Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-04-20
SOFT ANSWER.
BY t. 8. ARTHUR,

"I'lI give him law to his hearts content,
the scoundrel !'' said Singleton, walking
backward and forward, in an angry state
of excitement.
"Don't call harsh names, Mr.. Single
tom" said lawyer Trueman, looking up
from the mess of papers before him, and
smiling in quiet, benevolent way, that
was peculiar to him.
"Every man should be known by his
true name. Williams is a scoundrel, and
so he ought to be called" responded the
client, with increasing warmth.
did you ever do reasonable thing in
your life when you were angry?'' asked
Mr.. Trueman. whose age & responsibility
gave him the license to speak thus freely
to his young friend, for whom he was en-
deavoring to arrange some business diff.
Guilty with former partner.
II can't say that ever did, Mr.. True
man, but now have good reason for being
angry, and the language l use in reference
TO Williams, is but the expression ola So
Der and rational conviction" replied Sin.
gleton, a little more calmly.
"Did you pronounce him scoundrel
before you received this reply to your last
lettsr?' asked Mr. Trueman.
"No, did not but that letter confirm
ed my previously formed Impressions of his
character"
but l cannot find, in that letter, any
evidence proving your late partner to be
dishonest man. He will not agree to your
proposed mode OF settlement, because he
does not see it TO be the most proper way"
HE won't agree TO it, because it is an
honest. an equitable mode of settlement,
that is all He wants to over-reach me,
and is determined TO do so if he can !"
responded Mr.. Singleton, still excited.
"There you are decidedly wrong" said
the lawyer. "You have both allowed
yourselves to become angry, and are both
unreasonable; and if must speak plain
ly, think you are the most unreasonable,
in the present case. Two angry men can
bever settle any business properly. You
have unnecessarily increased the difficult
ties in the way of a speedy settlement, by
writing Mr.. Williams an angry letter,
which he has responded to in the like an
happy temper. Nov, if l am to settle
this business for you, must write all
letters that pass to pass to Mr.. Williams,
in future"
"But how can you express my views &
feelings !"
"That lido not wish to do, if your views
and feelings are to remain as they now
are for anything like an adjustment of
the difficulties, under such circumstances,
| should consider hopeless" replied Mr..
Trueman.
"Well, let me answer this letter, and
after that | promise that you shall have
your own way.
"No, shall consent to no such thing.
It is the reply to that letter which is to
modify the negotiation for a settlement,
in such way as ty bring success or fail
ure, and have no idea of allowing you,in
the present state of your mind, to write
such an one as will most assuredly defeat
an amicable adjustment"
Singleton paused for some time before
making q reply. He had been forming
in his mind most cutting and bitter re-
joinder to the letter just alluded to. and he
was very DESTROYS that Mr.. Williams sho'd
have the benefit of knowing that he tho't
him ''trickey and deliberate scoundrel, !"
with other opinions Of > similar character.
He found it, therefore, impossible to make
up his mind to let the unimpassioned Mr..
Trueman write this most important epis-
tie.
"Indeed, / must write this letter, Nh.
Trueman," he said. "There are some
things that | want to say 10 him, which
know you won't write. You don't seem
to consider the position in which he has
placed me BY that letter, nor what is OBJ
ligaiory upon me, as man of honor.
never allow any man to reflect upon me,
directly or indirectly, without . prompt
response"