Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-11-09

A murmur ran through the gallery,
evidently from the people taking sides
with the defendant, and against long
trains in general and the lady in par
ticular.
The Judge called to order, and asked !:
care you satisfied with the defendants
explanation ?"
NNot at all satisfied. I demand two
hundred rubles in payment for my torn
DRESS" ..
Defendant, will you pay this sum 2"
"I would have paid it long before
this had been in position to do so.
Unfortunately, am poor. My pay as
an officer is all I have to live on"
"You hear, complainant, that the de-
fendant is not able to pay the sum you
demand of him. Do you still wish the
complaint to standa"
An unbroken stiffness reigned
throughout the hall, and the young
officers breath could be heard coming
hard. -,
"I wish it to stand. The law shall
give me my rights"
There ran through the rows of people
a murmur of indignation that sounded
like rushing of water.
"Consider, complainant, the conse-
auences OF your demand. The defend
ant can be punished only through being
deprived of his personal lib; rty, and by
that you could obtain no satisfaction,
while to the defendant it might prove
the greatest injury in his rank and posi-
ton SIS an officer, and especially as he is
an officer who is poor and dependent
upon his pay. Do you still insist upon
your complaint 2"
"I still insist upon it.
The course the affair was taking
seemed to have become painful to the
lady's husband. He spoke with his
wife urgently. but, as could be seen by
the way she held up her head and the
energy with which she shook it. quite
uselessly. The judge was just going
on to further consideration of the case,
when loud voice was heard from the
audience {:
CT will place the two hundred rubles
at the service of the defeu 'ant."
There followed q silence, during
which q gentleman forced his way
through the crowd and placed himself
by the young officers side.
"Sir, am the Prince W., and beg
You will obIge me by accepting the
loan of the two hundred rubles in ques-
tion."
Prince, I am not worthy of your
kindness, for I don't know if l shall ever
be able to pay the loan" answered the
young man, in voice tremulous with
emotion.
"Take the money, at all events. !
ran W it until You are able to return 1t. y
Thereupon the prince held out two notes
of q hundred rubles each, and coming
close up to him, whispered few words
very softly. There was sudden light,
ing up of the officers face. He imme'
diatsly took the two notes, and, turning
toward the lady, handed them to hel
with polite bow.
81 hope, madam, you are satisfied. y
With malicious smile she reached
out her hand for the money.
eyes; now I am satisfied"
With scornful glance over the crowd
of spectators, she prepared to leave the
court-room on her husbands arm.
"Stop, madam" said the officer, who
had suddenly become like another man,
with firm and confident manner.
"What do you want 2"
The look that the young woman cast
upon him was as insulting as possible.
"I want my Dress" he answered,
with a slight but still perfectly polite
bow. -,
"Give me your address, and 1 will
send it to you"
ooh, no, my dear madam, am 10
the habit of taking my purchases with
me at once. Favor me with the dress
Immediately.
A shout IF appreciation came from the
gallery.
"Order I" cried the judge.
"What an insane demand!" said the
lady's husband. my wife cannot un
drf IS herself here"
CT have nothing to do with you, sir,
in this matter, but only with the com
plainant. Be so good, madam, as to
give mt the dress Immediately. am III
a great hurry; my affairs are urgent, and
cannot wait moment longer"
The pleasure of the audience at the
expense of the lady increased with every
word, until it was hard to enforce any
approach to quiet, so that either party
could be heard.
"Do not jest any more about it. ]
Will hurry, and send you the dress as
soon as possible"
"I am not jesting. I demand from
the representative of the law my owl
property-that Dress" said the officer,