The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-31
A Breach Of
Promise Case
By F. A. mitchell


10 pursue the profession she has been
studying under my tutelage. We are
race OF lawyers and my daughter In
herits the family inclination. After
giving an affirmative answer to your
suit she fell to considering that mar
riage would necessarily prevent her
following a legal career"
1T seems to me, judge, that this is a
case of breach OF promise. /. too. have
Inherited legal instincts from a long
line of jurlsts. My great grandfather
was an associate United States justice,
my grandfather was an eminent crimi-
nal lawyer
Enough. You enter charge against
| my daughter Of breach of promise.
You shall have an opportunity to sub
stantiate II and she to plead"
! The judge called a maid and told her
TO ask Miss Margaret to step into his
study. The lady came in, somewhat
! surprised to see Mr.. Tanning there and
curious to know why she had been
summoned.
MY dear" said her father, MIR.
Tanning charges you with breach OF
promise. | do not understand that it
is for the purpose of claiming dam
ages, but / cannot allow you to treat
any one unfairly. What have you to
say to the charge of accepting him and
then throwing him over?"
II plead not guilty."
Every well. Now, Tanning, you may
proceed to state your case"
MY attentions to Miss Margaret
have been noticeable and noticed by
our mutual friends for months. She
has accepted various trif1es from me.
especially gifts of flowers, indicating
that my attentions were agreeable to
her Last evening / called upon her.
We were sitting In a coy room in this
house before fire of blazing logs. An
aroma of the last lot of cut flowers |
sent her, arranged In Dresden vase
by her own shapely hands, pervaded
tue apartment. The CHEEKY freight
coutrasted delightfully."- with the winter
gloom without. We sat side by side
on a large
II objectw cried the lady.
1.-THE objection is not sustained" rul-
ed the judge.
Nevertheless prefer to respect the
Wishes" said the plaintiff.
II will omit the rest of what happened
except so far as it pertains to the law
Of contracts. / then and there asked
your daughter to be my wife. Her
head sank"-
II object againr' cried the lady.
The plaintiff states in one breath that
ne will omit what happened except as
% a contract he claims to have been
made and in the next breaks his prom
Sc"
II beg the defendants pardon con-
inued Mr.. Tanning. What occurred
vas the delight of my life. / was in a
yhirl of joy
~ J. yes" interrupted the judge.
The court understands all that. He
las been there himself. though many
ears ago. Please confine yourself to
be contract"
"Your daughter, her beautiful face
ured against my breast, whispered
Yes
There were a few moments of silence,
yhen the judge announced to his
aughter that he was ready to hear
er defense.
"Your honor" she began-"I mean
apa-I base my defense upon that law
-hich has protected many minor in
n inheritance the law against exert
* undue influence upon a testator.
IT. Tanning sought to deprive the no
e profession of the law of my life's
,rvices. He took advantage of our
easant surroundings, the cheerful
relight. the aroma of flowers, the lux
-ious sofa
"Chair2" interrupted the plaintiff.
Twill you protect me?" cried the girl.
,pealing TO her father.
Another such interruption" said the
dge sternly TO Tanning. ''and win
lie you for contempt"
II claim" the defendant proceeded,
hat Mr.. Tanning took advantage of
ese surroundings to unduly influence
e to bequeath myself to him instead
my natural heir, the law"
And / claim" urged the plaintiff,
hat In giving herself TO the law the
PENDANT disinherits her natural heirs.
husband and children, besides wreck
: the life of myself, the plaintiff in
s case"
l silence followed these words, which
re spoken with great depth of feel
!. 1t was broken by the judge. who
sed of Tanning:
Do you desire to enter any rebuttal
my daughters statement"
No. your honor. I rest my case.
ich l have summed up in my last
rds-that II the contract is broken
will result in the wrecking Of my
!"
I reserve my decision" said the
ge. THE court will take a recess
half an hour. at the end of which
e the decision will be handed down"
Ie retired from the room. leaving the
Intiff and defendant together. In
city half an hour he returned and,
ting himself. appeared to be franz
what be was about 10 say when
daughter spoke:
Tou needn't trouble yourself. papa.
case has been settled out of court
The Judge looked pleased.
what termsT"
We're 10 be married in the spring