Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-08-31

AT this conjuncture policeman arrived on
the spot, and the lady at once addressed her.
self to him, explaining the case, and shortly
afterwards she walked away, leading her lit
tie charge, escorted by the guardian of the
peace. Although much pressed for time, |
fingered to look after her till she had turned
the corner; for never had seen face which
was half so lovely as hers, and it haunted me
ever after
| had, however, at that time, too many
troubles of my own to afford time to look af-
ter those of others. A very long and expen-
sive lawsuit had exhausted the once hand
some fortune that had long kept my family in
so cpviable position, and left me nothing
but fallacious hopes and Elusive expectations
My father died during the slow progress of
the litigation; the lawyer who had com
menced and so long conducted l. also died
before its conclusion and it tappeared too pro-
babe that ny mother, too, would pass away
without thea san Ifsction of knowing that so
much money, thought, anxiety and suspense
had HOt> been entirely thrown away. She
was very ill; and foresaw with certainty
that ths> slender thread which held her to
this life would snap, if the final decision in,
our cause, whchh was believed would soon
be rendered, S be against us; for it
would necesstate~ sale of all that remained
to us, and leave us little better than beggars
1t was our last stake, upon which all our
hopes and confidence had gradually conccn-
trated and if that were lost we had nothing
more to lose-.nothing but blank dd1 pair to
encounter, which we burst not anticipate.
The lawyer, who at the time conducted
our suit, was an old friend of my fathers
| lCn al ..l ,l,,,
as he had undertaken the case m9rsfeesstm
friendly than pccuniary motives, did not at
tempt td>dfSguise the truth ands probabilities
from me. But | could not look forward to
anything but tNumph, ,and chose rather to
regard his discouraging tone as one of the
means lie employed to enhance the value of
his services in achieving success lie was a
good man at heart, that old lawyer, and his
penetratiop was wonderful but he was not
apt to spoil his medicine by over sweetening
it, and my panlXcrcd palate rebeled not
little against its\lisgusting but wholesome
bitterness.
had long hunt after an important fe-
male witness, whom | found at last in gar
ret dying of consumption. And whom should
find sitting like Aninistering angel at her
bedside. but the beautiful black-eycd lady
whom had lately met, the companion Of the
little orphan girl
ut is in such places as this. where good
angel is most needed, and not in the circles Of
gayety and fashion, that must seek you,
Sec" exclaimed |, gazing upon her with ire
prcssibe admiration.
The lady bushed deeply; and, as soon as
she had recovered from her momcntary con-
fusion, observed quietly, that she was simply
performing a duty to which an old friend of
her mothers was fully entitled.
| While obtaining the deposition of her pa
ticnt had several opportunities of conver
sing with .his excellent beauty; and her
modest elegance and graceful case captiyated
my soul.
| Onescvening was permitted to accompany
her in search Of conveyance; and, as had
resolve sinexpress my sentiments freely to
her OIL D!c hrst available occasion, | was, as
usual in such cases, much embarrassed when
it presented itself
/" Your patient is dying, | fear"
6 She is conscious of the approach of deliv-
erance; and such she regard d6an
ut is an angels Office you in smooth
ing her path to the grave"
''Do not flatter me, sir. 1t is but little |
can do, and tiattery seems to IL" to make that
little less than nothing"
Il assure you l express my admiration in
most stinted terms; were ! to tell you all |
think and feel | might indeed surprise YOU"
Then let me eutrcat you for your forbear-
ance"
1T is>4nkind, not to say harsh, in you to
forbid I'd utteranccs of heart SO sincere and
full as mine"
1T is my kind ness, my consideration for
ycu, that induce me to check this excessive
language because / know you will repent it.
Impossible not only admire you more
than any being | ever saw. but feel that you
are worthy of my worship, and that love
you"
"Say no more, entreat. If you knew
who and what / am, yon would confess the
the folly of which you are guilty. You tell
me you are unfortunate and unhappy; | pity
you-but there is gulf between us, and you
would only render yourself more wretched by
attempting blndly and rashly to cross it,"
d" Are you married"
"Do not ask Here let our acquaintance
cease You have no more occasion to visit
my patient; and you surely would not de-
prive her of the presence of her last remain
ing iIlcuu, you Will up II Jou pOioi III iii-
truding upon her. Here then then let us part
and forever"
She stopped cab, allowing me to help her
into it and left me in my mystery and gloom
She had crossed my dark path like a heavenly
apparition, and her disappearance rendered
everything about me hopeless and dreary as
despair
The treacherous law, after having lured us
on to ruin, decided against our claims, and
extorted the last remnant of our property
to pay its costs To communicate this fact to
my mother. would have been like inficting
her death blow, and after meditating long
upon the subject, found myself unequal to
the painful task / went once more to our old |
lawyer 10 ascertain whether there was no pos
sibility of compromising the matter, so as to
postpone the evil day. and leave my mother
awhile in possession of her home and COM
forts.
met lady descending the stairs, who
had just come out of his Office, whose physiog-
nomy was of that unusually reoulsive char.
acter which lmprints itself indelbly on the
memory, and ever after, in dreams and reve-
ries, in sleep and in wakefuness, rises from
t;n,a IN fin,o m, our mental viS;o,, NTH bo.r;