Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-15
Gitfrarp 5eIeftions.
From Putnam's Monthly Magazine.
THE ATTORNEYS REVENGE.

Squire Littleton, of Pleasant Valley
That is to say, we both read, or profess
sed to read, at the same time in his Of
fee; but to own the truth, that together
must be taken in very metaphorical
sense.
Sam, indeed, read patiently and plod-
dinghy. He went at Blackstone, as he
approached every other new acquain-
tance, somewhat timorously at first: but
after little he clung to him, as he clung
to every one Of his few friends, with
vice-like tenacity. Many clear, crisp
October day, when the hills around
Pleasant Valley were echoing the quick
reports of my fowIing-piece, the dingy
office walls only echoed Sans droning
voice, as he toiled through contingent
remainders and executory devices, read
ing aloud as if in hopes that the intricate
meaning which eluded his eyesight might,
perchance, creep in by the ears. On
warm summer afternoons, as, with my
feet on the window sill, watched the
fumes of an after-dinner cigar, those same
measured cadances would luIl me to Sleep
in winter evenings, when Bessie Little
ton and were going home from singing
school, we used to peep in at the window
and see Sam poring over his task. That,
as I have said, was twenty years ago
Sam is quoted now with great respect, in
the Reports, as Saunders. j.; he non
suited me, last week, on one Of the very
points that I first drilled into his skull,
twenty years ago! That skull had such
happy thickness thatno idea, once lodged
ever made its escape. But am wander
ing from my story.
When Sam first came into old Little
TONS Office, we all thought him an incor-
rigible Ounce. As such, he was made. the
subject Of numerous tricks. Practical
Jokes of all descriptions he bore with i'm
movable gravity. Tom Littleton, the
'Squire's nephew, the wit Of the Office and
the village, spent his shafts upon him in
vain. Scott, our managing clerk, delivered
long lectures to him, replete with such law
as never had entered the head Of mortal
man and when, our gravity exhausted
Tom and 1 rushed out to give our laugh
ter vent, Sam would graveIy reach down
his vast commonplace book, and treasure
up SCOTS mendacious maxims and apoc-
ryphal authorities with the most painful
diligence.
But these things soon grew tiresome,
even to ourselves. Sam was too easy a
victim to afford lasting sport, and after the
first month or two we left him to plod on
his way alone. By and by the impress
sion gradually grew on US that Sam was
not man to be despised after all. Slow
and plodding he certainly was; but there
was world Of good feeling under his
great ungainly exterior. We began to
see that Sam had in him the material of
a warm, steadfast friend: and once in a
while, when / heard him express his few
dlsllkes, the conviction came over me that
! would not much like to have Sam Saun-
ders for an enemy.
Bessie Littleton was the belle of Pleas
ant Valley. She claimed that title on a
variety of grounds. Shewas the only child
OF the old Squire: and the old Squire
was great man, even throughout the
country. Moreover, Bessie, in her own
right, was bright-eyed, brown-haired,
red-lpped little beauty and to crown all.
she was the most artful and bewitching
little coquette that ever proved, in a vii
lagc church, how much a naIuraI genius
tor flirting can surpass the studied art of
city bellies. Every one of the 'Squire's
Students fell in love with her before they
had fnishedthe first chapterin Blackstone;
every one except Sam Saunders. And
every one had some sweet treasured re-
minisence-some particular word, or look,
or smile, upon which he built particular
nopes. Tobe sure, if any one of them
mao examined the subject in connexion
WIN Phillips on Evidence, or any other
good work on that branch of his studies.
ne might have known that there was hard
~ pr'naa .facie case in his favor. Bpt
perhaps this is process hardly to be ex.
pected of lovers.
If the truth must be told, I fatter NV.
sell that could give shrewd euess q,
the true state of Bessie's feelings. T
would hardly be proper for me to speal
very plainly on such a matter, even q
thls late period; and as Mrs. Quidam i
q slightly jealous turn, Ido not like t,
commit myeslf Suffice it to say, tina
Though Miss Littleton never exactly ex
Dressed herself to me in SO many words
~ have always been convinced tia