. But by and bv the door of the Tracey mansion opened and slammed, and a short, stout, red-faced woman, who looked angry with herself since there was no other suitable antagonist present, camcdown the steps, tightly grasping a child by the hand. A dainty little girl, with long golden hair and happy eyes that danced impatient to the restraint of her grandmother’s stride. She marched up the sheet as if to a basShe wheeled at the corner and entered (lie park by that very path near which Hugh lay in ambush, and little Mary skipped blithely by liet’ side like a Cupid attending one of the Fates. “Deuoe take it,” muttered Hugh. “I never shall have fv b-iter chance. There's not a soul in sight. But what cun l do? I cuu’c loosen th' so breadhooks short of a girrotiug.” lie withdrew the closer among the evergreens as the pair approached, and lookid about him in desperation. The lazy curl of the smoke caught his eye and suggested a wicked design. But thire was success in it, for saint or shrew, vie ini or vixen, would surely bo affected alike by such a peril. Ho deftly wove a wi-p of leaves, twigs and gr sc He lighted it. He crept behind the matron aud dropptd it on her trailing woolen skirt. In an instant ho wus by ber sidewith hands upraised and alarmprotruding eyes. “Beg pardon, • Ma’am,” he shouted, “but your dross is all ablaze.” Now i: there was one thing— pe'sons were out of the running—that the Widow Tra'-ey soared it was fire. There was a d notness about it which she could appreciate. Her lecture on lamps, which she delivered whenever a new servant was engaged, and consequently very often, would have been a potent adver-ti-ing m dium for an electric light company. And so, as she looked behind her ui d saw the smudge, she lost her head aim found her feet at the same moment. Without a thought of the child, she sped j across the luwn toward her home, surprising the air with singular screams. Hugh stamped on the wisp, which he had adroitly kicked from the skirt, and then, raising the terrified little girl in his arms, disappeared through the windings of the grove. A moment later they were seated in a down-town ear, little Mary contentedly munching her orange and Hugh holding her hand as carefully, if not as agiessivelv, us her grandmother had.

“You are glad to go and see your papa?” said he. “Yes, and my mamma, too.” “And you love your papa?” “Oh, yes; and my dear mamma.” Hugh thought for a moment. It was touching to hear this child speak so confidingly of parents who had separated. Their bickerings had not affected her instinct at least; perhaps its purity might bind what they had loosed. “That’s right, little one,” he said, “always speak of your father and mother as if they were united in all things as they are in your love. ” Little Mary looked at him inquiringly as if she but half comprehended. “I love my papa and mamma, bofe of dem together,” she stoutly reiterated. Poor Widow Tracey ran and screamed and smelled smoke and felt hot until she reached the street. Then as she could not help from perceiving that the passers by were not a whit alarmed for her safety, but rather for their own,shunning her as one of unsound mind, she gradu ally appreciated that her blood was responsible for the heat and the bonfires for the smoke, and then she suddenly recalled little Mary. Back to the park she sped, screaming anew, and more surprisingly, and those who hail only suspected were now sure of her mania. Back to the very sjiot, where the offending wisp still smoldered, but no signs of the child, no signs of him who had so bnsely deceived her. Unharmed, yet scorched by the fires of indignation, Mrs. Tracey at length returned to her home. She entered her daughter's room in a whirl of volubility. “He s done it,” she cried. “The wretch, the villain. He’s stolen the child; we are ruined, undone. I’ll have the law on him if I live. Oh, how I hate him, with his smug German spies. I’ll arrest that one for arson, for breach of the peace, for—for kidnapping, Sophia, what ails you? Why aren’t you excited? Why don’t you faint?” But Sophie only settled back on the pillows and smiled. “My little girl is 9«fe with her father,"

she said, “I—l only wish she had on a prettier dress.” “Ob, you 1” screamed the widow. “I know yon. You are as weak as your father was. But I’ll strengthen you as I used to strengthen him. I’ll send for my lawyer. We’ll see whether Justice is the woman they figure her to he. I’ll send for little Mr. Pbibbs. And oh, my dear child, he firm. Remember your wrongs; try to be lake me.” But Sophia only smiled, and was silent. Little Mr. Phibbs came, and the next day Alfred Nevalls was served with a writ of habeas corpus requiring him to have the body of one Mary Nevalls, an infant, by him alleged to be unlawfully detained, together with the cause of her detention, before the Hon. Samuel Badger, Justice of the Supreme Court, at his chambers on the following Saturday. When this was served by Phibbs, Jr., who exhibited the County Clerk’s seal and the indorsement of the Judge on the original with the air of a veteran, Hugh whistled and murmured, “I thought so,” aud Mr. Nevalls swore. A moment later and he despatched his clerk in hot haste in quest of his attorney, the vigorous Abel Burgess. Saturday morning, bright and early, the Widow Tracey occupied Judge Badger’s front office. Little Mr. Phibbs, smiling and sparkling, was in her train, and so was Sophia, silent, distrait, with heaving bosom and twitching lips. The widow sniffed curiously at the unopened letters on the desk,‘and regarded the black and red labelled law books with suspicion and disdain. As why should she not who was a law unto herself? Sophia sighed. And little Mr. Phibbs twirled his glasses, consulted his watch, and mentally calculated a bill of costs. Little Mary arrived in charge of a stalwart nurse, backed by the faithful Hugh, and then there was commotion. The widow sobbed and raised her hands in eloquent appeal. She threw herself on her knees before the child and strained her to her breast. And the stalwart nurse said “Humph,” which meant a great deal more, and Hugh unconsciously twisted his moustaches into similarity with the German tenor’s. But little Mary stretched out her arras to her mother, who quietly crossed the room and took her on her lap, nor did the guardian twain offer any opposition. The widow, beiug thus relieved, turned her attention to her male foe whom she recognized, despite his sedate attire.. In piercing tones she denounced him as a spy, an assassin, a petroleuse—this latter confidently with contempt of gender. She dared him to deny his villainy, which he made no attempt to do, and demanded of the two court officers in waiting his instant seizure and immurement. As these two representatives of the dormant side of the law were political associates of Hugh’s, and lived in the same ward, they merely grinned aud occasionally commanded silence. Air. Justice Badger entered from his private office, and bowing stiffly, seated himself at his desk, and began to fuss with his papers. Prcsenly Alfred Nevalls, in company with Abel Burgess, Esq., and a great armful of legal tomes, entered. Alfred saluted his wife gravely and seated himself on the opposite side of the rco:n. And poor Sophia bent her head and kissed little Alary’s cheek. Abel Burgess arose and hitched liis coat collar. “May it please your Honor,” he said, “we waive certain objections to the sufficiency of the petition and to the form of the writ. We produce here with the child and file our return alleging that we are her lawful guardian aud entitled to her custody.” “We traverse that return, your Honor,” replied little Air. Phibbs briskly. “And shall show that the defendant is. an improper and dangerous person for such a charge, by reason of dissolute habits, atheistic views, and violent temper.” “Good, good,” cried the widow, but Sophia looked toward her husband with tear-filled eyes us if protesting, “I don’t believe him.” 1 Then you must take the affirmative,” growled Abel Burgess. “Softly, my friend; we shall see about that,” breathed little Air. Phibbs. And hammer and tongs, gently and insinuatingly the twain argued and reargued, the one citing unanswerable cases, the other quoting indisputable statutes. Finally Air. Justice Badger, who had sat like one in a reverie with his eyes fixed on little Alary, raised bis baud and the discussion' ceased.

“An application of this nature,” he said, “appeals to tho equitable side of the court. There is but one view to be considered, and that is the welfare of this interesting little girl. To insure this, I can deliver her into the care of her father, of her mother, or of any third person,” (there Sophia sobbed,) “but before entering upon an investigation which seems likely to be acrimonious, and to deepen unhappy differences, I wish to hear from the one who, after all, has the most at stake. Come to me, little one, won’t you? don’t be afraid.” Little Mary slid from her mother’s lap, and climbed quite courageously on the judge’s knee. “Tell me how old you are, my dear?” “Nearly tlieven, Sir.” “And no you love your papa?” “My papa and my dear mamma.” “And would you like to stay always with your papa and have him take care of you?” “With my papa and my dear mamma. I want bofe of dem together.” Sophia’s head was bowed; her tears were dropping •on her distracted bosom. Alfred crossed the room and stood by his wife's side. “Oh, why did you leave mt?” he whispered, “and why did you return? You knew it would make me angry.” “I—l hoped it would; for then I would surely see you.” “There, there,” said Judge Badger quite fiercely, as he tucked his bandanna away in his coat-tail pocket. “Enough of this. I’ll adjourn the hearing indefinitely and consign this sweet little child to the care of her parents. ‘Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder,’ nor any old woman, either,” nnd he glanced vindictively toward the baffled ranger.—[New York Times.