Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03

6oWie5 ana Ills daughter, VINO Tele'eu
me of my charge, while I went to my
boarding house for supper and thence to
my room.
The mex, dGy f.1l The document IL
| the Office OF the county clerk, and gave
notice to Skaggs that on the following
Monday 7 should move that it be admit
| ted to the probate.
| But here new difficulty presented it
| self. In our anxiety to fad the claimant
we had utterly overlooked the attesting
witness.
Immediately went to Bowles and stat
ed the difficulty.
''Abl" said he, why have you not
thought Of this befOre?"
''Do you know these wituesses?" said /.
eyes, know them. Tom Jones lived
AS q tenant on the old mans farm at the
time of his death. He now lives about
ten miles out on the Lancaster road.
And, as certain as I'm a sinner, squire,
this other witness IS dead. William
Jackson? Yes-I remember him. H
moved to Texas, and died year ago."
''Fhen it's ali up. We can't get along
without both witnesses. Are you sure
that Jackson is dead?'
81 am certain sure. He has a brother
from the family in Texas az the time OF
his death. There is no doub about it."
."Then We may as well drop the matter
at once. The law of this state requires
the evidence of two witnesses, and makes
70 provision for theEdeath of one"
cit does look rather ugly, il that's the
case," said Bowles. "But let's make q
fight of it-something may turn up in
our favor
Ny fears proved correct, however. We
made gallant struggle; but il was in
vain. My speech, l was told afterwaEd,
was applauded privately by the Judge,
though, in his official capacity, he felt
PEELED TO decide against me. I re-
member that spoke from & full heart
of the injustice of refusing TO receive a
will which every body knew so be that of
Morgan, merely because one OF the wit
nesse5 had died.
1T Is the law we are called on to ad-
minister here" said the judge from the
bench, ''nOt what you or / Eeay think,
Mr.. Attorney, If equity. And you know
as we'll as l do, for yea are g good law
yer, that it takes two witnesses ia prove
will"
But the case ives not without its benefit
TO me- professionally, Ny speech bad
made an impression On the public, and
business now began to pour in.
My fair olienG stia remained at nay
friend Bowles'. "My eldest daughter has
come TO love her as sister," he said.
"Ressie, as you must have seen, is IN
usually Intelligent, She had received
quite good education, too, before old
Mr. Morgan died. The cheerful manner
in which she bore her subsequent power
ty is as Mrs, Benhsm says, proof OF an
unusually noble character. Now, we have
invented an excuse that we want a nQrs-
ery-governess, for she is too proud 10
stay as mere pensiOner, and her aunt
has consented 10 the arrangement, say
lug that it is STA to bury Bessie among
theelills"
Almost every week, 1 dropped in for
an hour or SO OF an evening at the Bowls
and as [ hecaF0e better acquainted with
Bessie, [ mere then endorsed my cid
friends eneoDiums. In.short, I was as
mQoh charmed with her attractions of
mind and manner as had been al FIRST
by her sylvan grace aud beauty. Very
soon found myself in love; and when
soCae six months later, z told her OF IL,
vas OveIi Dyed to hear her confess that
ny passion was returned.
L was now the h&ppiest man in the
eoanty. Out OF nay defeat had come the
elements Of success. BY it had won
reputation aud a love-oh, the pHrest, the
sweetest, the best1 pictured TO myself
a home humble and poor, out so bright
ana cosy, the abode of .oontentment and
be ppinees.
sf4e day IN the following summer, [ was
IN The clerks Office searching come old
records, when | came upon page that
alE9st took my breath Gway. After read
ing it carefully I closed the book aud re
turned to my o1Iee.
The next day Simon &kaggs .wes served
with summons TO answer a-suit of eject
me0t: ia the name OF Elizabeth Morgan.
for all the real property held by hia,
wbtca he claimed as heir-at-law OF the
late James Morgau5 ana -Great,was the ez
cit&plGut IN the village when the suit was
he&un. "What eoaid it meant" asked
everybody.
t@ld no one. EyenSo Bessie opIy
represented that saw a chance to re
cover, bus [ was careful not to appear
too sangnine.
Ia two months the circuit court came
On. Again the sourt was crowded. The
excitementvwas even greater than before.
| had prepared nc briefs Not even
memorandum or a book did L carry to
court.
Morgan VS.. sksggs;" called the
clerk.
WHO appears forthe plaiatiffs'', asked
the judge.
81 do, You- Homer" said.
"Who for she defendaRt?"
"We do, Your Honor" answered two
Of the Oldest and most talented lawyers
from Kent.
"Are Poa reedy for the plaintiff"
ST amf's
A'Are you ready for the defendant"
ave are, Your Honor
'fEIet the jury Be sworn thea" said the
judge.
The jury was then empaneled. The.
twelve men fled in aud took their seats
amid ,breathless silence.
Let the case proceed at once" said
the judge.
"CaR Mr.. Bowies," said I.
The sheriff called him. He came iDto
the court room, took the witness staa6,
aud was sworn.
The most intense excitement now
reigned. Ny fair client IVES seated by my
side, pale and quiet The de fendsnt was
seated nesS the counsel, calm, confident
and defiant.
Examine the Witness said the
judge.
"Mr. Bowles," began, ''Ase you Sc
quainted With the PLAINTIFF
II an"
do you know where che lived, from
the time she wss three years old, up TO
the time she was 16?"
II do
"Wnere2"
"WIth the late James Morgan"