Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-01-19
HER JUDICIAL
FRIEND
By SARAH BRYCE VAUGHAN
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

Frankly, Amy. / don't like his
looks He is not to be depended upon"
ooh, heavensw
81 am sorry l said it. Don't let ii
trouble you for an instant. You asked
me for my opinion Of him, not some
one else's opinion. Try again; ask
others. If they agree with me, drop
him. If they do not, pay no attention
to what have said"
''That's just like you, Ruth. You
have taken a wise course-a judiciouS
course-I may say judicial course.
Men say that we women should never
be judges or jurymen. Your action
disproves this. You have given me the
benefit Of your impressions, but have
admonished me that unless l get con-
frmatory evidence to pay no attention
to them"
81 trust you will show yourself as
worthy to receive them as you con
slider me worthy to give them
"What do you mean"
"That you are under no considera-
ton to reveal to your lover the fact
that 1 have even given you any opin-
ion."
then said, 81 suppose l shouldn't, so
won't-that is, if you won't let me-"
certainly, won't let you! Do you
PROMISE?
eyes; promise"
eff you tell, that will end our friend
ship forever"
Miss Brickwell asked a number of
persons what they thought of her low
er, and not one confirmed the opinion
Of her friend. Indeed. all those she
consulted told her that they had been
very much pleased with his personnel,
and those who knew him spoke very
highly Of him. This lifted q load from
her shoulders. She religiously kept
faith with her friend, refraining from
mentioning the matter between them
to her lover or any one else
But time came when she began to
wonder if Ruth were not right, after
all. The lovers calls became less and
less frequent. He grew undemonstra-
tive. There could be no doubt that he
was preparing to throw off the chain
that bound him to his fiancee. One
evening when he showed this DISPOSE
ton she said to him:
Il was warned against you soon aft
er we became engaged"
''Who warned you?'
Il have promised not to tell that"
''Was your friend man or Woman?"
"WOman."
well, why didn't you take her ad-
vice and shake me?"
"The person who warned me was a
very superior woman. After warning
me she told me to get the opinion of
others, and if they did not confirm hers
| was to pay no attention to what she
had said. You see, she had a judicial
mind"
'And you asked the others?"
II did, but it turned out she knew
better than they"
Il should like to know the name Of
this judicial person."
"That you can't know"
"And you supposed that the people
you asked for their impressions of me,
knowing that you were engaged to me-,
would. tell you the truth?"
81 asked them all to be frank"
"Stupid.'
It's not pleasant to be called fool.
Miss Brickwell pouted, but said moth
ing.
I'm going to tell you something"
said her fiance. Il have heard reports
about you that have needed investiga
ton. After a man is married he
should scout evil reports about his
wife; before marriage it is better that
they should be cleared up. I'm going
to make a confession as well. An old
flame of mine has appeared on the
scene, and I've been with her a great
deal lately
you have?'
Eyes, l have, my reason being that
l suspected she was the author of
these reports about you. | concluded
to renew my devotion to her for de-
tective purposes. l have found out
nothing as yet, but l hope to soon.
She supposeS me to be on the eve of
breaking with you and renewing my
engagement to her."
''The horrid thing! Who is she?'
81 am not just yet ready to tell you.
l may suspect her wrongfully. If so
you will never know. But this person
whose judicial talent you appreciate
so highly-Tm not going to ask you
to break a promise, but I'm going to
mention the name of a woman l sus-
pect. You need make no reply. I
caught all the information l require
without one l suspect Ruth Swain"
The young lady started.
81 am confirmed In the opinion" her
lover continued. that your judicial
friend and my former fiancee, who ex-
poets soon to be re-engaged to me, are
one and the same person."
The girl first turned red, then pale