Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-02
THE SECOND MARRIAGE.

defeat. had just terminated, and was walking
Drlskly forth, when an attorney Of rather low
caste IN his profession-being principally en-
plOyed a an Intermediary between needy feIons
and the counsels practicng in the Crown court
-accOsted me, and presented brief; at the
same time rendering fee of two guineas mark
ed upon it.
. am engaged tomorrow, Mr.. Barnes" |
exclaimed, little testify, ION the civil side
besldes, you know L very seldom take briefs in
the Crown court, even if profered in due time;
and tomorrow will be the last day of the as
size In Chester. There are plenty of unem-
Ployed counsel who will be glad of your briefs
Is a brief in an action of ejectment, - re-
Phed the attorney WOOdley CsrSuS horn
dyke, and is brought TO recover possession of a
freehold estate now held and farmed by the de-
fendant."
= An acton of ejectment to recover posses
sion Of freehold estate; defended too, L know,
oy powerful bar; for was offered a brief,
and declined il. Mr.. P leads; and you
bring me this for the plaintiff, and at the last
moment, too. You must be crazed"
- told the plaintiff and her grandfather"
reJOined Mr.. Barnes, d" that it was too late to
besPesk counsels attention to the case; and
that the fee, all they have with much dificul-
~, been able to raise, was ridiculOusly small
but they insisted on my applying to you-Oh,
here they are"
We had by this time reached the street. and
the attorney pointed towards two figures stand
Ing IN attitudes of anxious suspense near the
gateway. 1t was dusk, but there was quite
sufficient light to distinguish the pale and in.
terestlng features Of young female, dressed
In faded and scanty mourning, and accom-
panied by a respectable looking old man with
white hair, and cOuntenance deeply furrowed
by age and grief.
@ L told you, Miss Woodley'' said the attor-
ney, that this gentlemen would decline the
brief especially with such fee
= Ii Is not the fee, mar" observed for /
was somewhat moved by the appealing dejec-
ton exhibited by the white haired man and his
timid grand daughter; but what chance can
have of establishing this PERSONS right-if
right she hsve-to the estate she claims, thus
suddenly called upon to act without previous
consultation; and utterly ignorant, except as
far as this perceive hastily ssrawled brief will
instruct me, both of the nature of the plaintiff
claim and of the defence intended to be set up
againstit2"
If you would undertake it, sir said the
young woman, with tremulOus, hesitating
voice ami glistening eye. 4" for his sake''-and
she glanced at her aged companion-'' will
else be helpless.
90 The blessing of those who are ready to per-
lsh VIII he yours. sir, said the grandfather
with meek solemnity, If you will lend your
aid IN this work of justice and mercy. We
have no hope of withStanding the masterful
violence and wrong of wicked and powerful
men except by the aid of the law, which we
ndNc Detu tduS0t Will ever prove n strong tow
er of defence To those who walk in the paths of
peace and right
The earnestness Of the old mans language
and manner, aud the pleading gentleness of the
yonng woman, torcibly impressed me and al
belt 1t was II somewhat unprofessonal mode of
business, L determined to hear their story from
their own lips, rather than take il frun the
scrawled brief or through the verbal medium
of their attorney
"IOu have been truly taught, " I answered
and IT really entitled to the properly You
claim, know OF no masterful men that in this
land OF Eagland, can hinder you from obtain
ing possession of it, Come tO my hotel in about
an hour and a half from hence shall then
have leisure to hear what you have to say
This fee, L added, taking the two guineas
from the hand Of the attorney. who still held
the money ready for my acceptance ..you must
permit me TO return. Ii is too much for Won
to pay for losing your cause; and if I gain it
but mind, do not promise to take il into court
unless L am thoroughly satisfied you have right
on your sde-I shall expect a much heavier
one. Mr.. Barnes, will see you, if you please,
early in the morning / then bowed and
fastened on.
Dinner was not ready when arrived at the
hotel; and during the short time had to wait
more than half repented of having had any
thing to do with this unfortunate suit How
ever, the pleadings of charity, the suggestions
OF human kindness, reasserted their influence :;
and by the time my clients arrived which
they did very punctually at the hour had in
dicated, had quite regained the equanimity
1 had mOmentarily lost, and thanks to mine
hosts excellent yiands aud generous wine was
Tor lawyer, in very amiable and benevolent
humor indeed.
Our conference was long, anxious and un-
Satisfactory. L was obliged to send for Barnes
before 1t was concluded, in order To thoroughly
ascertain the precise nature of the case in
tended to be set up by the defendant. and the
al 10 al r.
Moray Of consolation or Of hope came from that
quarter. Still the narrative had listened to-
bearing as 1t did the impress of truth and sim
eerlty In every sentence, strongly disposed me
TO believe that foul play had been practiced by
the other side; and determined at all hazards,
10 90 into court, though with but faint hope in
deed Of present successful issue.
" 1t appears moro than probable 1 re-
marked on dlsmissing my clients, - that this
will is fabrication; but before such a ones
ton had been put in issue before jury, some
producible evidence Of its being so should have
been sought for and obtained. As it is can
only watch the defendants proof Of the gem
uineness Of the instrument upon which he has
obtained probate-one or more of the attestng
witnesses may, if fraud has been practice l.
break down under searching cross-examina-
tion, or incidentally, perhaps, disclose matter
for further investigation.
" One OF the attesting witnesses is, as have
already told you, dead" observed Barns. :
and another, Elizabeth Wareing, has, hear
to-day left the country. An affidavit 10 that
effect will no doubt, be made to morrow in or
der to enable them to give secondary evidence
Of her attestatiOn, though, swear as they may,
have not the slightest doubt l could find her
II time were allowed, and her presence would
at all avail US -
Indeed This is very important Would
you, Mr.. Barnes, have any objection ;, added.
after few moments reflection, to make oath,
should the turn Of affairs to- morrow render your
doing so desirable, of your belief that You cou Id
reasonable time being allowed, rrocnre the at
tendance Of this Elizabeth War ilg2"
mot the slightest; though how that would
help Us inyalidate the will Thorndyke claims
under do not understand -
Perhaps not. At all events do not fail to
be early in court. The case i, the frs. in To-
mOrrow's list, remember"