The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
s AIN AN D
SIN n f R

1t was midafternoon of a day in the be-
ginning of autumn and the heat had
tempted many of the citizens of Lagrange
TO seek the seductive GOODNESS of the shade
in the courthouse yard.
There was the big. red-faced sheriff. the
county clerk, who was a candidate for re-
election. and the auditor. admitted to be in
the hands of his friends, who took good
care that he remained there
You might also find amongst the gather
ing the majority OF the bar of Oldham
county. together with a goodly sprinkling
of other professions: indeed, almost every
body in Lagrange who wished TO keep in
touch with the public veal visited the
courthouse green at some time within the
course of the afternoon. 1t was shirt
sleeved congregation that sat tipped back
in chairs under the trees or reclined upon
the grass in easy attitude. Judge Eidridge
De Haven. however, wore his accustomed
suit of linen.
The big bell in the tower had changed
out the hour of 8, and its echoes having
died away the sparrows began again their
interrupted chattering: overhead the mar
tins twittered and wheeled, and a catbird
rendered a medley of popular bird airs.
Several dogs lay stretched out in the damp
est spots obtainable, sleeping fitfully be-
tween fly bites. The square was nearly
deserted by teams, and the clerks lounged
on boxes in front of the stores. talking.
laughing and playing pranks; the town
watering cart having sprinkled one side
of the street turned about and sprinkled
the other side, carefully skipping those who
hl>x, IN, Irc
top-buggy. riding with one foot out upon
the steps; upstairs over the corner drug
store man was practicing upon cornet
The afternoon mail from Louisville had
come and gone everybody had been to the
postoffice, the daily papers had been read
and digested and the topics of the day
were being discussed in a desultory fashion.
Judge Eldridge De Haven, who was not
judge, but had been, spat with liquid
gurgle and shifted his chair out of the
range of a persistent sunbeam. The judges
personal habits were a trial to his maiden
sister, with whom he lived, and perpetual
menace to his capacious shirtfront; there
were also other things darkly limited of
concerning the judge-one that he was a
lover of certain American game known as
poker, the other that he was connoisseur
in the art of selecting good whisky. This
reputation the judge derided in public and
defended in private. Let them accuse me
of what they WILL" he was wont to re-
mark, after the manner of turning the
wind with feather, but let no man say
that 1 am not a gentleman
Judge, what do you think of the Far
rington decision?" asked Attorney Ward
~ ~ fha firm, Of NVar q
WELL" returned the judge, laying a
smooth, fat finger in the palm of his hand,
now the facts of the case are these,
gentlemen."-he glanced Complementary
at the assemblage to make sure all were
listening-"this decision is not good law;
it is contrary to public policy, it is-what
is that you say, Jim? Speak UP. sonny,
Some one in my Officer Very well, very
WE'LL" And taking up his hat and cane
he departed.
"Ah" he exclaimed, still putting from
his long climb up the stairs, good after
noon, Mrs. Appleby. 1t is Mrs. Appleby,
isn't it? 1 hope you are quite well. We
are having delightful weather, but a trife
warm; yes. a trife warm
He seized pam-leaf fan and. seating
himself. used 1t vigorously
Can be of any use to you, madam
She did not reply at once, but looked
vaguely ABOUT the room, at the pictures on
the wall, at the cobwebs that hung in fes-
toons from the corners Of the ceiling. al
anything, but the judge.
1T is about Tom-Tom Appleby, my hus-
band. You know him, do you not?'
Very well; very well, indeed said the
ri b;v fot H;, A On.
man was Wilson Appleby; he was in my
regiment In the late war, madam. Let me
see; he died in 'S5, or was it '95? Yes, II
| was '95. 1 remember the bar attended in q
body. / knew his wife, too-Toms mother
| she was a Robertson, from over at SCOTS
| VILE"
He sighed and gazed out of the window
across into the wooded bluffs of the 1ndi
| ana side.
And what about your husband?" asked
| the judge, coming back out of the past. HE
| is well, hope 1 have not seen him lately
! The muscles of the woman's throat quiv
cred and she swallowed convulsively.
1T is not that she said family. Ton
is we'll enough. / do not know what to do
L am in trouble. There must be an enc
to something. l will not stand it,
ITO be sure; to be sure" said the judge
soothingly, rocking to and fro in his chair
"Of course you will not. Now what is it p
+. Il think she replied slowly and pain
| fully lit must be a divorce l can't liv,
| with him any longer
She turned about and buried her face IL
/ the back of the chair.
"A divorced. The judge handled the wore
carefully as If it might be a vicious ser
| pent. "A divorce he repeated, beginning
to get ponderously upon his feet. Madam
you Will pardon if L decline the case
| have never yet handled divorce suit, anC
1 believe L little too old to Begin
He walked stifiy to the window ant
| gazed over the shivering cottonwoods dowr
upon the river, where steamer churneC
! bravely up midstream with whole convo,
/ of coal bargcs like a duck and her brood o.
| young. A humble bee hummed in, bumped
angrily against the pane and fell to the sill
| below, then, having arisen and brushed
! himself, hummed out again: a fresh brecz,
| blew from off the water and the judge tool
deep breath and faced about. The woman
| was still there with her head against tn,
chair back.
II give you the address of a youn.
| lawyer whose ideas of divorce are mor'
modern than mine. He will. no doubt. taxi