Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-09-16

l found myself constantly going to her
home. We were still engaged upon
the question of avoiding-at least
thought we were-a trial of the case.
but got no nearer solution. Then all
Of sudden the lady returned to the
city. leaving matters just where they
had stood from the first.
put into operation the legal ma
chinery preliminary to trial. am
bound to admit that Jorbert had q
good case There was very little evil
dence in writing. but what there was
would count for good deal. For my
part, having made the acquaintance
Of the widow. did not attach any
serious meaning to what she had writ
ten. but the cold pen and ink words
apparently meant quite enough to JUS
tify a finding for the plaintiff. I laid
out my plan Of attack. got my written
evidence all where l could lay my
hands on it and put all the papers in
the safe pending the trial. But did
not put the widow in the safe. That
is. put her there. but she would not
stay there. She was constantly look
ing at me from anywhere. nowhere.
with those eyes Of hers and that i'm
perturbable smile, as much as to say:
Dear me! What u funny affair this
is"
When the case came up for trial
made the discovery that young law
yer just admitted to the bar. one Of
the men whose hearts she had
wrecked. was to conduct her case. l
also learned that the defendant had
been in town a fortnight, and, although
she had not been to see me, she had
made the acquaintance Of the judge
before whom the case would be tried.
knew then that had nothing to hope
for in the way Of rulings from that
Judge. considered it fortunate that
the jury would not be impaneled until
the beginning Of the trial or she
would doubtless hold every one of
them by the heartstrings. As they
were being selected and she was asked
If she objected to a Juror she said.
"Oh, no, not the slightest" and smiled.
just smiled at him; that's all she need
ed to do to make sure that he would
find verdict for her.
For my part. found temporary
antidote in my professional position.
l became absorbed in my work Of plac-
ing my evidence before the jury in its
most favorable light. Though say it
myself. did my work we'll and made
q very strong case. AS for the defense.
there was no defense made worthy Of
the name. But all the while the widow
sat in the presence of the court and
smiled. If the judge was called upon
to make ruling she smiled at him
and he ruled in her favor. If was
making a strong point against her she
smiled ut me and desisted; she
smiled at the jury. the spectators. the
reporters-any one. every one in the
courtroom.
When the evidence was all in and
the rebuttal had been made-or. rath-
er. had not been made-the case was
submitted to the jury. knew before
they retired that the widow had made
the impression on them. as she had on
every one. that the whole affair was a
farce. besides having captivated them
They were out ten minutes and re.
turned. finding for the plaintiff and
awarding damage Of 2 cents.
A very small sum to pay for a bro
ken heart.
When the widow left the courtroom
every man in it arose and bowed to
her as she passed out. She smiled on
US all. 1t was not a smile Of triumph;
it was smile Of good will. Any other
kind than the latter was not to he
conceived Of from this woman, who
seemed to possess heart big enough
to take in all mankind.
The matter being settled. l saw nc
reason why I should not call upon
Mrs. Alvord. AS l entered l met her
attorney coming out. He looked like q
man bent on suicide. Strange to say
his condition did not prevent me from
taking his place. proposing to the wild
ow and receiving in reply smile and
a refusal. | had not got a block away
from the house when I saw the judge
who had conducted the trial walking
in the direction from which I hat
come. I knew that he was going t.
follow in my footsteps and to meet thu
same fate. could not learn that any
Of the jurymen tumbled in on me ant