A JUDGE WHO WENT BACK ON A SCHOOL-MATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1432, 3 May 1879, Page 23

A JUDGE WHO WENT BACK ON A SCHOOL-MATE.

Beverly Smith walked out of cell Tso. 6, with the greatest promptness ; and as ha ranged before the desk and smiled, he said : "Well, this is indeed a surprise. Why I hadn't the remotest idea of finding you here. Shake old fellow." His Honour wouldn't. • ' Don't you romeniber your old schoolmate,

Bey, Smith ? " inquired the prisoner. "Don't you remenber how we used to steal melons together — how we both went over the milldam in an old boat — ho"V we read novels under the lee side of hay-staoks ? " A strange light crept in Ma Honour's eyes as he replied : 11 Ah! I remember you now. So you are, Bey. Smith?"

" I am — I am. I thought you'd remember me. lam awful glad to see you, Judge. Are you well?" " Quite well, thank you." An awkward silence followed. Mr Smith heard the boys chuckling, and he at length said :

"Glad to hear it— yes— yes. I should like to call on you, and talk over old times." "Beverly Smith!" said the Court in a voice resembling the distant explosion of a coal cart, " You are about to call on the superintendent of the house of correction, there to remain for ninety long days." " What ! sentence an old companion ?" " All the same, Beverly— all the same. The friends of my childhood are few in number. They are falling down stairs, being drowned, blown up and run over, and I am goiog to put you where you will be safe from accident."

" Don't, Judge 1 " " But I will ! I prize you, Beverly. When night comes I want to know that you are in, out of the wet, and when morning dawns I want to feel that you are safe from the clutch of ice waggons. The sentence is recorded."

"Judge, I— l— don't think I ever knew you?" etammered Beverly, but there was a light in the window for him.