The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-03-10

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''Great heavensp' he cried. "Fancy
me, Mark Leign, defendant in q breach
of promise easel / shall be laughed
of the marketr'
But he must 60. And go he did.
Arriving little before 1880, he
found Mr.. Standwell had not yet got
to the court, so he sauntered up and
down the passages until that gentle
man should appear.
While pacing to and fro he was ac-
costed 10y a very pretty and modest
looking young lady, who evidently
took him for climb of the law"
"If you please, sir" she asked diff
IDENTIFY, ''can you tell me which is the
court of queens bench?''
II believe it is that one," he replied,
pointing TO the door.
"Oh, thank you, sir" she said in a
sweet voice. 'I-I have to give evil
dence, and Pm a stranger"
"What a remarkably nice looking,
sensible, modest scrt of girl" said
Mr.. Mark Leigh to himself as she left
him.
And now it became clear, once for
all, that he had told Mr.. Standwell
! the truth and knew nothing about the
fair Stella Storey, for an idea seized
him and he ran after his questioner.
Could this sweet girl be the plaintiff
in his action, whom he had depicted
to himself as brazen faced Mrs. Bar
deli?
He touched her gently on the arm.
Excuse me-" he said. "Might |
ask what action you have to give evil
dence in?n
They were at the door of the court,
/ upon which was exhibited list of the
causes to be tried, and she pointed TO
"Storey versus Leigh"
"And are you the PLAINTIFF"
"Y-yes," she admitted. ~ an Miss
Storey"
~ knew there must be mistake"
he cried. al told old Standwell there
was, but / don't think he believed me.
| am Mark Leign, the defendant.
Now, | don't know you, and you don't
know me! How comes it, then, that
you are s1ing me for breach of promise
of marriage, young lady?i
"You, Mr. Mark Leiguw she ex-
claimed. "You are not the Mr.. Mark
Leign whom knew, and who prom
who prom'-And she began to cry.
She looked prettier than ever,
thought Mark.
"Don't cry" he said gently. "Come
over to this seat and sit down. There's
been some mistake. But what it is
can't imagine, for | believe there is
only one Mark Leigh in England and
am he.
She sat beside him, and in answer to
his questions told him how she had
been cOurted and deceived.
''Some fellow has been taking lib
critics with my name," he said, "that's
certain. What was he like?'
She described him.
''The rascalr' he cried. ''It was a
fellow named Blobkins, one of my
clerks, whom / discharged for dishOn-
esty. I am really very sorry for your
By this time the solicitors and coun-
sci had arrived. There were Mr..
Standwell and his counsel, Mr.. Lett
myn and Mr.. Pruvitt and Mr.. Speck-
er and his counsel, Mr.. Sportleigh,
and Mr.. Larpher.
They were about to enter the court
when Mr. Specker and NJ. Standwell
spied their clients at the same moment.
whats this?n demanded NJ. Speck-
er suspiciously. "Who is this gentle
man, Miss Storey"
"Oh, that's the plaintiff, is it?''
cried Mr.. StandweIl. That gentle
man is the defendant, Mr.. Mark
Leigh"
"And this is not the gentleman a.
ALL" exclaimed Stella. "There has
been a mistake, and some one has de-
ceived me and used his manner
"Phewr' calculated Mr.. Speeker.
81 wrote and told you so, but sup
pose YOU didn't believe re" said Mr..
Standwell triumphantly.
"well, / naturally thought your
letter was bluff You'd have thought
the samer' said Specker.
"Perhaps so, but it was true, you
see," retorted Standwell.
"Well, what's to be done?" asked
Specker.
"Ohr' replied the other blandly,
1--WE must try the action, Of course.
Will YOU submit to a verdict for the
defendant without evidence?"
Something very like naughty word
escaped Mr. Speakers, lips as he saw his
vision of a fat bill of costs dissolving
into thin air. But just then the usher
called the case, and they all hurried
into court, except the two principals,
who had retired to the end of the pas
sage and were Ia liking animatedly
together.
Mark Leign's only sister had got
married recently and left his house,
and he was suffering from such plague
of housekeepers and servants that he
had thought several times of trying 10
find wife. He so seldom got an hour
away from business, however, and
knew so few ladies that he was at a
loss how to proceed, and here was one
ready found. His business on change
had taught him the need of swapping
bargain when he came across one, and
he determined then and there to marry
his mistaken pursuer.
"Well, Stella,p he said boldly, "its
clear that both you and ! have been
fooled with. What do you say to our
finishing it by taking it in earnest and
getting married? It's sudden, know,
and we've only seen each other about
a quarter of an hour, bat Pm satisfied
if you are"
"It-it's SO very strange she muir
INJURED. al don't know what to say,
| Pm sure.'
''But you were willing to marry the
false Mark Leign. Why can't you
merry the real one?" he pleaded.
-. n. Il. Il