Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-17

young lawyer in the court room with
a face determined, but very pale, anG
a hand that trembled as he arranged
his papers. There were at first bu
few spectators, but as the days wore
on their number increased to a large
audience of ladies and gentlemen. The
client p ainly considered himself a vic
tim OF adverse fate and wore 4 iooE
of martyr-like resignation. The inter
est OF the occasion was added to by
the fact that one of the counsel fol
the prosecution was a woman, young
stylish and good looking, and she was
watched with great curiosity.
Kittie Macpherson attended regu
larly with a snail circle Of intimate
| friends and took an active interest in
all that transpired, besides making
yards of drawn work and performing
miracles in fancy work with stee
beads and blue worsted. These same
beads now and then rolled wildly
about the floor and Mr.. Dunbar felt
his soul stirred with unholy wrath to.
ward the young man who picked them
up and held them for Kittie during the
remainder Of the session.
During the earlier proceedings Mr.
Dunbar kept discreetly SHADY" but
he was rapidly growing in favor with
the audience and it was whispered
that he intended to "come out strong
in his plea. Now and then when he
did get off particularly bright thing
it could not be wondered at if he cast
furtive glance in Miss MacPherson's
direction to note he effect produced.
But, on the whole, he followed the
example Of the woman lawyer, Miss
Evelyn Bates, who gave exclusive at
tention to business and seemed Sc
renely unconscious that any one was
observing her.
"You look tired" he said, kindly, as
he took the books from her. ''Isn't
this kind of life rather hard for your"
YES was the reply, in Miss Bates
peculiarly musical voice, sit is, but I
guess any kind of life is hard when
one has her own living to earn"
"But do you really like the law?
Don't you think something else would
be more"-he was going to say suit
able, but checked himself easier for
a lady?"
sWell, 1 don't know about that.
can earn more money in this way than
in any other, and I feel thankful that
l am able to do it. But suppose you
think it is very strange and improper,
don't you?"
And the dark blue eyes were raised
so suddenly to her companions face
that he with difficulty collected him
self and Stammered out something
about hsr "flling any place WELL"
For the truth was, he seriously dis
approved of women lawyers. as a rule
but he was a gentleman and could not
be rude to lady. SO he glanced down
at the slender figure at his side, and
at the long black feathers curling over
the shining brown hair, and thought if
they were all like her it wouldn't be
so bad, and said:
"It's getting dark and slippery
Perhaps you'd better take my arm"
After this little incident he enter,
tanned much more favorable opinion
of his fair legal opponent.
Mr.. Dunbar's plea was a brilliant
and mastery effort, his own intense
earnestness giving a penetra ting force
away by the enthusiasm of the hoIr
he allowed his fervid imagination to
grid somewhat the character and life
of his client, and invest them with
lustre not wholly their own, blame
him not. He only followed in the
footsteps of hosts of illustrious pre-
decessOrs.
His clients past life, he showed,
had been not only hlameless, but
adorned with all the gentler virtues of
mankind. He pictured him the idol
of his aged mother, the pride Of his
family and a favorite Of society. Ne
wins father, it was well known, had
died in the army, and straightway
the prisoner was invested with the
majesty of the Stars and Stripes. And
when the counsel appealed to the
patriotism of the jury and asked with
burning eloquence, "Should he be cast
life-blood had helped to save?" the
sensation in the audience showed that
it was a telling point. Long before
Mr. Dunbar had ceased speaking it
was evident that public opinion was
growing strong in favor of the
prisoner.
The last day of trial dawned bright
and clear, and crowd of eager spec
tators filled the court room at an early
hour. Kittie looked even more piquant
and charming than usual, in a new
, and elaborate suit Of indescribable
/ color and a pattern hat, the climax
of millinery. The prisoner was
brought in, still wearing that submits
sive, martyrlike expression, and his
entrance was the signal for series
Of sympathetic ooh, mys" and ooh,
dears!' from the ladies. Mr.. Dunbar
entered with a wearied step, looking
! nervous and worried, and his bag
gard face and restless dark eyes at
tracted universal attention.
! Miss Bates was a trifie paler than
usual, but outwardly composed and
dignified and in her graceful black
| dress and dainty tie was a most at
tractive figure. Allen Dunbar took in
the picture from where he sat, me-
chanically twirling a lead pencil, and
a moment later when she nodded and
smiled in recognition he crossed over
to her and cordially shook hands, re-