"You don't know this country, Captain, and you don't
know Judge Reeves. He's a trifle old, but game as a fighting cock, and
not to mention a few duels in his time, he knows more even about guns
and dogs to-day than he does about law. He'll not be offended if I ask
him, and here goes."
He edged off through the crowd, and we saw him engaged in earnest
conversation with the judge. To our surprise and amusement we observed
the judge climb hastily down out of his carriage and take Major
Williams' arm.
Judge Reeves was a tall, thin man, whose long hair and beard were
silvery white, yet his stature was erect and vigorous. It was always
said of him that he was the most dignified man in the State of Missouri,
and that he carried this formality into every detail of his daily life.
The story ran that each night, when he and his aged consort retired,
they stood, each with candle in hand, on either side of the great bed
which all their married life they had occupied in harmony. She, formally
bowing to him across the bed, said "Good-night, Judge Reeves"; whereat
he, bowing with yet greater formality, replied, "Good-night, Mrs.
Reeves." Each then blew out the candle, and so retired! I cannot vouch
as to the truth of this story, or of the further report that they
carried out their ceremony when seating themselves at table, each meal
of the day; but I will say that the appearance of this gentleman would
have given such stories likelihood.
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