The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-01-16
;. s JStIeftea ggisfelIaag.
THE BARRIsTER.


TREGRET to say that my story is of the
shop, shoppyl use the word regret ad-
Visedly weighed down by the melancholy
reflection that somehow or other, whom
ever | am called upon to make myself
agreeable and entertaining, / Ialways fly to
professional sources for Inspiration. The
only excuse can offer upon the present
occasion is that this particular railway.
conveying me as 1t does round circuit
twice a year, awakens many remini-
scensces, one OF which, connected with
the Spring assizes at Reading some years
ago, comes back forcibly to my mind.
1t was in the earlier days of my Bar ca
reer, and briefs were far from being as
plentiful as blackberries in autumn--in
fact, l had begun seriously to contem-
plate paWning my wig and gown, and
emigrating with the proceeds to British
Columbia, or some equally distant and
desolate locality. Fortunately for me and
society generally, which sooner or later
must recognize my distinguished merits
doned the idea of British Columbia, and
went to Reading. A bene6cent fate re.
warded me for my courage in the shape Of
a big brief with a small fee, to defend two
men for conspiring 70 cheat young gen
tleman, with more money than brains, by
gambling with him and using loaded dice.
1t was case that had excited good deal
of interest in tine neighborhood, partly
from the very remarkable way in which
the cheat had been discovered by .
stranger who happened to be In the room
where the play was going on, and who,
suspeeting that all was not right, had with
a large csrying.fork pinned the hand Of
one of the eonspiratOrs to the table. I'm.
derneath it, sure enough, were found the
loaded dice, which he had manipulated
up and down his sleeve so sl1llfully that
the verdant youth found himself some
five hundred pounds to the bad. AS
counsel for the defendants the aspect ol
the case was far from inviting, and, as the
very beery solicitor who instructed me
observed, 9 IL looked uncommon fishy,n
m that tremark I entirely concurrod and
folded up the papers aTith q hopeless SIGH
cursing the illluck that always brought
me the deadest cases IN the present In
stance there was little for me to do bui
to sit by and hold my tongue "a process
By Che way, anything but satisfactory Il
one fond Ok hearing the sound Of bis oWI
voice. Apart from professional regrets,
could not help feeling that this preciou
pair of rascals thoteughly deserved al
they were likely to get, and the longe
they were shutup the better for The com
munity az large
The trial came on ia due course, and thl
two prisoners were placed at the bar, al
Hooked at them ] was much struck b
their gentlemanly appearance and dress
but then | remembered that al that wa
part Of the stock-in-trade Of persons .
their class, and turning to my brief pre-
pared to do battle. AS this Is but sub
sidiary portion Of my story Il Is needles
for me 10 linger over the details Of III
trial. They say that q lucky fate oftei
follows on the footsteps Of rogues, and i
this instance BY some unpafd0nable care
lessness Oh the part Of the constable III
oaded dice which had been found unde
the hand Of one Of the prisoners were nc
forlheoming, and after a graat deal {
wranglinr with chs counsel On the othe
side the learned Judge said ihat the pross
cuti0n Ia net producing i had "a hi
opinion, failed t0 ma be out 3 sliill lent cas
10 % 10 1.-THE fury, and That he must thers
fore direct verdict f0r fhe eQ1iiial {
the prigonefs They Wele 8 much astoI
isheQ and cYeEpowefad As inyaslL by th
unexpecttd turn things had taken, an
with admirable celebrity disappeared frof
the dock
% s0me four years allerWafa received
very pressing invitation from INV old d 3
friend, Charlie Forester, asking nc |
run down to hig place IN Deyonshire, an
spend 4 fsW days there Master Char1i
whsse lines had fallen ia exceedingI
if,leassnt places. and who at tW8hty-or
had come into a very nice estsie and son
Ave thousand pounds ANNUALLY, after fol
talizing all tic mafriageaple girls Ia II
county bg refusing to 90 70 the balls 81
croquet parties, with Invitations for WIKI
he aas pertinaciouslY pegterad from NOR
ine till night, had finally taken hiinst
abroad. no one knew whittier and the
remained between fouf and I'VE veal
When Re returned heme agAin hR brcug
awifs with hin, FFseeedlng en big pa
which ezciled general discentens eng q
appreciation But Charlie cared Fel
little what tha ctHnty folks thong
about HIM ie was paasiOnately loud
his wife, and conveniently devoted
home, While De ceenDlad his time
Regulating the afairs of hs estate. q
Improving the breed Of p'gs s. sh0
he found within fhe limits 81 hla pa
fenc8 an th0 amt eHt ond a5ieiY be ]
qniFed iia aliacbMfut tgt hia Wiie "
1ot surprising, for she Wag indeed aao