Amnesiacs -- Fiction; New York (State) -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Trials -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
It was an unwritten law in the Bogarts' household that the affairs of
his judicial calling should never be mentioned to the Judge. He took
his cigar from his mouth and slowly turned his head; the hard old eyes,
the mouth set in two gray lines under the crisply trimmed mustache,
revealed the iron rigors of the human face set to the inexorable, for
it was through the inexorable power of decision that the Judge had
risen to his fame locally and abroad. These things suddenly confronted
with that most amazing audacity, that marvelous magnet, the unwitting
bold, clear-eyed face of woman-youth, softened perceptibly. The two
gray lines of lip moved slightly. Minga's little pink cheeks, curly
hair, her rosy dress, the little inconsequent hand on the Judge's knee,
these things had a flavor and power, the depth of which the girl could
not possibly guess. Yet Minga did most things very deliberately. Now
she naughtily twisted her mouth at Sard.
"Ah, come on now, Judgie," turning her quizzical head to one side.
"You can't have all the fun of jugging bad boys. After all, you only
represent the people--that's us--let us in on it!"
Dunstan, blowing smoke in the air, almost held his breath. Sard,
staring, put down her coffee cup. They both saw the queer gleam come
into the concentrated eyes. A big hand steely with golf came down
hard on Minga's indolent little fist. "Young lady!" said Judge Bogart,
slowly and decisively, "you ought to be spanked."
"Oh, brother," purred Miss Reely, "I don't think--it doesn't seem----"
Then to Minga, "Why, I am sure you didn't mean--why, George--I
don't think you ever said a thing like that. I feel that Minga was
only asking for information." Sard and Dunstan quivered with silent
laughter; but the Judge rose in quick displeasure. Minga passed her
hand slowly down his sleeve. "Ah, Judgie, dear," she pouted, "I didn't
mean anything. I didn't know that judges took the Hippocratic oath and
everything." One would have thought that there were tears of vexation
and embarrassment in the girl's voice, but she turned a naughty stare
on Dunstan. "Well, your father is a crab, a perfect crab!" Minga's tone
somehow had nothing that could be modernly recognized as rudeness. It
was merely spoiled privilege that made her snap her fingers decisively
and look revengefully at the retreating judicial back--perhaps Judge
Bogart felt what is true of the Mingas of this world, that they have
an amazing power of removing the solemn humbug of prestige from its
intrenchment and are therefore dangerous. The Judge heard the petulant,
"I'll get even with you," but he did not smile or turn the disapproving
back, so the little guest turned rather drearily to Miss Aurelia. This
sort of evening for Minga was incredibly dull; it must be enlivened in
some way. Stifling a yawn, not too cleverly, Minga remarked: "Dunstan
says maybe you'll tell us how Sard got her queer name."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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