The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-06-27

oe pleaSeu with lIord DarwelHS attentions
and bestow upon the poor soul the first
smile that he had has ever been favored
with"
eyes, and give him encouragement
that he may presume on said Walter,
sourly.
"Never fear for that, Mr.. Jealousy, but
just do as bid you," retorted she, tossing
back her curls with pretty assumption
of authority.
1t was finally agreed between them,
that Earnest, whose person was entirely
unknown to the old gentleman, should
act in consultation for Walter, as his agi-
tation or Jrusque notions of honor might
betray the whole scheme.
Accordingly, the next day, Earnest, at
tired in suit of demure black, and wear
ing countenance stadiously lugubrious,
waited on the counsellor, and was ushcred
by servant in gay livery, into spacious
library, lined to the ceiling portentous.
looking tones, interspersed here and there
with musty rolls of parchment, and piles
of red-taped documents. The lawyer sat
at his table, deeply absorbed in the pictu-
rescue and romantic pages Of his favorite,
Blackstone, writer whose works have
the universal reputation of being the most
amusing reading in the profession. A
round him were grouped in profusion, the
productions of other choice law novelists,
such as Coke, Lyttelton, and Gil Bias,
upon which Earnest cast an awe-struck
| glance.
Before speaking word, Loves mission
airy, with propriety worthy of universal
twenty guinea fee, which, BY; ;'f fmttiRah iRahlera
of habit, the disciple of justice secured,
and locked up in secret drawer. That
done, Earnest opened his case with much
ilowery circumlocution, substituting as a
greed, himself in place Of his friend, and
wrought up such plausible and grievors
history of love, tyranny and wrongs, that
tears of sympathy sprang to the old gen.
tlemen's eyes. brushing the pearly drops
away with his cambria handkerchief, he
warmly grasped the hand Of the distressed
youth, and assured him in vehement lam
guage that such monstrous injustice should
be frustrated, and that the affair could be
carried through trinmphantly, without for
feiture Of property, or any difficulty what
ever. Opening ponderous folio, lie read,
in the first place, the penalties attendant
upon stealing an heiress, or crown-ward;
they were fearful to think Of Punishment
for life, or imprisonment during the term
of seven years, with confscation of prop
erty-which latter item, though deemed a
matter unworthy of notice by the deluded
ones, was viewed in somewhat different
light by the more rational agent.
"But, my dear fellow, that is mere stuff;
here is private clause that entirely coun-
teracts the whole oft" And taking down
from shelf, the ninth volume Of Black
stone, upon Turtiewilkins the famous iu-
rist, he adjusted to a nicely his gold spec
tacles, settled his portly person in COM
Portable attitude, and with extreme unc.
ton, read from chapter seventh as fol.
lows
/
"But, although, in sundry unjust and
cruel statutes, devised and enacted by di.
vers evil-disposed persons--no, holding in
due reverence the laws Of Cupid-the run.
ming away with ward in Chancery, be
adjudged heinously criminal and punisha.
bic BY death or banishment for a term o.
years not exceeding the natural life, with
confscation Of worldly pelf; yet, moreover
is there a clause which provideth ample
means Of escape, to wit: II said ward do
in presence Of suitable witness, with her
own two hands, purposely and determi
nately, lay hold upon a steed--whether
white, red or black it mattereth not; il
she do saddle, bride, aud otherwise &C.
coutre said steed, without instigation Of
or assistance from the opposite party, who
Is supposed in law to be, not particeps
criminals but particeps torci5as in the
fraud; il she then and there do mount a.
foresaid steed, by her own free power and
will; and il, when thus mounted upon said
steed--be It red, white or bIark, it mat
to- eth not--she, said ward, do extend tei
arm and seize upon said particeps forciba,
draw him violently upon said steed, whetG.
er white, red or black, il mattereth not
ard in this rude manner do carry hinS of
| in spite Of his teslh, and his loud and bit
TAR outcFies and en.reaties, he. said pdffi
esps JorsibHs, shall not, verify, be held a
mcnabIs 70 the power Of the Law; 5ut, il