Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-12-20
Select MltsteIIonp.
TALES OF A BARRISTER.
THE SECOND MARRIAGE.


accosted me, and presented brief; and at tn
same time rendering the fee of two guinea
marked upon it.
81 am engaged tomorrow, Mr.. Barnes"
exclaimed little testify, on civil side besides
you know very seldom take brief in the Crow
Court even if profered in due time and to
morrow will be the last day of the assize il
Chester There are plenty ofunemployed coun
sci who will be glad Of your brief"
"ltis brief in action of ejectment," repec
the attorney" Woody rerSus Thorndyke; ant
Is brought to recover possession of freeho,
estate now held and farmed by The defendant"
L" An action of eiectment to receiver possession
ola freehold estate defended, too, | know, BY
a powerful bar for | was offered brief, bu
declined it Mr. P leads and you bring
me this tor the plaintiff, and at the last momen
tool You must be crazed."
81 told the plaintiff and her grandfather" re-
joined Mr. Barnes, that it was too late to be
speak counsels attention to the case and thai
the fee, all they have with much difficulty beer
able to raise, is ridiculousy small but they in.
sisted on my applying to you -- Oh, here
they are"
We had by this time reached the street, and
the attorney pointed towards two figures stand
ing in an attitude of anxious suspense near the
gateway 1t was dusk, but there was quite suf
hcient light to distinguish the pale and interest.
ing features of a young female, dressed in faded
and scany mourning, and accompanied by a
respectable looking old man with white hair and
countenance deeply lurrowed by age and
grief
{" told you, Miss Woodey," said the attor.
ney, "that this gentleman would decline the
brief, especially with such a fee"-
1t is not the fee, man." | observed, for |
was somewhat moved by the appealing detection
exhibited by the white haired man and his timid
grand daughter but what chance can have
OF establishing this PERSONS right--if right she
have-to the estate she claims thus suddenly
called ., gpRa fi g sGs yiieass
Iceivc hastily scrawleAbsisf ill i..-s.'ot me-
Eboth of the nature of the plaintiffs claim and Of
the defence intended to be set up against it Z"
"If you would undertake it, sir" said the
young woman with tremulous hcsitating voice
and glittering eyes, 81 for his sake"-aild she
glanced at her aged companion" who will else
be pless, homeless"
"The blessing of those who are ready to per-
ish will be yours, sir" said the grandfather with
meek soemnity, if you will lend your aid in
this work of justice and mercy We have no
hope of outstanding the masterlul violence and
wrong of wicked and powerful men except by
The aid of the law, which we have been taught
will ever prove u strong tower of defence tC
those who walk in the paths Of peace an(
right"
The earnestness of the old mans languag
and manner, and the pleading gen:lencss of til
l young womaD, forcibly impressed me: and, a
belt it was somewhat unprofessionai mode c
I business, determined to hear their story fro
their own lips, rather than take it from til
scrawled brief or through the verbal medium
their attorney.
"You have been truly taught" | answered
o :. and if really entitled to the property you clair
know of no masterful men that in this land
is England can hinder you from obtaining posse
sion of it. Come TO my hotel in about an no
and half from hence: | shall then have lcisu
to hear what you have to say. This fee" ad
ed taking the two guincas from the hand oft
g attorney, who still held the money ready for t
acceptance, "you must permit me TO return.
is too much for you to pay for losing your eau:
,e md if gain it-but mind not promise to Ia
it into court unless am thoroughly satisfied y
have right and equity on your side shall {
ed pect much heavier one, Mr.. Barnes, | "
see you, if you please, early in the morning"
then bowed, and FASTENED Oh.
Dinner was not ready when arrived at
v hotel and during the short time | had to vi
more than half repented of having anything
do with the unfortunate suit. However,
= peadings of charity, the suggestions of hun
kindness reasserted their influence ; and by
ess time my new clients arrived which they did
ny punctually at the hour had indicated, |
D quite regaincd the equanmity had moment
" lost, and thanks to nine hosts excellent
@ ands and generous wine, was, for lawyer
very amiablc and benevolent humor indeed.
Our conference was long, anxious, and III
tisfactory. was obliged 10 send for Bar
I've before it concluded, in order to thoroughly as
tam the precise nature of the case intende
own be set up for the defendant, and the eyide
likely to be adduced in support of 1t. No ra
i consolation or of hope came om that quarte
his Still the narrative had Just listened to. bea
as it did the impress oftrulh and sincerit
every sentence, strongly disposed me to bel
that foul play had been practised by he c
T. side and determined at all hazards to 90
court, though with faint hope indeed of pre-
successful issue.
at appears more than probable" rema
on dlsmissing my clients, " that this will
fabrication; but before such question had
Wv put in issue before a jury, some produciblo
dence Of its being so should have been so
for and drained AS is, | can only watcl
ngle defendants proof of the gcnuineness of tn
than strument upon which he has obtained prob
the one or more of the attesting witnesses mr
fraud has been plaetced, break down un,
searching cross-examination, or inciden
tiers, perhaps disclose matters for further inves
pear ton"
"one of the atte8ting witnesses is, as |