Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-10-12
now TnE OLD LADY REAT InmN.

We hal hcrn driving out some miles
IN the afternoon. aud. coming home in
The twilight. passed substantial look
ing. though very old. farmhouse. with
comfortable barns and out-buillings
Indicating wcll-to-do hou.cbol,lcr
The rich bottom lands which stretched
away n half mile from the river to the
bill slopes covered with abundant
birch and maple were luxuriant with
grain and corn
That evening when we were sitting
IN the library. after dinner. smoking
rud chatting. I asked the judge: 80
whom doc~ that fern we pa,scl on the
level bClungP''
The Judge IL not and never was On
The bench Yet long ~ | had known
him. and that was long time. he had
been called Judge hy all tho country
people. because il was an established
fact of ancient date that he decided most
at the disputes and differences. CONNER
cial and social. which arose in that part
oi the country. II is frequently the
case, rs here. that one man in n scat
tered community j. the recognized adj
WISER Ia whom people can go. NV old
TREND Ind inherited this position from
his father, who had been to n former
generation what the son now was to his
ncighbors. They came tp him ON all
occasions when they needed coun-
sci. aud he did the work of half
dozen lawyers. No one had
dicd or could die comfortably
and leave property. unless his
VIII had been drawn by Judge -."
lie had the perfect confidence of all.
Living from youth up among them,
known To be u man of extended cduca-
tion' whose life was passed in study.
hut who was also II practical farmer of
great skill and succrss. having large
property, and always giving his advice
AMI service rs n matter Of friendship
md ncighborly kindncss. and not for
lee or reward, his position was one of
commanding influence. Ills influence
was commanding too for the reason that
he almost never CNcrt"d il. lie took no
prominent part i'm politics. but in the old
times, before the war, there were at
least two hundred voters in the town.
anu many moro in the country. who
could give no other reason for their
votes than this, that they voted rs the
Judge voted.
have said that he drew the wills far
people who had property. This was no
small generosity, for il involved much
time AMI often great Inconvenience.
But the judge was an essential part Of
the social structure i'm that town. and
quietly performed what be regarded
rs the duty and pleasure Of his posi-
ton.
When asked him who was inc owpcr
OF that farm he laughed outright. anil
after moments pause sad: - will
tell YOU story
''Onc stormy winter night. after mid
night | was sitting here reading. the
rcst OF the family having gone Co slcep
long before, when old DIR. strong thun-
derod ut the dour-knuckcr. and made
noise enough to wake the Seven Slccp-
crs. 10 - n way he has; and neither my
wife nor the girls, who were reused out
of sluubcr. nor | myself had any
question who was at the door. lctbim
IN myself, aud tempest Of wind and
SNOW with him. The blast that drove
him into my arms also put out the hall
lights, whirlcd into the library and
Haired the reading lamp so that IL broke
thc clhmnry anil hlnzrd up tO n colorrd
tlSsuc-papcr affair which Susie had nut
over The shade. set IL ON fire. and for "A
mumcnt threatened general Cuuflarra-
tlpn ot papers and books ON the table.
shut the door yourself. | shouted. and
rushvu mack herr to Put out the fire
mat done, i went hack and found the
old doctor out Of breath. i'm the dark.
trying To shut the door against the wind.
IL took the strength 1T both nf US to do
". Then told him to find his way to
the library. for he knew IL. and went
oil In search If another lamp.
when | came back be- was inst rc
covering his wind, and after n gasp or
two told mo his crrand Old Mrs
Norton Is dying. She can't live till
morning. she's alive now only ON
stimulan:s. She wants To make n will
and have como for YOU
- A nice night I said. for two
mile drive, tO make u will for woman
who hasn't cent IN the world To leave.
Why didn't YOU tell her so and have
done with it,
Now look here said the doctor.
this j. n case Of an old woman and old
ncighbor and friend and she wants YOU
to do something for her. and you'll do
II, VI its only tn comfort her last hours.
Get your things and come with me. We
shall not find her alive il Won don't
hurry, and you'll be- sorry If that hap
pens.
" The upshot Of il was that went.
We had fearful drive out to the farm
house ON the Hat, which you are asking
about Mrs. Norton was the widow IL
John Norton. who had died forty odd
years before this. John Norton. when
he married her. was n widowcr with
one SON John. He was man If CON
siderable property. and when he died
left widow, that son John by his first
wife. and two sons NV his second wife.
The elder son John had never been on
very warm terms with his step-mother.
and for some years had had no inter-
course with the family.
IL found the old lady lying in the big
room, on a great tedstcad on one side
of the room, opposite To- the broad
chimney in which was n roaring fire.
the only light in the room. After the
doctor had spoken to her and admin
iStercd something. stmulant | sup
pose, he came over to me and said
In whisper; 'Hurry up; she's very
weak
IL had brought paper and pen and
ink with me. i found n stand and
candle, placed them at the head of the
he'd. and after saying a few words to
her told her was ready TO prepare the
will. II she would now go on and tell
me what she wanted TO do. | wrote
the Introductory phrase rapidly. and
leaning over toward her said: Now,
go on, Mrs. Nortsn.' Her voice was
quite faint, and she seemed to speak
with an effort. She said; First OF all,
want 10 give the farm 10 my sons
Henry and James; just put that down
But said /. you can't do that. Mrs.
Merton; the farm isn't yours TO give
away
1.-THE farm isn't mine she said,
In voice decidedly stronger than be-
fore.
No, the farm isn't yours. You
have only life interest In IT,
This farm that I've run for goin'