The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-08

Q-You have kept company with the fair plaintiff, Miss Phoebe Hilderbrand, believe!
 A.-Yessur.
 Q.-About how long have you kept company with her? A.-Somewhere about 10 years.
 Q.-Did you ever tell her you loved her dearIyf
 A.-Yuh-yuh-yuh-y-e-s.
 Q.-Did you ever tell her you couldn't live without her?
 Al don't recolleckt.
 Q.-If I should fine you for contempt of court in refusin to answer my ques- ton, and send you to States Prison for 10 years, would that help you to rec ollecxt anyl
 A.-Yes, remember now-I told her couldn't live without her. Q.-Did you tell Phoebe that if she didn't marry you-you'd go and drown yourself in Snake Creek? Al reckon l did.
 Q.-Did you ever set day to marry her?
 A.-No-I allus kind of put that of. Q.-But you held her hands and told her you would marry her some day? A.-Yessur.
 Q.-Did you ever kiss herl
 A.-Yessur, quite often. O.-What made you tell Phoebe that you guessed you wouldn't marry her? A.-Well, ever sinct I met Saphronia Willoughby at a spellin bee over to Sorrow Hollow, my love for Phoebe has begin to grow cold, and being as I tb;otx Caohroa;a 1,,o,,1d V,aata y1,a q hat. ter wife than Phoebe, calkilated I would marry her if she'd have me.
 Judge Hillyer then told Lige that would be all, after which the judge ad dressed the audience He told of how Lige had come into the lonely life of Phoebe Hilderbrand and had sowed the seeds of love in her heart, and how he had kept company with her on Satterday nights until she was so sleepy she couldn't scaircely hold her eyes open. Had held her hands, even kissed her. Had promised to marry her, and then like the villain he was, after pestering her for 10 years of the best part of her | life when she might have had oppor- tunities to marry elsewhere, had told her that his love had grown cold, and that he wouldn't lead her to the alter, thus breaking her trusting heart, as 1t were, into smithereens.
 When Anne got through his speech, there was scaircely dry eye in the audience. Women wept and moaned, , and tears was in the eyes of strong men. It was the pathetikest speech that ever was made by Anne Hillyer who then told Lige to stand up and receive his sentence. Lige rig up and stood before the judge white as sheet, and his legs his feet. The Judge then said:
 "Lige Green, hereby sentence you to pay to Miss Phoebe Hilderbrand the sum of $500, which is the amount you have damaged her affecshions so igno- miniously. Furthermore, until this fine is paid, 1 sentence you to languish in durance vile in the lookup at the town hal"
 Lige nearly tainted away, and would have set down on the floor if there hadn't of been chair behind him. As soon as Lige regained his presence of mind he stood up and told Anne that he didn't think it was right for Anne to be Phoebe's loryer and also the judge in the case, but Ame hit the table with his mallet so hard that the head flew offen it, and told Lige to shut up and set down or he would make the fine $10O0 instid of $500. Lige then asked if he could make one more statement, and Anne finally told him to go ahead and be quick about it.
 Lige rig to his feet and said that being as he didn't have but SIS to his name, 1t was ridiklus to expeckt him to pay Phoebe $500 and if it was agree able 10 all parties concerned, he would change his mind and marry Phoebe, because it was cheaper to do that than to pay her damages, and besides he didn't want to languish in durance vile very much.
 At tbis juncshion Anne and Phoebe whispered together for some time, after which Anne announced to the audience