Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-05-12
LEGAL ADVICE.

ut certainly do beat the band" 20
liloQuized the white-haired old JUS
tice of the peace, as his Office door
closed behind his latest client, what
tangles these here married people kin
git into
Il allus WISH" he said aloud, when
q case of thet kind comes up, that
could talk to Maria about it. But II
what the Bible says is true, the old
soul amt bothered about lawsuits
now"
Suddenly his meditations were in
terrupted by the opening of the door
and an elderly lady, carefully gowned
ty, entered the squire's sanctum and
confidently settled herself in the most
comfortable unoccupied chair.
Squire Perkinson," began the wom-
an, brusquely. I've never ben to court,
but I've got to go now"
Lucinda Wiggins,' interrupted the
squire, sharply, "afOre you begin on
your own business. l want to tell you
some of mine If l could have made
wish a while ago, not bein' able to
consult with Maria, as you know. !
would have wished to have you come
in, SO could ask your advice. You've
known me nigh onto forty years, an
l guess you know l amt one of them
men tibet cry down women. No ma am;
l think at times their intuition beats
mems reason all to pieces. Now, l got
a little legal matter I'd like to submit
to ye-knOwin' your reputation for
secrecy"
Nov, 1 call tibet a downright SEN
sible statement, by sensible man.
more'n you kin say of most of EN-"
commented the old lady
WALL" began the squire. 'this
here's the case. A man comes into
this office today that used to own
good farm somewheres down on New
creek. He was always a rather easy
goin' Teller and didn't pay much at
tention to farmin' After a couple of
years of bad farmin' the farm had
to be sold for taxes. His wife went
back to live with her father, and he.
thoroughly ashamed of himself, went
out west. Now he's back here to try
to git back tibet farm. He don't know
who owns it now, but as the law says
a tax title is no good until after a
~toir lon f1 Of ho cff har
time to pay the taxes and keep the
land. He says his wife would know
all about it, but he and his wife amt
on speakin' terms. I told him I'd in
all if he didn't want to, but the stub
born fool lowed as how he wouldn't
be beholden to her and eff he couldn't
git the land without her help he didn't
want it, because he felt she didn't JUS,
treat him right. Now, Lucinda, wha;
do you think of tibet situation?"
"Thet mans a fool" she said. Mos,
likely their quarrel don't amount to
nothin' anyway, and talkin' the case
over might bring 'em together agin
She will know all about the land, bu.
YOU needn't tell either one of them
what you're up to- and her eye:
sparkled with confidence in the wis
dom of her suggestion.
WALL" murmured the squire, ct;
like an awful lot to bring 'em to.
gether.''
Mrs. Virgins looked up quickly to
see who had interrupted them.
"Silas,' she stammered, then rose
quickly and moved towards the door
'Lucinda,' answered the man.
The old squire had moved over near
the door and stood directly in front of
Lucinda, cutting off her only means of
escape from the room. Taking his
blackened pipe from his mouth, he be-
gan slowly:
"Silas, I've got expert advice about
tibet case O. your'n and I've followed
it. Lucinda, you've got to make that
advice good if you're woman of your
own convictions, which | think vol
are. You said as how perhaps talkin'
over the case would bring tibet Teller
and his wife together. Wall, you and
Silas amt spoke in two years, but
you've got ter speak now. Lucinda,
it's yer own husban' what wants to
git back thet farm, and you know
more about it than any one else. Now
you excuse me minute, while 1 run
over to see Bill Stone about putting
in my winter supply of cord wood.
When come back, you kin tell me all
the facts in the case"
1t was fully an hour before the squire
mounted the dusty stairs that led to
his dingy office. There sat Silas and
Lucinda, their heads bowed over a
sheet of paper upon which Silas fig
ured hopelessly, while Lucinda watch
ed silently.
At the squire's entrance the man
arose and looked in every direction
save that of the squire.
''Wall." he began, "I've found out
Lucinda has my farm and I've just
been fgurin' how much 1 owed her,
taxes, interest and all. Seems her
father bought the farm in, and just
afore he died he gave her a deed for
1t. So me and Lucinda hev come to
sort of agreement between our
Selves
Personal agreement chimed in
Lucinda, blushing like a school girl
"Oh," unused the squire, visibly
pleased, then there amt goin' to be
no suit?'
NO" anwsered Silas, 'but Of
course, We both feel you've earned
your fee, don't we, Lucinda?''
'Silas," began the old squire, his
voice slightly trembling, eff any one
gets fee out of this case, it's Lucin-
da, for it was her advice that settled
it. I'm glad you've got the farm. for
you've got Lucinda to enjoy it with
We, and 1 can stand losin' a fee. You
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