The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-08-19
A PROFESSIONAL SCAR.
ny An rtD LAWYER.

caused mat scar on my temple
II is u professional scar, Harry; one that
have carried ever since my earliest pracs
,ice; and although have now arrived at a
tolerable old aye, and have many, many in
innate friends, 1t is a Most singular fact tina,
you are the first and only person that has
inquired into its origin. | can tell you all
about II, but must avoid names aud places,
J for the parties most interested in the incl,
dent are yet living, and am under strong
bonds of secresy.
| In the year -, after passing through
long examination before grave Judges and
shrewd barris,ers, | was pronounced pro.
perlv qualified person to appear before juries
aud courts for others as well as myself,
/ and at once proceeded to n large Southern
city, where by modest little sign over the
door of modest little office, ! announced
my readiness to commence the practice of
the law For three months waited. but,
alas no business came and sa, in my
Office on dreary night at about eleven
o'clock, in this very comfortable position
my money was gone entirely; my board
bill was to be paid in the morning, and my
rent the day following; and | absolutely
feared TO 60 to my boarding house, and
waited in what seemed the forlorn hope
.ha, something in the way Of fee might
appear, either dropping from the skies, or
suddenly appearing on my desk. Outside
no step was heard; aud as ! occasionally
glanced through my window, the flame Of
the stree. light, moved by the wind would
seemingly move me homcward; but would
not 90. A fools'ep sounded in my entry
second. aud third. ard more, but so
I high, that my heart beaii,,g prevented my
counting them, and then = li'tle delicate
knock compelled m, SD ~ say Come
in" with II calm voice, although expected
to be Instantly ris ris with Young wo
man the door opened, aud | sav-sn old
one
| had only time 10 move toward y chair,
before she was in the centre OF the rnom
| 81 have 10 time TO al. louus man.
you are n lawcr are yon good for IN,
| thing
My insulled dignity was controlled by
mn effort, and answered that iIattered
myself that | possessed some talent for my
profession, or should not have chosen it,
"Well, WE'LL no gas; can you draw a
paper!"
Here again venihred TO remark that It
/ depended somewha, on its nature; hu,
saw from her impatient manner that she
wanted no triiling Before | finished the
sentence, she interrupted me with fierce
ness Of manner exceeding her former rough
one. saving:
81 want will drawn quick hurriedlv
but so strong ,ha, all the DEVILS in he'll can,
undo it, Can you do ia aud she iaiily
gated at me with impotence lpr my an
swer
Now YOU know. Harry. that nv legal
education was obtained entirely in surro
gates office and Won ma, presume that on
the Law and inrn- of last Wills and tesla.
ments / dl, myself sofirieu,, posted up
IA. refore assn ~ her that could draw a
viii ,hirh. al,housh could no, warrant It
10 fn. the ordeal which she mentioned
would us snrc. be pfooi against the
efforts pi ~ the hwyer. in Christendou'
Md NOW her manner changed from the
fierce aud bold IT, the anvions and hurried
"Come, then. quick quick = ,ouae
man, and you shall pocket oue thousand
dollars for your nights work. - she ex-
claimed.
And. amazed and bewldered as | was.
found myself at the ne:ghboring corner,
stepping into a hack. before the startling
but comfortable words, one thousand
dollars for your nights work ~ had ceased
ringing in my ears My conductress fol
lowed me, aud without orders we were rat
tied furiously along the streets TO the -----
House, then the largest hotel in the city.
NV visions of the one thousand bright dol>
lars kept my tongue hrdled, and was led
in silence up two flights of stairs into
sni,e of rooms comprising n parlor and two
bed rooms The par!or. however was oc>
cupicd by bed. in which lay an old and,
evidently, diving man, \ servant was with
him, but he left. upon a motion from the
aand of my companion, who approached
/ the bed and said;
81 have an attorney here, sir; shall be
proceed I"
/ Tho old mans eyes brighten up, and
/ after glafing on me Tor moment he said
| " YOU can draw my will. do quick,
now, for must save my brealh"
| turned to the inble, where found pa.
per. pens ink, and everything necessary
aud the ligh, Of two sperm candles in
heavy candle. sticks, | was soon busi'y ems
gagged a, the will.
| will not trouble you with tho details,
nor. in fact do remember them but 1t is
enough to say that large amount Of pro-
perty, real and personal, bonds. mortgages,
etc, were left, in the words Of the viii,
to "my good aud faithful housekeeper'
| Angelina -, rs token OF gratitude
for her long. faithful, and mer'ofious ser
vice" But the concluding words the
will | shall never forget; aud made mo
shudder AS | wrote them. There is some
thing fearful yes. devilish in this delib'
erstely recording. In wha, purposts to be
your last written wish. curse upon your
offspring. And ! felt, as wrote it. an in.
voluntary desire to tea! il into fragments,
and to rush from the room, but the thou
sand dollars were like SO many anchors,
and stayed and wrote
II leave my daughter Dora all the salts.
faction she can obtain from my hesrty
curse. When rags whip abou, her in her
only home, tho street, and dogs share with
her the refuse OF the gutter, shc may regret
that she disobsyed him who once loved
her. but who. dying, cursed her"
There WA something like chuckle in