Her Evidence.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 386, 1 October 1903, Page 7

Her Evidence.

The woman had been summoned to give evidence in the csbo at court, tsind, to use her own expression, she was frightened 'half to death.'

«Serveß you right for getting mixed up in other peopleß'" affairs,' said the man to her, so crossly that she determined she would not ask him a single thing about the procedure j but she forgot in a minute, and asked tremulously * Where does oho sit ?' * Sit ?' queried the man, whose thoughts had wandered. ' What do you mean ?' ' In the court,' explained his companion. •Is the dock a great, high place, fenced round, where every one can look at one ?' ' Witnesses don't sit in a dock. Indeed, there won't be any need for a dock in tbiß case, fox there isn't a prisoner.' •Oh!' said the woman. Then she thought a bit ' What will they ask me?' she demanded. 'Will they ask me my age, for instance ?' The man said they would not, and she looked relieved. 'You understand,' she said, presently, ' I don't in the least mind telling my age, if there were any necessity for doing Bofc but ifc wouldn't have anything to do with this case.' The man said he understood. •What do they do with people who commit perjury ?' asked the woman, after another moment of deep thought. * Give them thirty years,' repeated her mentor, absently. They neared the courthouse, and the woman grasped the man by the arm. * Don't let us go in yet,' she gasped, breathing haid. ' Will the judge rap on tho desk at one if she doesn't talk loud enough ? Would it be perjury if I forgot and said Wednesday instead of Tuesday, for instance ? Do you stand up or sit down while jou are testifying P How do the swear you P Tm needn't ge towards that courthouse, fjr I positively will not go in. I had a great deal rather commit contempt of. court and be sent to prison for thirty days.' 'Don't be bo foolish,' said the man, sententioußly, and led the way into the court room, paying no heed to the woman's final excited quary: ' Do you hare to kiss the Bible P' Daring the testimony of the other witnesses the woman trembled. ' You said witnesses sat down,' she said, reproachfully, when one young man stood up to give his evidence. 'They'll be sorry they ever called me when I have ruined their case, and covered "my friends with confusion by bursting into tears, and that is what I am going to do, I know it. Ob, why was I ever born to make a spectacle of myself in this way ?' 'Keep quiet,' said the man. in * sepulchral undertone. '1 don't bee any jury,' whispered the woman. * There isn't any,' whispered back the mas. ' It isn't a legal trial, then,' murmured the woman; ' but I don't care, for there are twelve pwple less than thero might have been here, or is it nine ?' 'Sileßce-e-e!' said some one, and the woman's same was called. She explained later that" she will never know how she got to the dock—she perEisted in calling it that to the end of the chapter—but once there, she answered the few questions put to her in a voice loud enough to be heard, only forgetting the number of her house, and huriag to grope wildly in her mind for it for a minute or eo before the questioning could proceed. She looked for the man, so that he could convey her encouragement with hia eyes, as he had promised to do, but he had basely deserted her, and got behind a post. The opposing attorney asked her a question, which she answered with a modicum only of intelligence, and then, having done neither good nor harm to the case, Bhe was allowed to step down. ' How did I do ?' she asked the man, smilingly, as they retraversed the corridors. 'Not so bad. I fancy. I don't mind in the least I wouldn't mind doing it for a living. It takes a self-possessed woman to give intelligent testimony.' ' Hare you any idea what you said ?' asked the man.

' Not the slightest,' replied the woman, airily. ' I was too excited to notice.' 'Then/ said the other, in portentous tones, * I have the pleasure to inform you that jou have perjured yourself beyond the shadow of a doubt.' * But I couldn't havo done that, for I didn't take any oath.' ' You did not ? What do you suppose that elderly individual said to you when you went into the witness-box and held up your hand ?'

•I am sure I don't know/ said the ' w"n<ui, falteringly. »i thought he was telling me where to sit. I could not understand a word, and he did not bave any Bible with him, did he P*

* You will be arrested before the night is over,' eaid the man, grimly, 'and get thirty years.'

And then he left hiß trembling victim to her doubts and fears, and went on hiß way smiling sardonically.