Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-12-05

hung canopy OF thlck red damaSk, VlO-
lently suggestive in shape and general APP
peararce of a pair of old fashioned window
curtains A part of this drapery, weighted
with dust and cobwebs, had pulled loose
from its moorings above, and hung down
over the Judges seat, so that, as he moved
about, the frayed edge not infrequently
tickled his bald crown.
At few minutes before 10 o'clock the
eyes of the hundred spectators that crowd
ed the courtroom turned toward this plat
| form to behold the eminent jurst Abner
Peck formally take his place upon the
bench He assembled the steps with n slow
and dignified gait, sank back in the big
armchair and leaned his head against his
hand. AS he gazed benignly into the faces
of his assembled friends and neighbors he
seemed to them the very personiiicaton of
"A sense of justice.
One half of the lawyers table was taken
up by Judge Bellows, who represented the
plaintiff. On his right hand were Deacon
Hobley and his wife. The law books of
Mr.. Ralph Elliott were spread out over the
remaining half of the table. After brief
wrangle with her father, in which she, as
usual came out victorious, Miss Ethel had
accompanied Mr.. Elliott into the court
room and now occupied a seat at his side.
The colonel sat behind, and with him was
Peter Martin, the unlucly coachman who
was accused of responsibility for the smash
ing of the deacon's cart
1.-The judge is looking at u.s." whispered
Miss Dutton; "did you ever see such
funny woolly hair in all your life?"
"Never mind his hair" answered Elliott;
"what | want to know is how to get at
him. If you could only catch his eye and
smile sweetly on him.
"Tell me when it is the right time for
him to decide our way and I'll do it" said
the young lady.
"There is no use in having II jury, you
understand" said the colonel, leaning for
ward. "The old mandarin will sit there
and gravely tell them what their verdict
must be-
"Well, we will make the best defense
that we can, and throw ourselves on the
mercy of the court"
"Small mercy it will be-" growled the
colonel; che has it in for me-they all
have. suppose must pay the two hun
dred and Gity dollars and costs, as prayed
for And the cart wasn't worth the fifty
that offered as a compromise"
The case opened with Deacon Hobley on
the witness stand. He told how he had
left his cart hitched in the road, and how
the runaway colt and buck board had
smashed it into shoe pegs.
Odd you see all this YOURSELF" inquired
Mr.. Elliott.
"No; wasn't there" answered the wit
ness; "but my da'ter, she told me about it. :"
81 move that that testimony be all
stricken out" said Elliott.
Look here, young man." said the dea
con, eff you mean to 'sinuate that my
da'ter'-
n.
and the plaintiff was silenced Then, turn
ing toward Elliott, the judge said, with
very distinct emphasis:
THAT motion amt passed"
The young attorney, who had risen to
his feet, gave gulp of astonishment,
looked about him for a moment as if to
take his bearings anew, and then resumed
his chair.
The deacon continued his testimony
He had come now to the matter of the
value of the cart, which he placed at the
modest sum of $3.50 When called upon to
give reason for putting it at this figure
he stated that Ike Convers had said it was
worth it.
ave object" cried Elliott, starting up
again; elf the plaintiff wants to introduce
the testimony of Ike Convers as an expert
on carts why does he not subpoena hlm?"
There was II sudden and awful hush in
the courtroom The judge turned slowly
around in his chair and leaned forward
across his desk toward Elliott, Saying:
Because he is dead"
"Well, we object to such testimony as
this" continued Elliott, with a reckless
ness that caused some of his hearers to
fairly hold their breath; lit is incom,
petent and immaterial."
"Ike Convers incompetent" exclaimed
the deacon. "Why, young man, he was
the best wagon maker
Deacon" interrupted the judge, let me
answer this objection" Then he contn-
ued in solemn judicial tones: This court
knew Ike COnvers well, and it holds that
his judgment in matter of this kind was
better than that of any man now living in
this county. The witness may proceed"
"You see it's no USE" whispered the
colonel, as Elliott, silenced and aghast,
dropped back into his seat. "You may as
well take it easy. The more you object
the more you will inspire the old FOOLS
prejudice"
"Weu where does that sense of justice
|, come inY' asked Elliott.
''Tell me-" interrupted Miss Ethel, sis il
time for me to begin to hrt with the
court?''
dered on the situation few moments
Was there "A sense of justice in that round
pink head? If so how was he to get at it;
There was something about the naXen poll
that reminded him of Polonius, and he be
, gan to mutter absently to himself the
a phrase so dear to the heart of the fat wtted
diplomatist:
"By indirections find directions out"
In that moment he hit upon plan
. BY this time the witness was telling the
} court and the spectators generally his
opinion of Peter Martin, Col. buttons
"hired man." as IA tanner of colts Elliott
J.. sprang to his feet and objected He wa.
{ promptly crushed by the court. The dea
con went on When he had finished
short dissertation on Col. Dutton and Other
@ men who came down from the city ant
. tried to run things in Yoakum Elliot
j., moved to strike the testimony out on tn,
=, ground that it was argumentative. Tn,
motion was denied.