The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-02-04

which case no offered to drive me over
therefore, if you come to my rooms VI
may hear some tidings of him; although
perhaps, As declined his proposal, h,
may not call; it is all = chance"
"How do you know met" asked the at
torney, as We walked together.
"You are an Oxford man, think; wer,
you not At Magdalen?"
"Yes; and you7 do not remember
you." ~
II was At Worcester. Do you not re
collect that wine.party in Loyd's room.
at Oriel, when the chimney took fire, anc
the punch spoiled? Imst you there."
"To be sure; how could | forget! Ant
what have you been doing since?"
"Marvelously little"
"Is this your first circuit"
"No, the fourth"
81 never saw you here before; did you
read with Chanty!"
"No, with Monk-why?"
"Because he had an Oxford man oi
your name with him few terms since,
and he married cousin of mine. wish
I had seen you before, should have ask
ed you to hold this brief for me. But now
-ah, here is Mr.. Ashley"
Ashley had been to my rooms, and not
finding me there, had sailed forth in search
of me, and now turned back with US. As
soon as his eye caught the name upon the
brief which Mr.. Paget handed to him, he
said:
"Sorry | can't take it, sir; am retained
to prosecute" A short conversation en-
sued, which resulted in the brief being
handed to me.
"And now, Mr.. Conway" said the at.
tornsy. "can you give me a conference?
We must get an acquittal fpossible; and
| know that no efforts will be spared by
the prosecution TO convict my client, who
is, firmly believe, as innocent of tho
charge as you are-when can you see
me?"
Nov; this moment" The guineas
were nesting comfortably in my waistcoat
pocket, and the novel excitement caused
me.to forget the dignity ought to have
preserved.
Thank you; then if you will glance
your eye over the case upon your brief,
you will at once be in the possession of the
names Of the parties and the offence
charged. When you have done so, will
explain the prisoners previous history,
which it is material that you should know"
1t was prosecution for arson-the pris.
oner an apprentice girl, and her masters
the premises those which had been de.
stroyed.
"Well." said Mr.. Paget, when had
finished reading. "now you must listen to
a long story. Eighteen years ago long
basket, containing an infant apparently
six months old. was left at the door of a
surgeon of this town. The child was
handsomely dressed, and letter enclos-
ing bank bill for twenty pounds. and sta
ting that the infants name was Miriam
Lyndon, were found beside her.
"The surgeon was bachelor, aneccen-
trio and strange man. although very hu-
mane and charitable one, and in spite of
all the scandal and jests of the world he
kept the little stranger. But he had
Alice Sharpe. Yes" he con.
tinued, seeing me turn again to my brief,
''that is the woman whose house has been
burned, and she was so greatly enraged at
the prospect of any .one sharing the infu.
ence she had obtained over her master,
that after vainly trying to alter his deter
min naton, she revenged her disappointment
upon the poor child, by the most cruel
usage. Ten years rolled on in this way;
the surgeon gave up practice and society,
secluding himself in his house and gar
den. There were no servants besides
Alice Sharpe and poor little Miriam, who
was still unreason nably hated by the fomrsr,
with a boy who worked occasionally in the
garden. By the exercise ofconstant watch.
fulness and cunning. Alice Sharpe man.
gaed to keep her master and his little
protege almost entirely apart, and she con-
linued so to fill tho child's mind with ap.
prehension and fears of her protector, that
when by any chance they did meet, her
terror was so great as to mortify and dis.
appoint the kind old man. Still hs loved
The child dearly, and used to watch her
pretty figure running about with great de.
light. Sometimes. too, when Alice was
absent few hours at meeting or at mar.
ket, he would try TO conciliate and attract
he little creature. and thus, after time,
The learned to love him. But all this was
from the housekeepsr. Why,
,as always been mystery to me; howev.
,r, it was so, and Alice Sharpe lived in ig-
Of the mutual attachment, until
Ter master was taken i'll. Then, for the
irst time, the secret was betrayed by the
intense grief Of Miriam and the querulous
anxiety Of the invalid, who craved to have
he child psrpstually in his sight. To
his, after, short time, Alice was obliged
0 consent, and little mattress was
brought into the sick-room for her, while
he manner and treatment Of the wily, art.