Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-11

|
/ had not long returned to the hotel, when
| was waited upon by Mr.. Wilford, senior,
the father of the young man who had been
forbidden to visit Dale Farm by Thorndyke.
His son, he informed me, was i'll from chagrin
and anxiety-contined TO his bed indeed ); and
Mary Woodley had refused it seemed, to ac-
cept pecuniary aid from either the father or
the son Would endeayor to terminate the
estrangement which had for some time unhap-
PLY existed, and persuade her to accept his,
Wilford seniors freely offered purse and servi-
cesl instantly accepted both the mission
and the large sum which the excellent man
rendered. A part of the money | gave Barnes
to stimulate his exertions, and the rest plac-
ed in the hand of Mary Woodley's grandpapa
with friendly admonitiou to him not to allow
his grandchid to make fool of herself, an
exhortatiOn which produced its effect in due
season.
| Summer passed away autumn had come
and gone, and the winter assizes were once
more upon US. Regular proceedings had been
taken, and the action in ejectment of Wood
ley rerSuS Thorndyke was once more on the
cause list of the Chester circuit court marked
this time as a special jury case Indefatiga-
bile as Mr. Barnes had been in his search for
Elizabeth Wareing, not the slightest trace of
her could he discover and | went into court,
therefore, with but slight expectation of in
validating the, as | fully believed, fictitious
will. We had, however, obtained good deal
OF information relative to the former history
not only of the absent Mrs. Wareing, but OF
Thorndyke himself and it was quite within
/ the range probabilities that something might
come out enabling me to use that knowledge
to good purpose. The plaintiff and old Mr.
Ward were seated in court beside Mr. Barnes,
as on the former abortve trial but Mary
Woodley had, fortunately for herself, lost much
of the interest which attaches to female come
illness and grace when associated in the mind
| of the spectator with undeserved calamity and
sorrow. The black dress which she still wore
! the orthodox twelve months Of mourning
/ for parent had not yet quite elapsed-was
now fresh and of fine quality, and the pale
lilies of her face were interspersed with deli
cate roses whilst by her side sat Mr.. John
WilfOrd as happy-looking as if no such things
as perurers, forgers or adverse verdicts exist
I ed, to disturb the peace of the glad world
Altogether, we were decidedly less interesting
than Oh the former occasion. Edward Ware
/ ing, l must not omit TO add, was, greatly to
our surprise, present. He sat, in great appa-
rent amity, by the side Of Tnorndyke.
1t was late in the afternoon. and twilight
was gradually stealing over the dingy court,
when the case was called. The special jury
answered to their names, were duly sworn, and
then nearly the same preliminary speeches and
admissions were made and put in as on the
/ previous occasion. Thomas Headey, the first
witness called in support of the pretended will =,
underwent vigorous cross-eXaminaton but
| was unable to exact anything of Importance
from him.
And now," said the defendants leading
counsel, let me ask my learned friend if he
/ has succeeded in obtaining the attendance Of
Elizabeth WarcIng?"
| was Of course obliged to confess that We
had been unable to find her and the Judge
remarked in that case he could receive secon-
Diary evidence in proof of her attestation of the
! will
A whispered but manifestly eager conference
here took place between the defendant and his
counsel, occasionally joined in by Edward
Wareing. There appeared to be an indecision
or hesitation in their deliberat o is but at
last Mr.. P rose, and with some ostenta-
tion Of manner addressed the court
In the discharge of my duty to the defen-
dant in this action, my lord, upon whose fair
fame much undeserved obloquy has been cast
by the speeches of the plaintiffs counsel
speeches unsupported by a shadow of evidence
ii have to state that, anxious above all
things to stand perfectly justified before his
neighbors and society, he has, at great trou
ble and expense, obtained the presence here
to-day of the witness Elizabeth Wareing She
| had gone to reside in France with a reSpecta-
BILE English family in the situation of house
keeper. We shall now place her in the wit
nesS-boy, and having done So l trust we shall
hear no more of the slanderous imputations so
freely lavished upon my client. Call Elizabeth
Wareing into court"
A movement of surprise and curiosity agi-
tated the entire auditory at this announce
ment Mr.. Silas Thorndyke's naturally cada-
yerous countenance assumed an ashy hue, in
| spite OF his efforts to appear easy and iubilant
and for the first time since the commencement
of the proceedings, | entertained hope of
successful issue.
Mrs. Wareing appeared in answer to the call
and was duly sworn to tell the truth the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth
She was a good-looking woman, of perhaps
forty years of age, and bore striking resem-
blance TO her son. She rapidly, smoothly, and
unhesitatingly confirmed the evidencsgof Head
ley to a little. She trembled, observed, cx-
cessively and on the examining counsel init
mating that he had no more questions to ask,
turned hastily to leave the box
Stay-stay, my good woman" I exclainl-
ed you and | must have some talk tegetll.
er before we part"
She started and looked back at me with
frightful earnestness and then her nervous
glances stole towards Mr.. Sas Thorndvke
There was no comfort therein his counter
ance she only saw the reflex of his agitation
and anxiety which marked her own Sleek
Silas | could see, repented of the rash move
he had made, and wonld have given a great