Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-07
oordingly she walked roand, mounted the

in order that he might examine vat wa
written on it. This he did very carefully
with the aid OF a magnifying-glass, re
ferring now and again TO the photograph
copy which Doctor Probate had fled in tn
registry.
Thank you," he said, presently; "ths
will do. l am afraid that the learnet
counsel below will wish TO have an oppor
tunity OF inspection"
So Augusta had to descend, and slowly
walk along the ranks, stopping before
every learned render TO be carefully ex
amined, while hundreds of ea1er eyes In
the background were fixed upon her un.
fortunate shoulders. However, ut last il
came to an end.
"That will do, Miss Smithers,' said the
Judge, for whose consideration she felt
deeply grateful; you a put on your
cloak again now" Accordingly she clothed
herself, and re-entered the box.
THE document which you have Just
shown the Court, Miss Smithers," said
James, sis the one which was executed
upon your back in Kerguelen Land, on or
about the 22d day of December last Year,"
at is"
~ was Il uhi sAhltAf tAtIulel III tllc
presence of the te3tator and the two at
testing witnesses, all three being present
together, and the signature of each being
tattooed in the presence OF the othert"
at was"
"Was the t~estator, so far rs you could
judge, At the time Of the dictation and ex.
ecution of the will, Of sound mind, mem
DRY, and understandings"
''Most certainly he was."
"Did you, beyond the suggestions OF
which you have already given evidence
In any way unduly influence the tesla
| tors mind, so tbs 10 induce him to make
this willy"
Il did not"
"ANd 10 those facts you swear?"
"I do"
1ncu ne passed on to the history OF the
death cf the two sailors who had attested
the will, and to the account OF "A ;%usta's
ultimate rescue, finally closing h. exam
ination-in-chief just as the clock struck
four. whercon the court adjourned till the
following day.
As may be imagined. though things had
: gone fairly well SC far, nobody concerned
of party passed an oyer-comfortab!e
night. The strain was too great to admit
I Of it; and. really, they were all glad TO find
themselves in the ~court-which was, II
possible, ever more Gro ydel on the fol
lowing morning-fiiled with the hope that
the day might see the matter decided one
way or the other.
AZ soon as the judge had CONF In An
gusta resumed her place in the witness
box, and the Attorney-General rose Il
c-roSs-eXamine her.
"You told the Court, Miss Smithers, al
the conclusion Of your evidence, that you
are now engaged to be married 70 Mr.. Nee
son, the plaintiff. Now. | am sorry 10 have
to put a personal question TO you-Were
you. ut the time OF the tattooing OF the
viii, in love with Mr.. Meesoas"
This was a home-thrust, and poor An
gusta colored up beneath il; however, hel
native Wit came 10 her aid.
IF YOU will define, SIR, what being II
love is, | VIII DO my best 20 answer your
question" she said. Whercat the audi
ence, including his L~ordship, smiled.
The Acknowledgement looked puzzled. q!
well nc might: for there are sOme thing.
which nre beyond the lclrainy OF even az
Attoraey-General.
Well" he said. "were you mrtrimon
tally inclined towards Mr.. Meeson'"
surely, Mr.. Acknowledgement (" said tn
Judge, 1.-THE one thing does not necessarii.
include the other
II bow 10 your Lordship's experience.
said Mr.. Attorney, tartly. perhaps l ha,
better put ray question this ~way-lia,
you, at that time. any prospect Of becom
ing engaged 10 Mr.. Mcesoa?"
None whatever"
Did You subnit TO this ~tattooing, vhicl
must have been painful. with q view OF be
coming engaged TO the PLAINTIFF
Certainly not. may point out" sh
added, with hesitation, that such a dis
flgurement is not likely to add TO any
body's attractions
please answer my questions, Mis-
Smithers. and do not comment on them
How did you come, then, to submit your
self to such a disagreeable operation
II submitted to it because | thought i
right TO do so, there being no other al
parent means az hand Of attaining tn
late Mr.. Nelson's end. Also and sh
paused.
Also what,"
also had a regard for Mr.. Eustao
Mecson, and | knew that he had lost hi
inheritance through q quarrel about my
self"
"Ah! now we are coming TO it. The
you were tattooed out Of regard for tn
plaintiff. and not purely in the interests Q
justice!'
YES; | suppose So"
well, Mr.. Attorney" intcrposed th,
Judge, a n what If she wass"
MY object, my Lord. was to show tina
this young lady was not the purely la
passive medium in this matter that IN
learned friend. Mr. Short, would lead tn
Court to believe. She was acting fror
motive"
Most people do" said the Judge, dryly
"But il does not follow that the motiy
was IN improper one"
Then thel learned gentleman continued
his cross-examination, dirccting all tn
Ingenuity OF hts prsctlced ufus3 20 trvful
TO prove by Augustus admissions, first
Tat the testator was acting under the un
"a influence OF herself; and, secondly
that when the will was executed he wa,
A0n coynpos mcHtis. To this end he dwell
nj great length on every detail Of III,