The Portland daily press., 1890-08-12
the FORSYTH WILL CASE,
New York Ledger.l

/ calculate this case is one of them
The speaker was Texan alcalde OF
half century ago, man with grave
handsome face and one of those gigantic
antediluvian figures only found in the
bracing atmosphere of the prairie or the
lush freedom of the woods.
"Ihe senorita will help you to talr
settlement; she knows her own mlnd.
Santa Jose! few women know as much. "
The doctor gave his opinion decidedly
and in very good English, albeit his
small, yellow person and courtly, dig
niied manner fully proclaimed his Mex
ican lineage. Then he calmly helped
himself to an olive and a glass of cham
bertin, and watched the alcalde as he
smoked and waited for the expected
ayuntamiento, or jury.
In half an hour the twelve men had
dropped in by twos and threes, nodded
coolly to the alcalde, and helped them
selves to the liquors and cigars on the
sideboard. Now and then they spoke in
monosyllables, and the composure,
gravity and utter absence of hurry gave
kind of dignifed, patriarchal earnest
ness to the proceedings that were emf
nently American, and which quite made
up for the lack of ceremony.
After a lapse of five minutes the al
calde touched little bell, and said to
the negro who answered it:
Zip, tell the gentlemen we are wait
ing, and send lamar for Miss Mary"
THE gentlemen" who were sitting
under gigantic arbor vitae oak in the
garden in close conversation, rose at
lips message and sauntered slowly into
the presence Of the alcalde, who nodded
rather stiffiy to them and motioned to-
ward two chairs. They were evidently
men of culture, and brothers. Some OF
the jurors leaned toward them with
courteous salutations, others simply ig-
nored their presence.
But every ones interest was aroused
when the doctor, hearing a footstep,
rose opened the door and offered his
hand to a lady who entered. A calm
browed woman with large, steadfast
eyes-a woman who it was easy to see
could be law unto herself.
She looked inquiringly at the two gen.
tlemen, who were evidently her brothers,
but finding no response to theunuttered
love in her pleading eyes, dropped them
and calmly took the seat her friend led
her to.
There was another pause. Then the
alcalde laid down his cigar and said:
MEM
squirrel
1--WE have got little business to set
tie between David and George Forsyth
and their sister Mary. You are to judge
fairly between them, and they are will
ing to stand by what you say. calcu-
late they'll explain their own business
best. David Forsyth, will you speak for
your side"
David was keen, shrewd lawyer,
and knew how to state his case very
plausibly. He said that his father, un-
duly influenced by DR.. Zavala, who had
designs on their sisters hand, had left
not only the homestead but $50, 900 in
gold to Mary Forsyth, and that they
claimed their share of the money.
The men listened gravely, with keen,
sidelong glances. When he had finished
one of them said:
Every good, stranger. Now what do
you mean by 'unduly infuenced?"
81 mean that this Mexican passed
whole days with my father, reading to
him, talking to him, and in other ways
winning his affection in order to infu-
ence him in the making of his will"
"How much did old Forsyth leave DIR.
Zavala?"
HE left him personally nothing
butt
''Ohr-the men nodded gravely at one
another.
"But," said David angrily, che had a
deeper scheme than that. He induced
my father to turn everything but his
homestead into money, and to place the
whole sum in the San Antonio bank to
Ma rs credit. We have no objections
to Mary's having her share, but we dc
not see why our share should go to that
Mexican whom she intends to marry"
The doctor smiled sarcastically, and
Mary, blushing with indignation, halt
rose as if to speak, but slight move.
ment of Zavala's eyehds was sufficient
to check the impulse.
"Then Mary Forsyth is going to mar.
ny DR.. Zavala?"
"Of course she is"
r0f course she is"
sand you are willing that she should
have the homestead and $4,000"
1--WE are willing she should have the
use of the homestead for a moderate
rent. We are not willing to give up al
claim to it. Why, there are 200 acres Of
the finest cotton land in the world thu
60 with it. If she had the entire right
10 the homestead she ought to give up
the money"
'Mr. George Forsyth, what have you
to say?'
"My brother David has spoken for
me-"
Then there was pause. The pro-
curador stepped to the sideboard and
filled his glass; several of the jury fol
lowed him, and the others chewed away
with silent, thoughtful intentness.
"Dr. Lorenzo Zavala, will you speak
for the defendant
The doctor turned his chair 90 as to
face both the brothers and the jury, but
did not rise.
Men," he said, ~ have known the
late David Forsyth for twenty years. I
have been his physician and been his
friend, l saw his wife die, and watched
his children grow to what they are.
When the good mother left them Mary
was IL years DID, David 10 and George 6.
For her father and brothers Mary sacri-
feed all that makes the youth to other
women"
Twill you be palmer, DOCTOR"
'If you desire. 1t is known to me
how they were then poor, her father a
trader in silks and lace and ladies' fine
goods between San Antonio and the
outlying settlements. But he was a
good man, industrious and ambitious.
For his two sons he had great hopes, and
saved and saved and saved by day and
by night. The little girl at home helped
him bravely, hiring out their one SER
want, and doing cheerfully the work
with her own hands. She plated the
straw, and made hats, also, which sold
for much, and she worked IN the rem
nanUs or lace ana 1ppons INTO one unou-
sand pretty trifes for the fair women in
San Antonio"
"Alcalde, these details are irrelevant
and impertinent, said David angrily.
Every man tells his story in his own
way. Are you willing to listen, menY'
There was universal articulation
which evidently meant eyes" for the
doctor smiled graciously and went on:
'For her two brothers the little Mary
"a Il. i