The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-11-01
By Order Of
Court
q
By Archey Cameron New

{: s
copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Nawspa-
per Syndicate.) '. .-
Sleepy desolation settled more thick
~ on the courthouse square at placid
Euclid Corners as the mercury stead
lily rose in the tube and the county
seat sizzled under the fierce summer
heat. Even the few horses hitched out
side the general store while their mas
tiers dawdled on the steps with old Zeb
Marks, were too lazy to brush aside
the flies that swarmed about their
sweaty TANKS.
X, In the old courthouse across the
square the county clerk and his single
assistant, perched upon their high
wooden stools, scrawling at the docket,
bemoaned the fate that kept them
there while the summer recess afford
ed some of their more fortunate breth-
rem chance to get away to cooler
chmes. But off in one corner of the
old gray building, in small chamber,
rather imperfectly cooled by a large
electric fan, lounged one individual
who seemed to care not whether the
rest Of the world was sizzling. For be-
hind a desk, heaped high with law
books, stenographers' copies, blue
prints and papers of every description,
his feet encased in large, roomy gai-
ters, and resting on the desk before
him, huge silk 'kerchief' wrapped
about his seamy neck and an old green
eyeshade perched atop his broad, hu-
morous nose, old Judge Bates sat
howsily staring at the printed page
before him, his thoughts afar off.
And into his musings, as if it were
a dream, there stole the sounds CT
the rustic of woman's dress, and sud-
denly he turned his head toward the
haff-opened door. and brought his feet
abruptly to the floor. For young, de-
liciously cool little apparition in thin
blue frock, revealing white, rounded
throat and slender, graceful figure
from the top of her glorious golden
head to the tip of her tiny slippers,
advanced toward him, a troubled look
in her big blue eyes.
swell, bless my soul =" exclaimed the
Judge, kindly, rising and extending his
horny brown paw and grasping her
slim white hand cordially; little Ruth
iMarston. What brings you in town
todayT'
~I-came-for advice" faltered the
girl nervously.
swell, this is the place." said the
other, smilingly. ''Here-sit down."
And he graciously brushed the dust
from an old armchair and beckoned
the orphaned daughter of his old law
partner to be seated. "What is the
treuble?'
She regarded him a moment in
doubt, then plunged ahead.
T-er-lf-er," she stammered, and
he leaned forward and patted her hand
reassuringly.
"Go ahead" he urged, in a kindly
tone. 'Don't be afraid, Ruth. You're
just like my own daughter. Is it-er-
love AFFAIR."
, She stared and looked into his keen
eyes De1OEe replying.
t'Y-yes," she admitted, blushing f,1-
riously. "I-wanted to know If I could
that is, can young mango back
on you whenever he wants to-"
The old judge whistled.
$780," he exclaimed. "Is that it?
Who's the Teller? Is heal right,
Ruth?"
I'll don't know as I ought to tell
you," she continued, "but I thought
maybe could sue him for breach of
PROMISE
"What!" almost yelled the judge.
"A daughter of Sam Marston suing a
man for breach Of promise? Never.
My dear girl, where's your pride? The
ideal"
She dropped her eyes and blushed
more furiously than ever.
swell, I thought" she started, then
breaking into tears, she cried, through
clenched hands, "but, judge, I love him
so! And do want him. He's so fine,
so noble. And maybe it's my fault.
He"
The judge, who was gazing at her
sympathetically, felt wave of pater-
nal interest surge through him, as he
reached forward again and patted her
arm.
''Come, come" he soothed her.
'sBrace up and tell me all about it.
Breach of promise suits never bring
Fem back. Maybe there's another way.
Tell me, who's the man? And what's
the trouble?''
"It's John Summers" she answered
brokenly, and the Judge jumped again.
''Not that young Teller that's prac-
ticing law over tn way?" demanded
the judge, incredulously. "What
Well, see here, he's a nice boy. Tell
me the rest"
"Well,' she continued, '.he was go
ing with me until papa died. Then he
started to grow cold. He stopped COM
ing to the house, except once in a
while, and then he didn't come at all.
=