The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-02-08
MISCELLANY.
Written for the Phil. Saturday Courier.
LEAVES FROM THE PORTFOLIO OF A
PRACTISING LAWYER.
TIL E BRA Ell EFT .
DY HENRY LEGARE.


i hope may be able TO do so, Duncan repli.
ed his lstner, young lawyer, very little Older
however, than his client, but fearI cannot-the
evidence is too strong. But will try. Can you
find any one that will 90 her baili You are moi
a house-keeper, and cannot
4 do not know, SIR replied the client; perhaps
my employer, Mr.. Murphy, may be willing to do
so'
You had better see him at once said Mr. Hart
| ley-that was the attorneys name-'for Mary poor
girl, out not to suffer the contamination of pris-
on
She would die there, indeed she would ? was
| The passionate answer, and at the thought the
speaker burst into tears. Mr.. Hartley he con-
| tinued, forgive me, my heart is brokenr
| DO not despond, Duncan said the other, feel
ingly and kindly all may yet be wel-at least
hope so!
You believe her guilty, sir; am sure you do,
exclaimed the one have called Duncan; but
| she is not, indeed she is not
i don't know what to believe replied the
lawyer; i cannot conceive any motive for the Of
| fence
And to day we were to have been married.
| thus soliioquized the young man. 1t is too, too
| houiblcr
DO not dcspond, Duncan said Hartley rather
meet this untoward event with fortitude. Go, nv
good fellow, bring Mr.. Murphy here. l will en-
deayor to persuade him to become her security
Il will, SIR replied the client lie shall be here
| III half an hour
ley. 4 told the officer who had her in charge to
stop here on his road to prison. BE quick, and
| will detain him until you return
God bless you, sir 7 calculated the other hur
rying away if life and death were in his speed.
1t was u common case, one of larceny, which
was just now presented TO the notice of Hartley
| and one moreover, on which his mind was alrea-
l d. il, Ill, Cen
| or, their remained 4 slight doubt-a doubt, which
| took its rise not only in the youth, beauty, and
previous uncXceptionable character of the prison
| err but in the fact that she was on the point of
| marriage with one who had been her PLAYMATE
| from infancy.-Could she, and at such a time.
have risked every thing, her own hopes and his
Happiness, from the qualification of contcmpti-
bic vanity It seemed scarcely possible.
While Mr.. Hartley was engaged in coming o.
yer the evidence that had just been given before
the magistrate, the. officer with his prisoner enter
ed the room.
Good morning, again. SIR said the functionary.
I've brought you the Young woman you wanted to
sec"
i see You have replied Hartley, rising from
his chair and bowling to the girl, and if you will
do me another favor, shall be still more Obliged
10 you This young ladys friend has gone for hel
security, who will be here directly. ] wish YOU to
await until he arrives. You shall lose nothing by
your complaisance.'
In course l will, sir returned the constable
always happy to accommodate you, Master Hart
ley
VIII you accommodate me n little further q as
ked Hartley, smiling. VIII YOU allow me little
| private conversation with my client? Nay" he
continued, 'yOu need not be under any apprchen-
sion; for ] viii be answerable that She does moi
| escape
It's not exactly regular replied the officer but
seeing it's you, sir
Thank you, that will do said Hartley, rs the
officer arose and retired. Now, Mary he con-
Iinued, drawing his chair little closer to that of
the girl, 4 must ask you few questions; had but
little time YOU know TO confer with you before the
| magistrate
i am ready sir. TO answer any thing that you
| may ask replied the young woman, but before
| do so, suffer me TO assure you Of my innocence
Had you not better lay aside your bonnet and
shawl = said Hartley, without seeming 10 notice
| her remark: The day is warm one and YOU NAV
| have TO remain some time
Thank yOu, will, sir replied the girl, i will
| for | am faint
This is very unpleasant business said Hart
ley, fixing his eyes on her countcnance. You say
that YOU did not take the bracelet.
i lid not returned the girl; i found it.
Found itp Where 2
In the street, and when Miss Hargrave was in
When did you see Miss Hargrave have the
| bracelet last q
The morning she went out of town, clasped
it on her arm
And when did you find itp
"A week afterward, sir
If Your story true, the bracelet cannot be
hers
But she swears it is hers
When you picked it up, did you not think it was
her's?'
did not, returned the girl, decidedly, although
l thought it very like it..
Miss Hargrave asserts that, when YOU first saw
the bracelet, you were extravagant in your admir-
alton of it
Il think 1 said that should like to own such
bracelet
Did you mention to any one the fact of your
! having found it q
i did not
How came Miss Hargrave to suspect you of
having stolen it
1 do not think she did suspect me- replied the
girl. She missed her bracelet and Mr. Hargrave
had the house searched He it was who found il
in my trunk
And do you now believe the bracelet to belong
10 Miss Hargrave 2?
i do; has she not swore it does g
Pray, Mary asked Mr. Hartley, somewhat
hesitatingly, for his clients calm, quiet and
truthful manner had impressed him in spite of
himself, ARE you quite certain that you found
The bracelet
And you, sir do you too doubt me r-ex-
claimed the unfortunate girl, bursting into a
passionate flood of tears. what have done
that | should be thus oppressed?
MY good girl, replied Hartley, somewhat
deprecatingly, Il did not mean to hurt your
feelings, but
The evidence, as you call it, is so strong
returned the girl, recovering herself and re-
Stunning her former placid demeanor, 4 know
it, sir; it is positive; nevertheless l am inno-
cent
i have no doubt-that is, very little doubt
OF it, returned Hartley, who, though desiring
10 credit his clients statement, still believed
Miss Hargrave's direct testimony, which was
most TOD plain, too positive, to be thus impea-
Here's MIR. Murphy, SIR said Duncan, may
we come in?-at the same time opened Hart
4