The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 299: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 293 He went into the green room, and shortly returned again. The magistrate was talking very learnedly about the laws and penalties for infanticide, under various degrees, about which the innkeeper knew no more than a poker. “Tf it was a male child it was, of course, a clear case of manslaughter,” said the fussy, pompous old village magistrate. * And if it were a female child, sir,’’ said the inn- keeper, “it would have been——” ““ Womanslaughter,” said the constables, at once. * Silence,” said the magistrate, in an awful tone. How dare you interrupt me in my remarks. I tell you again that it must have been——” “‘ Nothing of the sort either one way.or the other,” said Morris, approaching the group, with a broad rin. “Sir !’* the red-faced magistrate observed, in anger. “T say it was not manslaughter,” said Morris, ‘coolly taking a seat, and sitting right before the astonished magistrate. “What do you mean, sir ?”’ “Mean? Why, I mean that I know more about these things than you do.” ‘More than I do?” “ Yes,” “Why, for two pins, I'd have you arrested and punished for contempt of court.” “You? You couldn’t ; you dare not.’ “ Dare not, sir? I’d have you know that I dare do anything.” “Then go hang yourself, if you like,” said Morris, laughing. ‘‘ But you must remember you are not now in court, and, therefore, there cannot be any contempt shown to it.” “ Humph !” said the magistrate, “you seem to bea sharp fellow if you are impudent.” “T tell you that no manslaughter has been done, and there’s anend of it. Do men, or women either ever wear shoes or caps of that diminutive size? You must be dreaming all of you.” “ This fellow seems to know much,” said the inn- keeper, to the constables, when the magistrate had gone into the next room. Bano I do not,” said Morris, who had overheard im, “Then how did you know I had rabbits killed in the house, and ready dressed? No one saw me kill them.”’ “ Nor I either ; but I know you had them,” *¢ The devil ! how 2?” “ Didn’t you hang the skins in the yard, stupid? That was quite enough to tell me all.” ‘* But who told you I had painted one of my bed- rooms green? The devil himself couldn’t have found that out without I told him,”’ “ But you see I am cleverer than the devil!” ‘*T think you are,” “Why, thickhead, didn’t you leave the window open to dry the paint, and couldn’t I then tell it had been recently done ?” “ The deuce !” “ Yes, it is the deuce, I think,’ said the magis- trate, returning into the room. ‘ Here, come this Way, criminal,” said he to a pretty pale female ; “ come this way, and let us have a good look at you,” ' ; The poor girl was weeping, and bent her head very ow. “ There, now, hold up your head, young woman, and let’s have no whimpering. We have discovered some of the child’s things, and are going to drag | the river for the body. You are taken into custody on suspicion of murder !” “ Hello! hello! hello !’’ said Morris, loudly. “ Well, what’s the matter? What have you got to say in this case?” «cc Me {? “ Yes you, Mr, Brazen-face, or whatever your name is,” “ T have nothing to say in the matter.” er Then why did you startle folks by holloaing for them ?” “ Why, because I just then saw a lot of pigs eating up the landlord’s radishes in the garden,” The landlord rushed out of the room ia great haste to disperse the pigs. “ Well, young woman, and what have you got to say to this serious charge preferred against you, eh ?” ‘‘ By jove, if there ain’t two thieves robbing a man in the public road,” said Morris, ‘Where ?” “ Which way?” said the constables, in great haste. “ Why, just turned the corner. Make haste, you’ll surely overtake them.” Off the constables went, and ran down the village in great haste in search of the imaginary thieves that Morris had seen. “ Very well done,” thought Morris. “I have got rid of the landlord and the constables for some short time, and let’s see what I can do with the pompous old magistrate. ‘What a beautiful lady I see yonder,” said Morris, “ quite young, and dressed in blue silk.” “ Blue silk,” said the magistrate, pricking up his ear; “why, that is the colour of my wife’s last new dress,” “T don’t know anything about that,” said Morris, coolly ; “but I perceive her standing under a tree and kissing a young officer.”’ ‘“ W-h-a-t !” gasped the old magistrate, jumping from his chair, ‘‘ Where did you see them?” “They have just turned down yonder lane,” said Morris, “You are sure it was blue silk you saw ?” ‘Yes, positive.” * And a young soldier with her?” “Yes, and a handsome fellow he is, too,” said Morris, grinning, and enjoying the old man’s mor- tification. “D—n that soldier!” said the magistrate. “It must be the very same; he is always hanging about my house,” With great haste the old magistrate rushed out of the house. walking-stick in hand, vowing to slay the gentleman who was supposed to be walking out with his wife. “ Excellent,” said Morris, ‘I have got rid of those foolish people very cleverly, I imagine ; and, now for the young lady.” tei: qs He approached the girl, and said, in winning tones, “Fear not, pretty one; I will befriend you. I know you are not guilty.” “Qh, thanks, thanks, kind sir, for such words of kindness,” said the trembling maid. “You are highly born, lady,” said Morris. “Nay, sir; if I were, my humble dress would be of richer material.” “That does not deceive me; your hands are too soft and white to be of plebian birth.” “What would you have me do, sir?” “ Explain to me what you have done.” “JT will. My sister was unfortunate, and had a ne CoOmicboooks.c©