The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-10-05

We Nuu ulc COIncI 0&OuC VI WsoueuSus ~
Douglas. The occurrence bed entirely
slipt my memory. hVH
LAWYER WITH TWO CHARACTERS
One cold evening In November, ten yesrs
ago, man wrapped in large cloak knock.
cd at the door Of Mons. Dupin, one Of the
mos, able advocates Of Paris. lie entered
and drawing from under his cloak large
package of documents, laid them on the
table.
aMonsieur !" said he, n am rich; bat 9
lawsuit which Is commenced against me
may ruin mo utterly. Al my age, lost for.
tune is not TO be re.,nade. The loss Of thiA
suit. therefore, would condemn me to the
mos, frightful misery. como to implore
your aid. Here are the papers which ex.
plain my claims"
The advocate listened attcntively while
his unknown visitor thus briefly explained
his business. Then, opening The bundle of
documents, he went through them with the
searching rnpidity Of his professional eye.
They were, at last, laid upon the table.
"The action which is commenced against
you for this property" said he, is based
upon justice and right-legal and moral
The property belongs to your opponent.
I,ut, unfortunately, In spite Of the admira.
BILE elaboration Of our code, law and justice
do not always 90 together; and here the
law is on your side. u. therefore, you rest
your case entirely on the law, and use with
out reserve all its technicalities and quib-
bles, and If the legal points in your favor
are all stated clearly and ably TO the court,
you will inevitably gain your cause"
"No man living, said the stranger, "can
do what you describe 20 ably a. yourself.
Might venture to hope that you would 70.
d,,ce your legal opinion to writing, and
Inn. render me invuInerable p
The advocate reflected for minute OF
two, aud then tnking up again the docu.
ments, which, at the first word Of request
he had roughly p,iste,l away, he said he
would do as the stranger wished. On the
morrow, at the same hour, the legal opin-
ion would be reudy.
The client was punctual. The paper
was presented to him-acco'npanied with a
demand, very abruptly made, for fee cf
hyse thousand jrunes!
He stood mute with astonishment.
aYou are at liberty to keep your mon
ey," said the lawyer, "nnd am at liberty
to throw my written opinion into tho fire.
Advancing towards the chimney apPar.
emily for the purpose. he was stopped by
the visitor.
al will pay the sum-" hc said, "but
must give you my written acceptance for
it,"
.The money In gold, or you shall moi
have n line" said the lawyer.
The client saw that Il was inevitable and
taking his leave for tho moment, returned
soon with the coin. He paid it-but. in 70.
yeugr, after gaining his cause, he told the
story in every corner Of Paris. The jour
mails got hold Of il. 1t was soon as univer.
sel as the name and fame Of the great law
yer himself Lamcnts were made by the
editors over the grasping advantage thus
taken Of client 10 his extremity, and even
friends expressed their regrets to him for
this BETRAYAL Of uvaricc. Bat ho simply
shuggcd his shoulders; and as everything
Is soon fmgo,ien ut Paris, It passed Out OF
the public mind.
Ten yeurs went by and, . few days since
nj a celebration Of which the dignitaries Of
the Courts Of Law formed part, tho pro-
cession wns interrupted by . woman who
suddenly sprang from tho crowd and seized
the hands Of Mons Dupin, the Procureur.
Gcnenl.
III Is he ! Il 10 he." she exclaimed, a.
she b,rst into tears, md covered his hands
with kisses; 'this Is my tenefactor, my
friend, the angel by whose timely kindness
was saved from ruin and spared to cdu.
cate my children
Poor woman said NJ. Dupin, she
has lost her reason"
But no [! she insisted on explaining to the
bystandcn that there was reason IN her
tears and gratitude. She stated Il brokenly.
Ten years ago, after the death Of her hus.
hand, claim was put in by q relative for
the property upon which shc relied 10 sup
non and educate her children. Sho re.
solved to defend her possession OF that
which she knew to be her own, and had
already eold half her furniture 10 pay the
commencement OF the process -wben' one
day, q stranger called upon her. tie 90.
vuitly announced his business. tie told
her that the suit, for which she was run
ming already into expense. would lie Ms
inR one-tI,af the law was against her,
though Justice WINS on her side-thst sho
had better abandon Il and save what she
stiIl po~seascsi. lie then added, that, from
having becn employed on the case, be had
been sble 10 rescue son,e portion OF what
was wrongfilly taken from her, and thst
!, was contained In the bag Of gold, which
he laid on the isble-aMyptly taking his
leave, and giviug her astonisbcd senses M
for thanks or inquiry. The
three thousand ffnncs with which she was
thus enriched. enabled her to rs-estslSisi'
herself with ber children, and to eom"snce
. timely support of them. And from ths'
day, she had been trying in vain 70 dlseoveI
who was her benefactor. But h's o.w
were engraven on her hear. snd, msnk
God, she recognized and could hsok MN
now!' -
,;on' noo,. Dupis . .g.sp;ns sysrio.vas
s,,.is;s.d 10 hs Iegal brethren snd tho
r.,EEc. = oui,e another thing; Like somo
pshes ,,cople. be bad two ehsneten-ooe
~h;eh tI,e newspapers ms'ie him out 10 be.
and another and vesy different ono which
ga fortnight ago Mia Lotto Bodlsmsn'
Cbil;cothc, Illinois, lost her speech in con