The record-union., 1898-02-10
The DIVIDING LINE.

liz O1FlV1VO 6i16s
Everybody in the courtroom could tell
that the trial was nearing an end. Mrs.
Cotton knew It. She shifted her cape
around farther over her shoulder and
Strengthened out the bow which ter
minated the black velvet strings of her
bonnet.g 1t was the first time she had
been brought face to face with a de-
cision in the case of Cotton VS.. Long
street, and for the first time too she
began to be uncomfortably doubtful as
to the outcome. Heretofore a verdict
In the noted case was something that
seemed so certainly part of the re-
mote future that even the reflection that
the decision might be adverse to her in
teqests had power to cause her put Ut
tie uneasiness. So secure she felt in the
strength of her position that she mad
barely conceived the idea or an unIa-
vorable ruling and that vague concep-
tion represented failure as beng SO
far distant that it lost all semblance or
reality and was robbed of its dreadfui
aspect
But at that moment misfortune SEEM
ed startlingly imminent. survey NO.
9,126." read the counsel for the op-
position. She had heard it read every
day during the dreary, interminable
trial hut never before had the speak
er's voice taken on the sing-song, dis
piriting tone of a death chant. Then
followed a description of the property
In litigation: so many rods to the south.
thence due west SO many more rods.
and so on-all in the same unvarying
monotone.
Herbert Longstreet also understood
that something was about to be done
with the strip of land over which he
and his neighbor had been wrangling
for so many weeks, and his hopes for
success grew apace in proportion to
Mrs. Cotton's increased anxiety. rms
buoyancy of spirit was partly due to his
own intuitiye perception that the pre-
ponderance of argument had been in MS
favor, and partly to the infectious good
cheer of his lawyer, whose habitually
austere countenance had gradually re-
laxed until a benign, unctuouS express
sion overspread his features, auguring
success for his client. The Judge saw
that it would be impossible for the en-
tt4!prising attorneys to drag the case
out much longer, and he clearly showed
his desire to hurry ii along. He ad-
dressed Longstreet's lawyer in low
tone, and that clustering old gertle-
man arose with a Formidable package
of papers in his hand and began to
make a final plea.
Il feel" he said, that it is needless
for me to say more. These deeds ana
records that we have brought to hight
from dark. moldy vaults of the Re
corder's office and private homes are
abundant proof that the fertile mead
owland of which my client has been
dAfrauded belongs to him in the sight
Of the law. Behold in these documents
a tower of evidence as unassailable as
the pvranlids Consider them and you
will be convinced. 1 can add nothing
to their testimony"
Mrs Cotton's counsel was not to be
outdone in the matter of producing
musty papers.
sT too have in my hand volumes or
documentary evidence" he said, but
what is its value? a second paper
oontradicts the first, and third the
secoNd. and so on. Now, on. which or
them are we to base our trust? Cen
tlemen. / ask you to view this matter
IN the light Of humanity and common
sense This beautiful section of upland
meadow has been part of the Cotton
estate for generations. Is it not my
clients by right of possession and culti-
walton? But, setting aside those in
disputable claims, there is another
phase Of the question I would have
YOU consider we'll The. piece of con-
tested property is but small in area,
!, f,7n Ion a
been enriched not only by withered
frost-whitened harvests and herbage
There are ashes Of humanity
renosing in its bosom. They
who were once endowed with the
forms Of men and women have turned
to dust there. In other words, gentle
men. this strip of land which unscru-
pulous persons would wrest from my
client contains part OF family pury-
ing ground. Generations of Cottons
have been laid to rest in those meadow
slopes. Would my adversary desecrate
so sacred a spot? Would you, gentle
men, allow him to do so?
There was a pause, during which the
Judge and jury were expected TO make
up .heir minds just what ought TO be
permitted in that direction; then the
lawyer resumed with added feeling:
THE entire burial ground is not IN
cluded in this bit of earth, but should
the boundary line now separating the
Cotton estate from the Longstreet farm
be removed one rod west. as proposed,
one corner of the graveyard viii be cut
off and added to the possessions Of a
strange That one corner contains a
grave that is very dear to my client
Gentlemen, ir that tomb repose the re-
mains of her husband, Hobart Cotton.
Would you deprive a widow of the
right 20 consecrate the resting place of
a loved one with holy, penitential tears
and bedack II with garlands of beauty.
Would you, l say, tear Hobart Cotton
from the home of his boyhood, yoat1
and manhood and bestow his ashes
upon an uEfeeling monster in the guise
of a man who has no care either for
scrrowing woman or rejoicing angel?'
1t was thought by some of his audi
tors that the latter sentence was not III
the best of taste, but at any rate he
had put \ momentous question and
everybody was visibly affected by it.
eNNNlG NNA6AAN6G6 4