The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-26
CHRISTMAS STORY
NO TH0R0UG HF ARE,
II Y
CHARLES Dickens AND WILKIE COLLINS
IObatinued rom oar iast issue. J
ACT ".
TIE oLooK-LoCK.

SAINT month was April; the pleasant place was q
nolary's olicej the pleasant person in 1t was the
notary-a rosy, hearty, handsome old man, the
chief notary OF NeuChatel known far and wide
In the canton as Maitre Voigt. Professionally
and personally the notary was popular citizen.
His innumerable kiudnesses and his immune
rable oddities had for years made him one OF the
recognized public characters OF the pleasant
Swiss town. HIS long brown frockcoat and his
black skullcap were among the institutions of
the place; ana he carried a snuff box, which In
point of size was popularity believed to be with
out a parallelin Europe.
There was another person in the notary's Of
fee not 50 pleasant as the notary. This was
ObenTeieT.
An old pastoral kind of office 1t was, and one
that would never have answered In England.
1t stood in neat back yard, fenced off from a
pretty flower garden. Goats browsed in the
doorway, and COW was within half dozen
feet OF keeping company with the clerk. Maltre
Yoigts room was bright and varnished little
room, with panelled walls, like atoy-chamber.
According to the seasons of the year, roses,
suntoweIs, hollyhocks, peeped IN at the win.
GoWs; Mature Volgts bees hammed through
@ tne otiiGe al the Simmer, in at this window aud
WV " Lii taking 1t frequently IN their days
work, as ii honey were to be made from Matre
Yoigts sweet deposition. A large musical box
on the ehimney-piece often trlied away at the
overture to Fra Diavolo, or selection from
William Tell, with chirruping livellness that
had to be stopped by force on the entr lnce of
client. and lTTepressibly broke out again tue
moment his back was turned.
Courage, courage, my good fellow" said
Maitre Voigt, parting obenrezer on the XIV.
ia iatherly and comforting way IN vii
begin new life tomorrow morning in my office
mere"
0benrezer dressed In mourning and sub.
dued in manner lifted his hand, with q white
handkerchief in It, 10 the region of his heart.
The gratitude ls here he said. But the words
to express ii are not here"
''Ta-ta-ta! Don't talk to me about gratitude!"
said Maltre ct. II hate 10 see man op-
pressed. see you oppressed, and l hold out
m hand ~ l apny, y
too old yet to remember my young days. Your
father sent me my first client. It was on a
question of -half an acre of vineyard that sell
dom bore any grapes.) Do l owe nothing to
your fathers son? ! owe him debt of friendly
obligation, and l pay 1T to you! That's
rather neatly expressed, l think" added
Maitre Voigt in high good-humor with himself
Permit me to- re ward my own merit with
pinch of snuffp
Obenreizer dropped his eyes to the ground, as
though he were not even worthy to see the
notary take snuff
DO me one last favor, sir" he said when he
raised his eyes. "Do not act on impulse. Thus
tar, you have only general knowledge of my
position. Hear the case for and against me, in
its details, before you take me into your office.
Let nay claim on your beneyoence be recognized
by your sound reason as well as by your excel
lent heart. In That case, / may hold up my
head against the btterest of my enemies, and
build myself new reputation on the ruins of
Gas you will,n said MaitIe Voigt. 'You speak
well, nv son. You will be fine lawyer one of
these days."
"The details are not many" pursued Oben-
reizer. "My troubles,bcgin with the accidental
death of my late travelling companion, my lost
dear friend, Mr.. Vendale."
"Mr. Vendalep repeated the notary. Just
SO. have heard and read of the name several
times within the last two months. The name of
the unfortunate English gentleman who was
killed on The Simplon. When you got that scar
upon your cheek and neck.n
"FT-om my own knife" said Obenreizer,
touching what must have been an ugly cash at
4kn.N NtV,, pff ffuf Htrt1n
From your own knife" assented the notary,
sand in trying TO save him. Good, good, good.
That was very good. Yendale. Yes. / have
several times, lately, thought it droll that
should once have had client of that name."
But the world, sir" returned Obenreizer, sis
so small !" Nevertheless, he made a mental
note that the notary had once had client of
that name.
LAS was saying sir, Che death of that dear
travelling COmrade begins my troubles. What
follows? | save myself l go down to Milan.
Company. Shortly afterwards, am discharged
by Deiresnier and Company. Why? They give
No answer. ! ask, what Is the mputation
against me? No answer. ask, where are
their proofs against me? No answer. | ask,
what am. to think? The reply is, M. oben-
reizer is free to think what he will. What NJ.
Obenreizer thinks is of no importance to De-
fresnier and Company And that is ALL"
Perfectly. That is ALL" assented the notary,
taklng large pinch of snuff.
But is that enough, sirW
''That is not enough" said Maitre Voigt.
''Ihe House of DeiresLier are my ielloW-toWns-
men--much respected, much esteemed-but the
House of Defresner must not silently destroy a
mans character. You can rebut assertion. But
how can you rebut silenCeW
Your sense of justice, my dear patron,
answered Obenreizer, Estates in a word the
cruelty of the case. Does it stop there? No
For, what follows upon thatW
'"True, my poor boy" said the notary with a
comforting nod or two; your ward rebels upon
that"
"Rebes is too soft word, - retorted oben
reizer. 'My ward revolts from me with horror
My ward defes me. Ny ward withdraws her
self from my authority, and takes shelter
lMadame Dor with her) in the house of tha
English lawyer, Mr. Bintrey, who replies tC
your summons TO her to submit herself to ny
authority, that she will not do so.n
And who afterwards writes" said the notary
moving his large snuf-boX to look among the
papers underneath it for the letter, that he il
coming TO confer with me-"
"lndeedW replied Obenreizer rather checked
'Well, sir, Have no legal rlghtsW
"AssuTedly, my poor bow returned the
notafy; All out ielons have their legal rights. ,
"And VINO calls me ielon {" said Obenreizer
hercely,
"No one. Be calm under your wroros II
the House OF Deresnler would call YOU feon
indeed we should know how 10 deal with them
While saying these words, he had handed BIn
trey's very short letter to Obenreizer, who nd q
read it and gave il back.
"ln saying" observed Obenreizer, with re
covered composure. "that he is coming to con
fer with you, this English lawyer means tha
he Is coming to deny my authority over m,
WaId.n
"YOu think sop
81 am sure of il. know him. He is ob'ti
md tfOnu VOt WufI AaII