Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-08-24

stockings, / forgot altogether the homeli-
ness of her apparel in the grace of her
movements, the exquisite contour of her
figure, and the beauty of her expressive
face, which was now mantling with
bushes. A small dog, apparently a self
constituted protector, barked at me flu.
riously as | advanced, hat in hand; for
intuitively l knew this must be my client.
My client it was. l lost no time in
explaining the object of my visit. She
was very much surprised; but after a
moments hesitation said, with dignity:
Come up to the house, please. l will
consult my aunt. Down, Tip-down,
SIR"
The dog ceased barking at this COM
mand, and trotted quietly ahead. l Of
fered to take the jar, but she declined
with the composure of a queen.
When she had introduced me to Mrs.
Benham and said, This gentleman,
aunt, has something very strange to
tell you, and l will leave you with him
for a moment" she disappeared, return
ing some quarter of an hour later dressed
IN a becoming suit of blue muslin and
with the daintiest of slippers on her
pretty feet. l had meantime produced
the will and given details of the manner
in which it was found.
Not to dwell too long on this prelude
to my story, l will say briefly that my
client and l started the next morning for
Kent, ard were met at the depot by
Bowles and his daughter, who relieved
me of my charge, while 1 went to my
boarding house for supper and thence to
my room.
Next day I filed the document in the
office Of the county clerk and gave no.
tice to Skaggs that on the following
Monday l should move that it be ad-
mitted to probate.
But here a new difficulty presented it
self. In our anxiety to find the claimant
we had utterly overlooked the attesting
witnesses.
l Immediately went to Bowles and
stated the difficulty.
"Ah!'' said he, "why have we not
thought Of this before2"
'Do you know these witnesses" said I.
Eyes, l know them. Tom Jones lived
as a tenant on the old mans farm at the
time of his death. He now lives about
ten miles out on the Lancaster road.
<tllu, to dS L LII d 5lllltI, SQulle,
this other witness is dead. William
Jackson9 Yes-I remember him. He
moved to Texas and died a year ago."
Then it's all up. We can't get along
without both witnesses. Are you sure
that Jackson is dead?'
Il am certain sure. He has a brother
living in this town who received a letter
from the family in Texas at the time Of
his death. There is no doubt about it"
''Then we may as well drop the mat
ter at once. The law of this state re-
quires the evidence Of two witnesses, and
makes nc provision for the death of one"
at does look rather ugly, if that's the
case" said Bowles. ''But let's make a
fight of it--something may turn UP in
our favor"
My fears proved correct, however. We
made a gallant struggle, but it was in
vain. My speech, l was told afterwards,
was %applauded privately by the judge,
though in his official capacity he felt
compelled to decide against me. I re-
member that I spoke from a full heart
of the injustice of refusing to receive a
will which everybody knew to be that OF
Morgan merely because n of the wit.
nesses died.
"It is the law we are called on to adj
minister here" said the judge from the
bench, mot what you or l may think,
Mr.. Attorney, is equity. And you know
as well as l do, for you are a good law
yer. that it takes wv witnesses to prove
a will"
But the case was not without its bene
fit to me professionally. My speech hat
made an impression on the public, anC
business now began to pour in.
My fair client still remained at my
friend Bowles'. My eldest daughter
has come to love her as a sister" h,
said. Bessie, as you must have seen
is unusually intelligent. She had re
ceived quite a good education, too, be
fore old Mr.. Morgan died. The cheer
full manner in which she bore her subse
quent poverty is, as Mr.. Benham says,
proof of an unusually noble character
Now, we have invented an excuse tina
we want a nursery governess, for she i
too proud to stay as a mere pensioner
and her aunt has consented to the ar
rangement, saying that it is a sin to bur.
Bessie among the hills"
Almost every week / dropped in for al
hour or SO of an evening at the Bowles'
and as l became better acquainted wit
: Bessie l more than endorsed my oil
friends encomiums. In short. l was a
, much charmed with her attractions q
mind and manner as / had peer at frs
by her sylvan grace and beauty. Yer
Don / found myself in love; and whe
some six months later l told her of il
l was overjoyed to hear her confess tha
my passion was returned.
was now the happiest man in tn
county. Out of my defeat had come tn
elements Of success. By it l had won
reputation and a love-oh, the pures'
: the sweetest, the best! l pictured I
: myself a home, humble and poor, but
y bright and coy, the abode OF content an
happiness.
S One day in the following summer
was in the clerks Office searching SON
l old records, when ! came upon a pae
g that almost took my breath away. AftC
y reading 1t carefully l closed the book an
q returned to my office.
. The next day Simon Skaggs was serve
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