The Empire County argus., 1856-10-18
THE LOST BANK NOTE.
BY A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

giles. In my qulet nome III Jne country leel us
though the battle had been fought and the victory
won To me life had been busy, busting scene, and
here in my quiet library, surrounded by the well
thumbed volumes of Blackstone, Chitty, and Their
fellows, l feel as though had completely emerged
from the din of the world, and that my heaven had
commenced on EARTH
In thirty odd years Of practice, have been an
actor in many lifedrama which may possess to 9th
ers some portion of the interest with which L regard
them but more for my own amusement, however,
than for the edication of the reader-though trust
nv narrative may not be without its moral trans
cribe from the page of memory an incident from my
experience.
was seated in my Office busily engaged in hunting
I'D the law for q certain case of some Importance
when the door was timidy opened and young lady,
apparently of not more than seventeen years OF age
stepped into the room. Without being very pretty
she had countenance and expression which failed
not to attract the interest of the beholder.
She was quite pale, and seemed to shrink with in
stinctve dread from the glance bestowed upon her.
Yet her sweet face and her gentle manners have
already won my sympathy. Her sad face and timid
movements assured me that she had ptifu tale to
tell but was not disposed to hear it.
A visitor with less prepossessing face would have
called forth frown and short answer, for was in
the very midst of an investigation which promised to
reward my search in a satisfactory manner.
She advanced towards my desk, and | closed my
book and rose to receive her.
"Mr Docket ?" said she and | saw her lips trem-
BILE with emotion as she spoke.
sgnifed to her that was the person she sought,
and handed her chair a civility which her trenl-
bling frame enabled her to appreciate, for her agita
ton seemed to be entirely beyond her control.
After allowing her few moments to recover her
selfpossesson, gently inquired her business with me-
ii have a brother" she began, and the hot tears
filled her eyes, and for moment obstructed her Wis
ion
Her heart seemed to choke her with its wild beat
ings.
"May 1 know whom I address," I asked moderat-
ing nv voice. so as to afford her all the encourage
ment which gentle tone could convey.
"Alice Wade" she answered.
"You seem to be in distress. Let me beg of you,
be calm; perhaps your case is not so bad as you
suppose"
"NIay heaven send that it is not
"Take your own time, Miss Wade. Perhaps you
had better wait few moments till you feel better
able to proceed and in the mean time assure you Of
my desire to serve you"
"Thank you, sir" sobbed she, and turned to my
law books so not to embarrass her by seeming to
wait for her to recover her camness.
But | had lost the clue to the investigation, and
though ] fixed my eyes on the book, it was only to
think of the sobbing maiden at my side. | waited
till her sobbngs ceased and then carefully approach
ed the object of her visit.
81 am taking up your time, Mr. Docket but
have heard that you were kind and charitable gen
tleman, and have ventured to seek your aid
1t was a very blunt compliment but doubted not
its sincerity. There could be no hypocracy in that
gentle maiden, none, even to accomplish the most
cherished purpose
"Whatever [ can do for you, Miss Wade shall be
done with the greatest pleasure" | added.
"Thank you, sir"
"You must not look on the dark side of your case
r. boi
to be guilty; and you must not regard anything as
hopeless until all efforts to redeem it have failed
continued with smile from which she seemed to
gather the hope desired to impart.
81 have brother, an only brother, who is in the
deepest Distress
"His name?" asked, taking pen, ready to note
down the facts in the case as she detailed them.
"Richard Wade"
"Go on, if you please"
"He is book-keeper in the store of Denley & Co."
"Ah" and l wrote it down. and being acquainted
with the firm, began to feel more confidence to aid
my fair client.
Denley & Go. were merchants of established repu-
tation for integrity and uprightness.
"My mother is widow, and dependent upon Rich
ard for support. She has been afflicted with cancer
for more than three years. so that | do nothing
but take care of her and do the work at home. 1t
takes all Of Richards salary to support us, and pay
the doctors bills but he has labored cheeafully for
us and for his poor suffering mother"
The poor girls emotion choked her again, and
turned to my book to enable her to recover herself
Orchard is very kind, and never thinks of the
many deprivations which our circumstances compel
him to endure. He is contented to work early and
late, and never spend dollar upon himself. Oh sir,
he is sach good brother"
"Your mother must be grateful for such a son, and
you for such brother"
"Oh, we are, sir! But, poor Richard he is in jail
now," and she sobbed as though her heart would
break.
"Indeed! In jail"
was not exactly prepared for such catastrophe
as this and l confess that my feelings lawyer as
was, were much moved But it was possible that the
poor girl deceived in regard to her brother that
he was an angel at home and demon abroad, as
have known more than one man to be. Yet could
not reconcile that glowing eulogium which the young
lady had pronounced upon his character with such
conclusion.
"Of what's he accused, Miss Wade? Nay, do not
weep,-he may be innocent"
II know he is" she answered with considerable
vehemence.
"Then be assured his innocence will be made appa-
rent to the world"
"Woud that l could feel So"
"Now if you please to state the facts in the case
will make memorandum of them, and | doubt not
we shall be able to make good case of it,"
"Why, mothers sickness had reduced my brothers
finances down to the lowest ebb-so low that we had
not even enough to pay quarters rent and the
quarter bills. Richard was much disturbed by this
difficulty, and for several days very sad. But
one day he came home with an unusually cheerful
face and informed us that he had paid the rent and