Butte record., 1854-02-18


time or other, if he ever was, because he
was sworn officer > another asked the
Squire what he'd give to have him
catched? p but no constable appeared; he
had put himself out Of the way to escape
the storm.
A long silence followed this outburst !;
not word was said, and scarcely noise
heard. Every one was eagerly looking
at the Squire for his next movement
Ike kept his eyes on the floor, apparently
in a deep study. At last he arose.
Squire, said he, we've been under
something of press of steam for the
last half 'our; [ move we adjourn fifteen
minutes for drink
'Done,' said the Squire and SO the
Court adjourned for second time.
1t was now nearly dark, when the
Court convened again The trial of the
cause, Filkins Us. Beadle was resumed.
Seth Bolles was called. Seth was
broad backed, double-isted fellow, with
a blazing red face, and he chewed tobac-
co continually He was about two-thirds
'over the bay and didn't care for all
the Filkinses or Beadles in the world.
Know Filkins and Beadle.' inquired
Ike.
Know 'em thunder yes.'
How long;'
Ever SIM the year one.'
Ever hear Beadle say anything about
Filllins :
Heard her say she thought she run'd
too much arter Elk Timberlake.'
ANY thing, Seth, about Filkins' char
acter 2
Now what do you 'spose know about
Filkins' character Much as | can do
to look arter my own wimmin'
But have you heard Beadle sag any
thing about Filkins' character ?
Heard her say once she was a good
enough-er-sort-a body when she was a.
mind-er-be'
ANY thing else ,
'Shan't answer hain't had my reg'lar
fees paid as witness
Squire Longbow informed Seth that
he must answer.
'Shan't do it, not so long as my name
is Bolls.'
The Squire said he would commit him.
'W-h-e-w.' drawled out Bolls, stoop-
ing down, and putting his arms a-kimbo,
as he gave the Squire long look straight
in the eye.
Order! order ? exclaimed the Squire.
'Whew whew whew uo-u0-Uo who's
afraid of Justice of the Peace ?
screamed Seth, jumping up about foot,
and squirting out a gill of tobacco juice,
as he struck the floor.
Seth fees were paid him, at last, and
the question was again put, if he heard
'Beadle say anything else ? and he said
lie merer did , and thus ended Seth's
testimony.
Miss Eunice Grimes was next called.
She came sailing forward and threw her.
self into the chair with kind of jerk.
She took few sidelong glances at Char
ity Beadle, which told, plainly enough,
that she meant to make finish of her
in about five minutes. She was vine
gar-faced old maid, and her head kept
bobbing, and her body kept hitching, and
now she pulled her bonnet this way, and
now that way She finally went out of
the fretting into the languishing mood,
and declared she should die if some body
didn't get her her a glass of water
When she became composed, Ike in
quired if she knew Charity Beadle p
Yes [ know her to be an orful crit
ter!'
What has she done;'
sWhat hain't she !? She's lied about
me, and about Elder Dobbin's folks, and
said how that when the singing-master
boarded at our house, she seed lights in
the sitting-room till past three-the orful
critter =
But what have you heard her say
about Philista Filkins ?
'Oh everything that's bad. She don't
never say anything that's good bout no.
body. She's alters talking. There amt
nobody in the settlement she hain't SLAM
dered. She even abused old Deacon
Snipes' horse-the orful critter .
But what did she say about Pdilista
FGlkins p repeated Ike again
What do you want me to say she said !?
hain't got any doubt she's called her
everything he could think on. Didn't
she, Filisty? 2
Philista nodded