Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03
Mr.. NELSON'S WILL.
BY a. RIDER HAGGARD.
CHAPTER XIX.-MEEsoN VS.. ADDISON AND
ANOTHER

one line morning about a quarter TO ten of
| the Law Courts clock, that projects its
CHASTITY hideOusness upon unoffending
Fleet street, Augusta, accompanied by
Eustace, Lady Holmhurst, and Mrs.
Thomas, the wife of Captain Thomas, who
had come up from visiting her relatives in
the eastern counties in order to give evil
dence, found herself standing in the big
entrance to the new Law Courts, feeling
as though she would give five years of her
life to be anywhere else.
This way, my dear, y said Eustace; ''Nfr.
John Short said that he would meet Us by
the statue in the hall" Accordingly, they
passed into the archway by the oak stand
where the cause lists are displayed. Au-
gusta glanced at them as she went, and
the first thing that her eyes fell on was
Probate and Divorce Division, Court L,
at 1880, Meeson VS.. Addison and Another y
and the sight made her feel sick. In an
other moment they had passed a police
man OF gigantic size, ''mOnStrum horren-
dunn, informe, ingens," who watches and
wards the folding doors through which so
much human learning, wretchedness, and
worry pass day by day, and were standing
In the long but narrow and ill-proportioned
hall which appears to have been the best
thing that the architectural talent Of the
nineteenth century was capable OF pro
ducing.
To the right of the door on entering is o
statue Of the architect of pile of which
England has certainly no cause to feel
proud, and here, black bag full of papers
in his hand, stood Mr. John Short, wearin
that air of excitement upon his counter
ance which is SO commonly to be seen in
the law courts
"Here you are" he said. ST was begin
ming to be afraid that you would be late.
We are first on the list, you know; the
Judge fixed it specially to suit the con-
venience of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. He's
on the other side, you know" he added,
with sigh. 'I'm sure don't know how
poor James will get on. There are more
than twenty counsel against him, for all
the legatees under the former will are
represented. At any rate, he is well up in
his facts, and there does not seem to me to
be very much law in the case.
Meanwhile they had been proceeding up
the long hall till they came to a poky little
staircase which had just been dug out in
the wall, whereby the court floor could be
reached, having, to all appearance, origin
ally escaped the attention of the architect.
On getting to the top of the staircase they
turned to the left and then to the left
again. If they had had any doubt as to
which road they should take it would have
been speedily decided by the long string
of wigs which were streaming away in the
direction of Divorce Court No. 1. Thicker
and thicker grew the wigs; it was obvious
that the cause ceIebre of Meeson vs. Add
son and Another would not want for hear.
ers. Indeed, Augusta and her friends
soon realized the intensity of the public
interest in way that was as impressive
as it was disagreeable, for just past the
Admiralty Court the passage was entirely
blocked by an enormous mass of barris-
tiers; there might have been five hundred
o. more of them. There they were, choked
4p together in their whitewigged ranks,
waiting for the door of the court to be
opened. At present it was guarded by six
or eight attendants, who, with the help of
wooden barrier, attempted to keep the
surging multitude. at bay-whiIe those be.
hind cried, ''FOrWardH' and those in front
cried, ''BackG'
How on earth are we going to get
through" asked Augusta, and at that
moment Mr. John Short caught hold of an
attendant who was struggling about in
the skirts of the crowd like a fly in a cup
of tea, and asked him the same question,
explaining that their presence was neces-
sary to the show
Pm bothered if | know, sir; you can't
come this way. I suppose l must let you
through by the underground passage from
the other court. Why" he went on, as he
led the way to the Admiralty Court, "hang
me, if don't believe that we shall all be
crushed to death by them there barristers.
1t would take regiment of cavalry to
keep them back. And they are a 'ungry
lot, they are, and they amt no work to do,
and that's why they comes kicking and
tearing and wOrriting just to see bit of
painting on q young lady's shoulders"
By this time they had passed through
the Admiralty Court, which was not sit
ting, and been conducted down a sort of
well that terminated in the space occupied
by the Judges clerks and other officers of
the court. In another minute they found
themselves emerging in similar space in
the other court.
Before taking the seat that was pointed
out to her and the other witnesses in the
well of the court, Immediately below those
reserved for Queens Counsel, Augusta
glanced round. The body of the court
was as yet quite empty, for the seething
mob outside had not yet burst in, though
their repeated shouts of "Open the door,"
could be plainly heard. But the jury-box
was full, not with jury, for the case was
to be tried before the Court itself, but of
various distinguished individuals, includ-
ing several ladies, who had obtained or
ders. The little gallery above was also
crowded with smart-loOking people. AS
for the seats devoted to counsel in the
cause, they were crammed to overfowing
with the representatives of the various de-
fendants-so crammed, indeed, that the
wretched James Short, sole counsel for
the plaintiff, had to establish himself and
his papers in the centre of the third bench
sometimes used by solicitors.
''Heavensp said Eustace to Augusta,
counting the heads; ''there are twenty
three counsel against us. What will that
unfortunate James do against so many?"
Il don't know, Pm sure" said Augusta,
with sigh. ut doesn't seem quite fair,
does it? But then, you see, there was no
money"
Just then John Short came up. He had
been to speak TO his brother. Augusta be-
ing novelist, and therefore a professional
student Of human physiognOmy, was en-
gagged in studying the legal types before
her, which she found resolved them
selves into two classes-the sharp, keen
faced class and the solid, heavy-jawed
class.
Who on earth are they ALP" she asked.
"Oh," he said, that's the Attorney-Gen-
| eral. He appears with Ffddlestick, @. c.,
Pearl, and Bean for the defendant Addi-
son. Next to him is the Solicitor-General,
who, with Playford, Q. c., Middlestone,