Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-11-11
THE FORSYTH WILL CASE.

cation table can't estimate, doctor, and
/ calculate this case is one of them"
The speaker was Texan alcalde Of
half a century ago, a man with a grave,
handsome face and one Of those gigantic
aptediluvian figures only found in the
bracing atmosphere of the prairie OF the
| lush freedom of the woods.
"The senorita will help you to fair
settlement: she knows her own mind.
| 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
nifed manner fully proclaimed his Mex
| lean lineage. Then he calmly helped
| himself to an olive and 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
a kind of dignifed, patriarchal earnest
ness to the proceedings that were emil
nently American, and which quito made
up for the lack of ceremony.
After 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"
1.-The gentlemen" who were sitting
under gigantic arbor VITAE oak in the
garden in close conversation, rose at
Zip's 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 situations, others simply ig-
nored their presence.
But every ones interest was aroused
when the doctor, hearing footstep,
rose, opened the door and offered his
hand to 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 the unuttered
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
Squire"
I'VE have got a 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, 200 in
gold to Mary Forsyth, and that they
claimed their share of the money.
The men listened gravely, with keen,
adelong glances. When he had finished
one of them said:
Very good, stranger. Now what do
you mean by 'unduly infiuencedY
Il mean that this Mexican passed
whole days with my father, reading to
MN, talking to him, and in other ways
Winning his affection in order to infu-
ence INN In the making of his will"
"How much did old Forsyth leave DIR.
Zavalag'
He left him personally nothing,
but
"oh"-the men nodded gravely at one
another.
But said David angrily, "he had a
ueeper 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
Marys credit. We have no objections
!" Mary's having her share, but we dc
NOV see why our share should go to that
-nealcan whom she intends to marry"
The doctor smiled sarcastically, and
mary, blushing with Indignation, halt
.ose as II to speak, but slight move
heht OF Zavala's eyehds was sufficient
10 check the impulse.
Then Mary Forsyth is going to mar
fy Dr. Zavala.'
VI course she is"
And you are willing that she should
ave ,he homestead and 100000"
we are willing she should have the
use Oh the homestead for moderate
.gu'' We are not willing to give up all
'.'hn 10 1t. Why, there are 200 acres OF
sAs nnest cotton land in the world tina
81 with 1t. If she had the entire RICH
~ 'ne homestead she ought to give u
to sayY' VIZ "-''' ''"'e "
mo NY brother David has spoken 10
o men there was pause. The prt
sn aaaor stepped to the sideboard an
lnr low MS glass; several of the jury fol
w; "eu nm, and the others chewed ava
wa. I'm silent, thoughtful intentness.
q. u Lorenzo Zavala, will YOU spea
iOr the Defendant"
LIE doctor turned his chair SO as t