The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1898-04-26

left-which last party can't appear.
Ha, ha,," laughed Farmer Watt. Just
you keep them purity ears we'll cooked,
and we'll beat 'em yet
He gaze her a little friendly pat on
the shoulder, as he subsided, which
filed her with suppressed fury, and
reused faint litter from some corner
of the room. Doris caught the sound,
aad her soul was sore with indigaa-
ton; but the plaintiffs lawyer was
closing his side OF the argum snt, and
hurting his sentences straight into the
Jury box, with the true aim Of long
practice. Doris felt her ground slip
ping from under her; all her cleverly-
planned defenses were swept away by
this mastery eloQuence. What could
she say-how could she refyte those
solid points which he was driving il
with all his strength? Once the jury
laughed, TO- Q man; even the Judge
smiled at some droll allusio2-there
was an art in provoking laughter. She
would never be able to do that; she
could only 50 through her speech,
stolidly, and thank her stars when the
ordeal was over.
When Doris rose there fell hush
over the room. She may not have
known it-this fair, slim girl-but her
presence alone sent a telling thunder
bolt into the jury box. 1t was their
first public tussle with g woman, and
they were making ready for the fray;
but the sight Of her standing there, 50
pretty and so earnest, touched a
chord in their finty hearts, and scored
one in her favor.
The family, over in the corner, was
visibly agitated. Doris would not
look that way; she faced the Judge,
and brought her mind sternly to bear
upon the subject. She had declined
to cross examine the plaintiffs wit
nesses, preferring to score them we'll,
in her speech, and so when Farmer
Watt had given MS broad and humor-
ous view Of the tragedy, it remained
only for her to provide the j1ry with
the last threads Of the narrative.
But the mind is peculiar. most
erratie bit Of mechanism, and Doris.
who filled all tho little recesses of
hers with such persistent care and
energy, began suddenly to- grope in
the dark, and not to find what she
wanted. She ransacked the corridors
of her brain, only the echoes mocked
her-tnere was a huge unde6nable
void. Thought was no more, mem
ory was vanished, words seemed mere
ly o chaotic mumbling. What was
the meaning of it all?. What was she
doing in this crowded room, facing
this strange assemblage? She must
60, she could not stay here; but she
was rooted to the spot, her limbs
were deprived Of motion; she tried to
speak, but her tongue seemed para
lyzed; she passed ner hand over her
eyes-sle, must do something, but
she could not see, a great mist rolled
between her and all that outer life
horrible, swirling, engulGng mist; Q
frightened gasp, G little cry, pa
thetic stretching out Of small hands,
and-she burst into tears!
OF course, after that, all was emo
ton. The family, in CONSERVATION,
clustered round and hid the attorney
at-law from public view. The judge
briefly summed up the case and hand
ed it over to tho jury, and the court
took q recess.
Farmer Watt s:orned up and down
tsIf I ever put my trust in awoman
again. Twice & done it to rue ths
5sS asS =ssss&5sfH: HH ss 6ES; f}s; ~ Esss
han pipe Dustin in winter. Eow
re you now?" lie snapped, paus;ng |
n front Of poor Doris, and glaring at
Ter.
"Better, thank you," she said.
neekly. "I-I'm sorry, Dir. Watt.
"Well, you couldn't help it, I.sup- |
,ose. Bein' sorry don't mend the
pitcher, howsorlever. ''It's a pity |
rou're built that way; your j'ints ain;
reasoned yet
sI guess I'll CO." said Doris;
there's no more harm to be done:
"Eumph!" said Farmer Watt.
''The jury is coming in" observed
Marcia; fthey didn't take long to
consider.
And, sure enough, they were fling
nso their box The court was quickly
,alled to order, and the foreman
stepped forward after the usual for
nalities.
ga verdict in favor Of the defen-
liant, your Ronor!''
For one moment there vas dead 81
ence, then, despite the efforts Of the
Jealous clerk, paademonium broke
orth.
Farmer Watt stood stock still. his
nands in his pockets, his eyes aud
mouth vide open with amazement,
hen he uttered q strange whoop OF
triumph, and scattered the family
light and left, as ne ploWed through
them, in his frantic efforts to get at
Doris.
"You done it; you done it!' he
cried, making dash for her hane,
and churning it up and down with
great force. ':Blest, ii you didn't
play that little game we'll. Great
guns! I might have leaked buckets
full CT salt water and it wouldn't ha'
made 10 difference; but you just
souir:ed few drops Of brine out Of
them eyes OF yourn, and you clean
melted them soft fellows up there.
EDWARD Peyton jumped to his feet
and cut him short. "Your Honor,