Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-01-04
In quiet but dramatic language, Au-

ler MS TelLOrSe at having ulSIHiiciilcd Ills
nephew up to the execution of the viii, at
her suggestion, by the sailor, upon her own
shoulders.
And now, Miss Smithers," said James,
when she had done, II am very sorry to do
so, but must ask you to exhibit the docu-
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, Il 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. It would. indeed, they felt, after
all their striving be hard if they were de
priyed of the sight of Augustus shoulders;
and they stared at her despairingly, to see
what she would answer.
81 thank your Lordship," she said, with
q little bow, but there would still be so
many left that do not think that it would
greatly matter l hope that everybody
viii unders and my position, and extend
their consideration to me"
Every well, said the Judge, and with
ont further ado she took off the cloak and
the silk handkerchief beneath it, and
stood before the Court dressed in low
black dress.
Il am afraid that ! must ask you to
come up here" said his LOrdship. Ac-
cordingIy 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 III 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-
amiued while hundreds of eager eyes in
the background were fixed upon her I'M
fortunate shoulders. However, at last it
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.
"The document which you have just
shown the Court, Miss Smthers," said
james, lis the one which was executed
upon your back in kerguelen Land, on or
about the I'D day of December last Year,"
at is"
at was, 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, 50 far as 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 vas"
Did you, beyond the suggestions of
which you have already given evidence,
in any way unduly influence the tesla
tors mind, 50 rs to induce him to make
this wiliH
Il did not"
"And to those facts you swear"
ct do"
Thea hc passed on To the history of the
death If the two sailors yho had attesteI
the VIII, and TO the account of Augusta's
ultimate rescue, finally closing his exam
inatiOn-n-Chef just as the clock struck
four, whereon the court adjourned till the
following day.
As may he imagined, though things had
gone fairly well SO far, nobody concerned
of our party passed an uncomfortable
night. The strain was too great to admit
OF il; and, really, they were MI glad to find
themselves in the court-which was, if
possible, even more crowded on the fol-
lowing morning-i1iled with the hope that
the day might see the matter decided one
way or the other
As soon rs the Judge had come in Au-
gusta resumed her place in the witness
box, and the AttOrney-General rose to
Cross-examiuc her.
you told the Court, Miss Smithers, at
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-Were
you, at the time of the tattooing of the
will, in love with Mr. Meesone"
This was a hOme-thrust, aud poor Au-
gusta colored up beneath it; however, her
native wit came to her aid
IF you will define. sir, what being in
love is, l will do my best to answer your
question:" she said. Whcreat the audi
ence, including his Lordship, smiled.
The Acknowledgement looked puzzled, as
well lie might; for there are some things
which are beyond the learning of even an
Attorney General.
well" he said, ''were you matrimon-
tally inclined towards Mr. Meeson?"
surely, Mr.. Attorney General, a." said the
Judge, the one thing does not necessarily
include the other"
II bow to your Lordship's experience"
said Mr.. Attorney, tartly. perhaps had
better put my question this way-Had
you, at that time, any prospect of becom-
ing engaged to Mr. Meeson?"
None whatever"
did you submit to this tattooing, which
must have been painful, with view of be
coming engaged TO the PLAINTIFF"
Certainly not | may point out" she
added with hesitation, that such a dis
tigurement is not likely to add to any,
body's attractions"
please answer my questions, Miss
Smithcrs, and do not comment on them.
How did you come, then, to submit your.
self to such a dSagrceable operation?"
81 submitted to it because | thought it
right to do SO, there being no other APP
parent means at hand of attaining the
late Mr.. Nelson's end. Also" and she
paused.
also what?"
also l had regard for Mr. Eustace
Mecson, and knew that he had lost his
inheritance through quarrel about my
self"
"Ahl now we are coming to it. Then
You were tattOoed out of regard for the
plaintiff, and not purely in the interests Of
justicey"
YES; l suppose so"
We'll, Mr.. Attorney" interposed the
Judge, and what if she was9"
My object, my Lord, was TO show that
this young lady was not the purely inn
passive medium in this matter that my
learned friend, Mr. Short, would lead the
Court to believe. She was acting from
motive"
Most people do said the Judge, dryly.
But it does not follow that the motive
was an improper one"
Then the learned gentleman continued
his cross-eNamination, directing all the
ingenuity of his praCticed mind to trying
TO prove by Augusta's admissions, first,
that the testatOr was acting under the I'M
due influence of herself; and secondly.
that when the will WAS executed he was
non C0mpoS mcntiS. To this end he dwelt
at great length on every detail of the
events between the tattooing of the will
and the death of the teStator on the fol-