Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-20
MIR. GREEN,S CLIENT.
By JOHN EsrEN COOKE, OF VIRGINIA.
CHAPTER i.

CHAPTER !.
| In 1925 was studying law in the Office OF
Mr.. Josiah Green. My father, who had died
estate. and had duly gone through my col
| legiate course and "eDjoyed life" but grow
ing weary. at the age of twenty-six. of doing
nothing. had resolutely determined to apply
| myself to the law.
One morningI was studying in the outer OF
| the two Offices when handsome carriage
| drove to the door. A lady with her vail
down. and accompanied by child OF eight OF
| ten. issued from it. aud entering the office,
asked if-Mr. Green was within. replled IN
| the affirmative. and usherod the visitor into
| the inner sanctum of the old counselor. who
| rose politely and offered the lady and her
companion seats. The door was closed. and
] resumed my perusal of "Fearne's Contln'
gent Remainders.'
Very soon. however. found my thoughts
wandering. THY took the direction OF the
| vailed visitor. bad not seen her face through
the heavy green vail; but two large, blue eyes
full of sad sweetness. had looked into my
own for an instant, and remembered their ex
preston. The voice, too, was musical and
| plaintive and affected me. AS To the lady's
| apparel. it was tasteful and simple, elegant
! in fabric and adaptation to her slender person
| The glovcd hand which held her handkerchief
| was small and delicate.
| / was but twenty-six. as have said, at the
| time, and it was natural that these details
! should impress me. We did not have such
visitors often liz our dusty old office: and to
| make long story short, found myself wan
| d ring from my law-boOk, and trying to ina
| CINE the subject of the lowtoned conversation
in the adjoining room.
| The lady staid for an hour and then came
forth attended by good Mr.. Green, who pas
Sod his spectacles backward and forward in his
hands, and seemed to be somewhat affected.
Tomorrow, at half past two. then, Miss
Peterborough" he said. Il can not promise
Won success, for the will seems regular. but
| will exert my best abilities in your service
/ attended the lady, who inclined her head
| greteiully, to the carriage, and for an instant
| the small. gloved hand rested in my own
| A low-toned word of thanks, and the vehicle
drove away. | returned to the office. Mr.
Green was musing and shaking his head with
| an appearance of some sadness. He was an
northumberland old gentleman, and never
could acquire that philosophic Indifference in
| business which charactcrizes many lawyers.
| He must have seen from my expression that
Twas curious to know the nature of his clients
business; and in reply to his question to that
| effect, said that should regard his confidence
as high proof of regard.
| "WelI, Mr.. Wadsworth" he said, ~ shall
not Withhold it. l can very safely cOnfide in
you. You are a prudent man, not light
headed boy. Perhaps you may suggest some
| course of action in a matter which, confess.
moves me greatly, and perplexes me as
| greatly"
| He led the way into the inner room, and
! when we were seated thus resumed:
The young lady who has just gone is Miss
| Peterborough, young cousin of the late
| James Peterborough of Hockey. He died,
leaving a wil-here is a copy-by which all
his real and personal estate, with the excep-
| ton of legacy of few hundred dollars,
goes to Mr.. Joel Wescot, of Mddletown, a
| distant relative The trifing legacy is in
| favor of Miss Peterborough here lies the
| mystery The young lady and her little
| sister have lived with the deceased since the
| death Of their parents many years ago, aud
| were great favOrites with him. She assures
! me that he often declared herself and her
| sister his sole heirs, and mentioned the eXccu-
| ton of his will TO that effect After bis death
no such will was found; that which was dis
covered left, as have said the whole of the
| fine estate at Hockey to Mr.. Joel Wescot,
| for whom Mr.. Peterborough never professed
| any great regard. 1t is true, this gentleman
was at Hockey during the last illness of Mr..
lenborough on business; but it seems that
| the dying man never expressed any liking for
| him; and the execution of anvil in his favor
is incomprehensible. Possession could not,
however. he denied WescOt, and he now
resides at Hockey; Miss Peterborough and
her younger sister having most reluctantly
accepted the kind offer of home from one of
| the neighbors who was a friend of Mr.. Ellen
| boroughs. The sense of dependence, however,
evidently prcys upon her mind, and by the
| advice of friends she has come to consult me
| on the question of the possibility of breaking
| the will. | confess | am strongly of opinion
| that there has been foul play i'll the matter,
| but what possible proof can we bring? The
Young lady's statement affords no sort of
! grounds to proceed upon the will is perfectly
regular and yet-and yet something must
something really must be done"
And excellent Mr.. Green looked very much
perpIexed and ont of spirits. We had a long
consultation; and at the end of it proposition
which | had made was acquiesc,d In. My
| feelings were thoroughly enlisted in the
matter; and il was determined that, after the
visit of the Young lady on the next day,
| should set out for the neighborhood OF
| Hockey" and see what the state of things
| really was.
| On the next day Mrs Peterborough called
at the appointed hour and this time | was
| includ d in the conferences. She raised her
| vail, and / saw one of the loveliest counten-
| ancas imaginable. Her hair was dark brown;
! her complexion as fair as lily; more en-
| quisite mouth | have never seen; the deep
! blue eyes were full OF the most touching sad
ness: in fine. the appearance of the young
lady was calculated to powerfully enlist the
sympathics of much colder and more elderly
man than myself. No new fact appeared.
! Mr. Green's examination of the will had
resulted in his finding no flaw. All now
| depended upon such discoveries as | could
/ make by a personal survey of the ground.
| With this slender encouragement Miss FL
lenborough was compelled to return to her
home in the country. On the next morning
took my fowling-piece and hunting
accoutrements-put a change of linen in a
valise-en entered my light vehicle, drawn by a
fast trotter, and set off for the small village
some twenty miles distant, near which lay
the estate Of Hockey"