Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-10

! be looked upon as though it were in the
| hands, at this moment, OF the officers of
1 the Court and, consequently, | override
this objection
'.Wiil your Lordship take note Of your
| Lordiships decisi5nyH asked the Attorney
! General. in view OF an appeal
Certainly, Mr. Attorney. Let the wit
ness be sworn
CHAPTER xxI.-Gi.ANT As PRAYED.
Accordingly Augusta was sworn. and
Eustace observed that when she removed
her veil to kiss the Book the sight of her
sweet face produced no small effect upon
the crowded court.
Then James began his examination In
chief, and, following the lines which he
had laid down in his opening speech, led
| her slowly, while allowing her to tell her
own story as much as possible, TO the time
of the tattooing of the will on Kerguelen
Land All along the history had evidently
interested everybody in the court-not ex-
cepting the Judge-intensely; but now the
excitement rose to boiling-point.
well" said James, tell his Lordship
exactly how it came to pass that the will
OF Mr.. Meeson was tattooed upon your
shoulders"
In quiet but dramatic language, Au-
gusta accordingly narrated every detail,
from the time when Meeson confided to
her his remorse at having disinherited his
nephew up to the execution of the Will, at
! her suggestion, by the sailor, upon her own
shoulders.
"And now, Miss Snlithers," said James,
when she had done, 81 am very sorry to do
+ 81 lint / Sly tn nvll
ment to the Court"
| Poor Augusta colored up and her eyes
filed with tears, as she slowly undid the
dust-cloak which hid her shoulders for,
of course, she had come in low Dress. The
Judge, looking up sharply, observed her
natural distress.
IF you prefer it, Miss Smithers," said
his Lordship, courteously, 81 will order
the court to be cleared of every one ex-
cept those who are actually engaged in the
| case"
! At these ominous words a shudder of
disgust passed through the densely packed
ranks. 1t would, indeed, they felt, after
all their striving, be hard if they were de-
prived of the sight of Augustus shoulders;
and they stared at her despairingly, to see
what she would answer.
/ l.
a little bow, ''but there would still be so
many left that do not think that it would
greatly matter. [ hope that everybody
will understand my position, and extend
their consideration to me-"
Very well" said the Judge, and with
out further ado she took off the cloak and
the silk handkerchief beneath it, and
stood before the Court dressed in low
black dress.
81 am afraid that / must ask you to
come up here" said his Lordship. Ac-
cordingly she walked round, mounted the
bench, and turned her back to the Judge,
in order that he might examine what was
written on it. This he did very carefully,
with the aid of a magnifying-glass, re-
ferring now and again to the Photographic
copy which Doctor Probate had filed in the
registry.
THANK you," he said, presently; ''that
will do. / am afraid that the learned
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 reader to be carefully ex-
amined, while hundreds of eager eyes in
the background were fixed upon her I'm.
fortunate shoulders. However, at last ii
came to an end.
''That will do Miss Smithers," said the
Judge, for whose consideration she felt
deeply grateful; you can put on your
! cloak again now" Accordingly she clothed
herself, and re-entered the box.
1.-The document which you have just
shown the Court, Miss Smithers," said
James, ''is the one which was executed
L. I
about the 22d day of December last years
ut is"
sit was, 1 understand, executed in the
presence OF the testator and the two at
testing witnesses, all three being present
together, and the signature of each being
tattooed in the presence OF the other?"
at was''
''Was the testator, so far as you could
judge, at the time of the dictation and ex
ecution of the will, of sound mind, mem
DRY, and understanding?
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 as to induce him to make
this willP"
II did not"
| Ana TO UnOS6 IaclS you swear
"T do"
Then ne passed on to the history of the
death of the two sailors who had attested
the will, and so the account of Augusta'l
ultimate rescue, finally closing his exam
ination-in-chief just as the clock struck
four, whereon the court adjourned till tn,
following day.
As may be imagined, though things had
fai1lu 90 for nphodv CONCERNED
of our party passed an over-comfortabl'
night. The strain was too great to admit
of it; and, really, they were all glad to fint
themselves in the court-which was, i
possible, even more crowded on the fol
lowing morning-hlled with the hope thai
the day might see the matter decided ont
way or the other.
AS soon as the judge had come in Au
gusta resumed her place in the witness
box, and the Attorney-G General rose tt
cross-eXamine her.
''You told the Court, Miss Smithers, al
the conclusion of your evidence, that you
are now engaged to be married to Mr.. Nee
son. the plaintiff. Now, am sorry to have
to put personal question to you-Wer'
you, at the time of the tattooing of the
Will, in love with Mr.. Meeson~
This was a home-thruSt, and poor Au
gusta colored up beneath it; however, he
native wit came to her aid
If you will define. sir, what being il
love is, will do my best to answer you
question" she said. Whereat the audL
ence, including his Lordship, smiled.
The Acknowledgement looked puzzled, g
well he might; for there are some thing
which are beyond the learning of even al
Acknowledgement.