Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-03-19

Ounty Baf, president OF the Peoples
National Bank and director in half
dozen big corporations. But this
night back in the Eighties he was Il
rising young attorney who was some
what ceremoniou> with the conscious
ness Of recent iudgeship and an
increasing law practise among the
"best people" His wavy black hair
was scrupluouSly barbered and shin
ing with bay rum, he wore choice
set Of the black "sidelight" whiskerS
of the period and tightfitting suit
Of black brOad-cloth reputed to cost
more money than any other combin-
alton of male attire in aPris county.
Jack and Mary climbed the stairs
! to his office in the southwest corner
of teh old Hawkins block with mis-
Rivings amounting almost to panic.
, 1t meant something in those days to
be summoned" to 4 lawyers office
in the evening!
The young Judge was busy with his
law-books as the couple entered. He
arose very dignifedly and motioned
them into the side room dominated
by life-soized print of Daniel Web
ster. They went in and took seas
on the extreme edge of chairs.
At length AMOS Farmer came in,
carrying an envelope of ominous
length which he laid down on the
green baize table. He adjusted
swivel chair for his long richly-clad
legs and seated himself gravely,
lighting cigar with the niceity of n
priest kindling sacred alter fire.
81 hope" faltered Mary, "you
haven't called us down. on account of
bad news"
ayes and no. replied the Judge,
clearing his throat. Which only
made the young man and woman the
more uneasy.
Jack whetted his lips. Mary grip
ped the chair-arms. Farmer picked
up the long envelope and emptied it
of papers. He unfolded and smooth
ed them on his knee. They looked
to Jack like business letters and let
ter-press replies.
The Judge loved effect in those
days. No one cares less for it at
present.
"Mrs. Purse" he demanded, "where
were you born?"
an Foxboro Center-in Sixty-one."
"And your parents?"
"My father was Frederick Wood.
My mothers name before her mar
rage was Sarah Talmadge."
"Ah, yes. Precisely. Good. Very
Good"
The Judge stroked his silky black
whiskers. He continued:
81 wish to confederate certain, all,
"details in your genealogy. Can you
-ell me anything of your fathers
rorebears?"
"He was the son of Hcbion Wood
Who settled in Bryant township in
His grandfather
vas Micah Wood who fought in the
Battle of Bennington"
"That is going back far enough.
Now about your own grandfather's
amily; about Hebon Wood. Whom
lid he marry?"
Grandma Woods name before she
net Grandpa was Talmadge. l thin,
lei first name was Matilda"
ayes. And Matilda Talmadgc an.l
Iebion Wood rad how many chill =
en?"
"Tour, Judge Farmer. One died
while a baby and is buried beside
Grandpa and Grandma j, the family
OF at the Center. There were two
Joys, my uncles,-Adam and Josiah.
Adam went to aKnsas just after the
var and was killed by the Indians;
Josiah went out to Indianna and later
We heard he was in some kind OF
business in Chicago. He's living
here now, I think. l never saw HIN.
4 ether was the youngest, born while
Grandpa and Grandma lived for
ime on the Holbrook place over to
ferrittsville-"
"There We're no children by your
ncle Adam? Are you positive?"
eve never heard of Uncle Adam
eing married"
"And Josiol. ?"
"Mother said none of the family
card from him much after he went.
rest. There was some trouble be-
ween him and his father, l think"
"Ah, yes. Good. Very Good. Ex-
client. Just as 1 wrote them"
"Wrote who?"
The Judge ignored the question.
t was all part Of his legal "cera-
nony," AS Judge of probate, he
new all of this kineology but also
$ part Of his love for effect, he had
allied upon the woman to 60 through
to add to the mystery and import
f the proceeding.
81 understand you had half
rother who was amply taken care of
y y,m stepfathers demise"
"Why Judge, you know all about
cat. You handled it yourself. But
wouldn't call it he was amply
lken care of. You know the house
idn't bring a buyer on account of
S reputation, what Pa Wheeler
id, and the bank TODD it for
he mortgage. 1t hasn't been sold
ct. has it,"
NO." Farmer answered. "But to
ct back to your halfbrother ard
our immediate family: There were