Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-08-25

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 a funny affair this
is"
When the case came up for trial
made the discovery that n 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 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 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 Il verdict for her.
For my part, | found a temporary
antidote in my professional position.
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 well and made
a 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 q ruling she smiled at him
and he ruled in her favor. If | was
making a strong point against her she
smiled at 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-
err had not been made-the case was
submitted to the jury l knew before
they retired that the widow had made
the impression on them, as she had on
every one, that the whole affair was 4
farce. besides having captivated them.
They were out ten minutes and re-
turned, finding for the plaintiff and
awarding a damage of = cents.
\ 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 a smile of good will. Any other
kind than the latter was not to be
conceived of from this woman, who
seemed to possess a heart big enough
to take in all mankind.
The matter being settled, ! saw no
reason why l should not call upon
Mrs. Alvord. As | entered | met her
attorney coming out. He looked like a
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 Il smile and
refusal. ! had not got block away
from the house when | saw the judge
who had conducted the trial walking
come. l knew that he was going to
follow in my footsteps and to meet the
same fate l could not learn that any
of the jurymen tumbled in on me and
the Judge, but none of them had any
acquaintance with the widow.
A few days after the trial and our
defeat Jorbert came into my office to
settle up. He was the only man con
nected with the case who had had no
connection with it except TO bring the
suit. OF all of us he seemed in the
most contemplate position. The jury
had virtually snubbed him by decid-
ing in his favor and assuming that his
broken heart was worth but two cents.
But he showed No modification at his
defeat. | assumed thar, having done
the best he could to show the CON
demnation of the woman who had en-
shared him, he was content TO let the
matter rest. He paid my charges and
went away
Soon after this ! received a note
from Mrs. Alvord asking me IL there
would be an appeal. | replied that I
had not received from my client any
notification OF such This brought an
other note in which the writer said
that if the plaintiff thought of max
ing an appeal she would prefer that
he make it to her instead of in the
, courts.
At last after all this fuss. after win
ming over not only her opponents
counsel myself, but judge and jury,
this woman had shown her colors
Cramming back my feelings. | sent my
client the note.
He wrote me Il reply directing me
to inform the late defendant TO his
sdit that, having shown her methods
to the world as caution signal to all
| young men. he had no further interest
in the affair.
This was my last official act in the
case. The widow went back to the
city engaged to the plaintiff and is
now Mrs. Jorbert
A Remarkable Dinner Service.
The remarkable dinner service made
| by Josiah Wedgwood for the Russian
empress. Catherine H.. in 1874 consists
of 952 pieces, and on each piece is
| painted a different view. The body is
of a pale birthstone color, and the
| views are Dainted in n rich ulbprry