The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-12-21
THE OLD LADY WINS.

DR., Rrine. In The Journal Of Commerce.
We had been driving out some miles
in the afternoon. and, coming home in
the twilight. passed 8 substantial-look.
ing though old farm house, with COM
Portable barns and ont buildings indica-
ting . well-to-do householder. The rich
bottom lands which stretched away a
half mile from the river to the hill
slopes, covered with abundant birch and
maple. were luxuriant with grain and
corn.
That evening, when we we're sitting
in the library, after dinner, smoking
and chatting, asked the Judge: 10
whom does that farm we passed on the
level belong7"
The Judge is not aud never was on
the bench. Yet long as I had known
him. and that was a long time, he had
been called the Judge" by all the
country people, because it was an estab.
iished fact of ancient date that he de-
cided most of the disputes and differ
ences, commercial and social which arose
in that part Of the country. 1t is fire.
quently the case, as here, that one man
IN a scattered community is the rccog.
nizsd advisor to whom people can 60.
My old friend had inherited this posi-
ton from his father, who had been to a
former generation wuat the son now was
9 his neighbors. They came to him on
all occasions when they needed counsel,
ind he did the work of a hslf dozen law
fortably and leave property, unless his
will and deed had. been drawn
ny "Judge--." He had the per
iect confidence of all. Liv-
lng from youth up among them,
known to be a man of extended educa-
ton, whose life was passed in study, but
xho was also a practical farmer of great
skill and success, having large property,
and always giving his advice and SER
vices as q matter of friendship and
%noighborly kindness and not for fee or
reward, his position was n of COM
handing influence. His influence wa
commanding, too, for the reason that he
almost never e1erted it. He took no
prominent part in politics, but in the
old times, before the war, there were
ut least 200 voters in the town, and
raany more in the country, who could
give no other reason for their votes
than this, that they voted as the Judge
voted.
/ have said that he drew the wills for
people who had property. This was no
small generosity. tor it involved much
time and often great Inconvenience.
But the Jurge was an essential part of
he social structure in that town, and
quietly performed what he regarded as
the duty and pleasure OF his position.
When i asked rim who was the own
er If that firm he laughed outright and
after o moments pause, said: 81 will
tell you a story"
Zone stormy winter night, after mid
night, l was sitting here reading, the
rest of the family having gone to sleep,
when old DR.. Strong numbered at the
~door-knocker, and l.aIe noise enough
TO wake the Seven Sleepers. 1t ia a way
he HIS. and neither my wife northe girls
were aroused out of slumber. nor my
self, had any question whatever who was
ut the door. 4 let him in myself. and a
tempest Of wind and snow with hiuA.
The blast that drove him into my arms
a!so put out the hall lights, whirled into
the library and flared the reading lamp
SO that it broke the chimney and hlazad
up to q cclored tissve paper affair which
Susie had put over the shade, set it OH
tire and for a moment threatened n
general conflagration of papers and
books Oh the table Shut the door your
self, / shouted, and rushed back here
to put out the fire. That done I went
hack and found the old doctor out of
door against the wind. 1t toox the
strength OF both of us to do it. Then I
told him to find his way to the library,
for he knew it, and / went of in search
of another lamp.
when | came back he was Just re-
covering his wind, and alter a gasp or
two told ME his errana. ODD Mrs. Nor
ton is dying. She can't live till morn.
ing. She's alive 10Y only on slimulants,
She wants to make q Will and 1 have
come for YOU
"a nice night,"I said, "for a two
mile drive, to make a will for a woman
who hasn't q cent in the world to leave.
Why didn't you tell her so and have
done with it?''
"Now, look here" said the doctor.
s.tllis is the ease ofan old woman and
old neighbor and a friend, and she wants
to do something for her, and you'll
do it. If it's only to comfort her last
hours. Get your things and come with
me. We shall not find her alive il you
don't hurry, and you'll be sorry if that
happens"
he upshot Of il was that I went,
We had y fearful drive out to the farm
house on the fat, which you are asking
about. Mrs. Norton was tho widow Of
John Norton who had died forty odd
years before this. John Norton, when
he married her, was a widower, with one
son, John. He was a nan of consider
ahle property. and when he died lett u
widow, that son John BY his first wife.
and two sons by his second wife. The
elder son, John, had never been on
very warn terms with his stepmother,
and for some wears had no intercourse
with the family.
i found the old lady lying in the big
room, on a great bedstead on one side
OF the room, opposite to a broad Chin
iey, in which was d roaring fire, the only
light in the room After the doctor had
spoken to her and administered some
thing, q stinulant l suppose, he came
ever to me and said in q whisper: 'Hur.
ry ur;a she's very weak
II had brought paper and pen and
ink with me. | found a stand and u
candle, placed them at the head of the
bed, aud after saying q few words to
her, told her I was ready to prepare the
bill, If she would now 60 on and tell me
what she wanted to do. / wrote the in
troductory phrase rapidly. and leaning
over toward her said: Now go on, Mrs
Norton Her voice was aui e faint, and
she seemed to speak with an effort. She
-aii: First OF all I want to give the
farm to my sons Harry and James; jus,
put that down. But sail I, you can,
do that, Mrs. Norton; the farm ism,
10 give away
1.-The farm isn't mine?' she said in a
voice decide lily stronger than bet.re
"tNo, the farm isn't yours. You and
yours have only a lifa interest in it,
This farm that I've ran for goin' on
forty-three year next spring isn't min.
to do what 1 please with it! Why not.
Judge? I'D like to know what you
mean??"
.tWhy Mrs Norton.your husband. gay,
you a life estate in all his property, and
IN Your death the farm GOES Z, his Sol